Premier League giants West Ham United are set to offer Declan Rice a new improved contract – while potentially selling Reece Oxford.
It looks more and more unlikely that Reece Oxford will be a West Ham United player for too much longer.
Once the great young hope of the Hammers, Oxford has barely featured since his infamous Premier League debut at the age of 16 in a stunning 2-0 win away at Arsenal on the opening day of the 2015/16 season.
The talented centre-back is currently on loan at Bundesliga outfit Borussia Monchengladbach, returning for a second spell in January after failing to impress manager David Moyes when given the chance.
The Telegraph report that La Liga giants Atletico Madrid are interested in a player valued by West Ham at £12 million. While Oxford has not kicked on at the London Stadium, failing to win over either Moyes or Slaven Bilic, the decision to sell one of their most promising academy graduates will still be very controversial.
Fortunately, however, West Ham could at least counter the disappointment among disillusioned fans by pointing out that they are doing everything possible to ensure Declan Rice commits his long term future to the club.
The 19-year-old has overtaken Oxford as West Ham’s most exciting young defender this season and has even made 17 Premier League appearances, and, amid reported interest from the likes of Arsenal, The Mail claims that The Hammers are prepared to reward Rice with a new contract and almost triple his wages to £25,000-a-week.
Keeping one young defender should at least make up for the disappointment of selling another.
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