Reece Oxford appears to have no future at West Ham United and that reportedly presents an opportunity for another Premier League club – Everton.
After being appointed as Everton’s new director of football, esteemed Marcel Brands was at pains to point out that young, promising talents would be central to his transfer strategy at Goodison Park.
So, if West Ham United see no future for Reece Oxford at the London Stadium, he would be a typical signing for a man who discovered the likes of Dries Mertens and Gini Wijnaldum in his time in the Eredivisie.
According to Sky Sports (live blog, 12.36pm), Everton are weighing up a bid worth £3 million to sign Oxford before the transfer window slams shut next week.
The versatile defender exploded on to the scene as one of the most promising talents in English football, when he made his Premier League debut at the age of just 16 on the opening day of the 2015/16 season.
Oxford shone at the base of Slaven Bilic’s midfield as the Hammers beat Arsenal 2-0 at the Emirates, drawing comparisons with another West Ham academy graduate in Rio Ferdinand.
But the now 19-year-old has made just seven Premier League appearances since then and did not feature regularly during loan spells at Reading and Borussia Monchengladbach either. As a result, Sky Sports claimed in July that West Ham would be willing to sell.
It was reported that they would want £10 million for Oxford, however, so Everton getting him for just £3 million seems unlikely.
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