Rangers have reportedly lost out in the race to sign Reece Oxford.
According to The Mirror, Nottingham Forest have won the race to sign West Ham United teenager Reece Oxford, fending off competition from Brentford and Rangers.
Oxford, 18, has come up through the ranks with West Ham, and his huge potential has seen him compared to another former Hammers youngster in Rio Ferdinand over the years.
England’s Reece Oxford celebrates scoring their first goal
The teenager – who can play at centre back or in defensive midfielder – hit the headlines on the opening weekend of last season having starred in a holding midfield role against Arsenal, helping West Ham to a 2-0 win at the Emirates Stadium.
Oxford has since struggled for first-team football, and hasn’t played at all since August 18th, when he featured in a Europa League qualifying tie against Astra Giurgiu.
West Ham manager Slaven Bilic and Reece Oxford
It’s imperative that such a talented young player gets more football, and The Mirror report that he’s set to leave the club on loan before Tuesday’s transfer deadline, as Nottingham Forest have won the race for his signature.
Forest are without a permanent manager having recently sacked Philippe Montanier, but caretaker Gary Brazil wants new faces, and it seems that Oxford is set to spend the rest of the season at the City Ground.
The report states that Forest have beaten off competition from Brentford and Rangers to land Oxford, with the deal expected to be done well in advance of the deadline.
Rangers new boy Jak Alnwick reacts on Twitter after completing £250,000 move to Ibrox
The news will come as a blow for Rangers, who were hoping to land Oxford, but The Scottish Sun claim that they were unable to offload a defender to make room for Oxford, meaning he’s now on his way to Forest instead.
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