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If West Ham sell Reece Oxford, Toni Martinez’s breakthrough is more important than ever

General view outside the stadium prior to the Carabao Cup Third Round match between West Ham United and Bolton Wanderers at The London Stadium on S...
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West Ham United need to show faith in some of their talented youngsters or risk losing the lot.

Reece Oxford of West Ham United is tackled by Fin Bartels of SV Werder Bremen during the Betway Cup match between West Ham Utd and SV Werder Bremen at Boleyn Ground on August 2, 2015 in...

According to the Sun, West Ham United could sell Reece Oxford to Borussia Monchengladbach for just £6million in January, which could go down as one of the biggest mistakes in their recent history considering the player’s innate talent.

Yet if the Hammers do cash in on the versatile 18-year-old, Toni Martinez’s breakthrough could be more important than ever for those West Ham fans desperate to see some of the next generation given a chance.

Toni Martinez of West Ham United closes down louis Ramsey of Norwich City during the Premier League 2 match between West Ham United and Norwich City at Chigwell Construction Stadium on...

Oxford was just 16 when he proved his worth with an outstanding performance against Arsenal yet it seems that, for whatever reason, he does not have a future at the London Stadium.

There are plenty of West Ham supporters who feel former boss Slaven Bilic should have put his faith in Oxford when he had the chance. But the Croatian has now gone, leaving David Moyes to put things right and hopefully give some of the club’s young talent a chance in the process.

It would be a massive blow seeing Oxford move on, especially to a club where he has barely featured since arriving on loan last summer. Yet it would also be a reminder that young talent needs the chance to impress or risk falling by the wayside.

David Moyes, Manager of West Ham United looks on prior to the Premier League match between West Ham United and Chelsea at London Stadium on December 9, 2017 in London, England.

In Martinez, West Ham have one of the most exciting and prolific young forwards in the country right now, with the 20-year-old Spaniard scoring 24 goals in just 27 appearances for the Hammers’ under-23s.

Martinez is the real deal, but then so is Oxford, and at least one of them should get the chance to stake a claim for a regular first-team spot at a club that once prided itself on giving youth a chance.