Want-away West Ham United ace Reece Oxford should interest Leeds United.
Reece Oxford told The Times this weekend that he is tempted to leave West Ham United due to a shortage of first-team football.
The versatile 19-year-old hasn’t kicked a ball all season long for the Irons and a January exit looks on the cards, going by his comments.
And if West Ham make him available, Leeds United should certainly be in the queue.
By virtue of the fact that Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa had to give 20-year-old Finnish star Aapo Halme his senior debut on Saturday, you could argue that the Argentine is not as well stocked on centre-back options as he is other positions.
Bielsa does have Liam Cooper, and Pontus Jansson isn’t a long-term absentee, but there is room for another centre-back in January and what an addition Oxford – who can also play central midfield – would be.
The West Ham man was dubbed the next big thing in English football over three years ago following a barnstorming display away to Arsenal, but his career has stifled since then.
Oxford, who is still just 19, needs somewhere to rebuild his career after a difficult few years and the prospect of seeing him improve under Bielsa is an exciting one.
The former Marseille and Bilbao boss is lauded for his man-management skills and Oxford might find it difficult to reject the advances of a coach who could potentially take his game to the next level.
The teenager, who spent two spells at Borussia Monchengladbach last season, is contracted to the East Londoners until 2021, and is worth around £6.9 million [CIES, Football Observatory].
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
