West Ham youngster Reece Oxford could join Rangers on loan.
According to The Scottish Sun, Rangers’ proposed move to land West Ham United wonderkid Reece Oxford may be extended for the whole of next season – but the Gers have to let a defender go to sign him.
Oxford, 18, has been billed as one English football’s top prospects having come up through the ranks with West Ham, even earning comparisons to former Hammers youth product Rio Ferdinand.
West Ham manager Slaven Bilic and Reece Oxford as he is substituted
The teenager shot to prominence on the opening weekend of last season, as he turned in an almost perfect performance in an unfamiliar holding midfield role against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.
Since then, Oxford has struggled for first-team football with the Hammers, and whilst he committed his future to the club by signing a new contract in December, he continues to be linked with a loan move away from the London Stadium.
FC Lusitans’ Jose Aguilar and West Ham’s Reece Oxford in action
Now, The Scottish Sun report that Rangers have made a move to bring Oxford on loan until the end of the season, and they claim that West Ham and Oxford are confident that a deal can be struck before Tuesday’s transfer deadline.
Whilst it’s stated that Rangers’ initial offer is just until the end of the season, there may well be an option to extend the loan move for the duration of next season, with West Ham seemingly keen to get Oxford playing as much as he possibly can.
However, the problem for Rangers is that they allegedly need to make room for Oxford in order to sign him. Manager Mark Warburton already has four centre backs at his disposal in Rob Kiernan, Danny Wilson, Clint Hill and Philippe Senderos, and one reportedly has to go in order for Oxford to arrive at Ibrox.
Given that Hill and Senderos are both out of contract at the end of the season, they would be the favourites to go, especially Senderos, who has barely featured for Rangers since a disastrous debut against Celtic in September, which saw him red carded in a 5-1 defeat.
Both players are ageing and fighting for new contracts, but it may not be a huge surprise to see Rangers move Senderos out of the club in order to accommodate Oxford this month.
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