West Ham United’s hugely promising youngster Reece Oxford has made a bold claim about his future prospects.
The supremely talented teenager is fresh from signing a four and a half year contract with the Hammers, snubbing interest from some of Europe’s leading clubs including Premier League trio Arsenal, Manchester United and Manchester City.
He has been rarely used since bursting onto the scene under Slaven Bilic in the memorable 2-0 win over Arsenal at the Emirates on the opening day of last season.
The 18-year-old has spent much of this season out injured but looks set for a return in the coming weeks.
West Ham’s Reece Oxford
Oxford is often likened to another Hammers academy graduate Rio Ferdinand.
But having signed a new deal the 6ft 5 star has made the bold claim on the club’s official website that he could go on to become an even better player than the likes of Ferdinand and fellow West Ham and England legend Joe Cole.
“Hopefully I can progress now,” Oxford told whufc.com.
“Seeing the old players here, the likes of Joe Cole, Rio Ferdinand, I just want to follow in their footsteps and hopefully I can be as big as them or maybe even bigger.
Rio Ferdinand
“I want to be a part of the squad and help the Club challenge for silverware by winning the FA Cup or Europa League – winning a trophy would be great. My long-term ambitions are to be captain of West Ham United one day.”
Some will see it as arrogance, others supreme confidence but wherever you stand you cannot fail to admire Oxford’s ambition.
West Ham, so long a conveyor belt of talent for the national team, have endured a barren spell in terms of academy players establishing themselves in the first team.
There has been a dearth of talent available and former manager Sam Allardyce was always reluctant to give young players a chance.
But that looks to be changing now with the likes of Oxford, fellow youngster Reece Burke and Toni Martinez coming through.
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