Which Reece needs to go out on loan from West Ham?

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Slaven Bilic has stated that some West Ham youngsters will have to go out on loan.

After West Ham United‘s surprise exit from the Europa League on Thursday night, manager Slaven Bilic admitted that some of the clubs younger talents will need to go out on loan to gain minutes.

Speaking ahead of the club’s trip to Manchester City on Sunday afternoon Bilic said: “Probably one or two of the young players will go out on loan, now we are out of Europe. [Martin] Samuelsen and [Josh] Cullen have already gone.

“[Reece] Oxford or [Reece] Burke – one of them will probably stay here with us and one will go out on loan.”

So it raised the question – which Reece should go out on loan?

17-year-old Oxford broke onto the scene last term in the club’s opening-day victory over Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium and featured 12 times last term as well as making two Europa League appearances this season.

Reece Burke is slightly older at 19 and possesses more experience after a season-long loan deal to League One Bradford City last term, where played 36 times for The Bantams and he picked up the Player of the Year award. He also signed a new four-year contract at the London Stadium last week.

Burke is an old head on a young man’s shoulders; he plays with maturity, is strong in the tackle and is bold enough to command his area.

Bilic used Burke over Oxford in the club’s Europa League play-off second leg against Astra, where he played at left-back. He seemed comfortable and composed on the big stage, and looked at home playing in such a big game for the club. That will certainly make Bilic wonder if he is capable of stepping up to compete for a first-team place.

The long-term future of Burke looks to be as a centre-back, where he impressed immensely for Bradford. Oxford, despite playing the large majority of his football as a centre-back, has the ability to play in midfield, but he will need to evolve physically to be considered.

Despite his huge potential, Oxford has shown his vulnerabilities. In the away leg in Romania against Astra last week the teenager showed poor distribution, such as playing 50/50 balls into the midfield which resulting in losing possession, and at times being too eager to win the ball when in the tackle.

To earn the trust of Bilic, Oxford will need regular first-team games to further mature and develop himself as a player. With no experience of putting together a run of senior games as yet, could a loan favour Oxford?