MANCHESTER UNITED are interested in signing West Ham’s Reece Oxford after sending scouts to watch the youngster in action.
Oxford played a starring role in the Hammers’ Under-21 Premier League Cup final win over Hull on Wednesday with a United observer in attendance.
The 17-year-old is already in high demand, with Manchester City and Arsenal both keen on snapping up the versatile defender who become the youngest player ever to debut for the Hammers when he featured against the Gunners earlier this season aged just 16 years and 198 days.
City have been monitoring him ever since and, with the club looking to bolster their ranks with English players, Oxford would give them a long-term home-grown option at the back.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is reportedly plotting a £10million bid for the West Ham starlet who penned a two-year deal at Upton Park earlier this season, but it now appears that United are in the driving seat for the teenager’s signature.
However, as the Sun reports, ambitious West Ham are determined to keep hold of their star prodigy.
Hammers co-chairman David Gold said: “He is the highest-paid 17-year-old in the history of the club and has the highest signing-on fee of any 17-year-old who has ever been here.
“He signed for two years at the age of 17 and that’s the maximum length allowed.
“But we are optimistic he will be here for a long time. We will keep him. He is an exceptional talent.”
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