Manchester City have now made an official approach to sign West Ham starlet Reece Oxford, according to Sky Sports.
The 17-year-old was believed to be on Manchester United’s radar, but their rivals have now made the first move.
West Ham want around £15million for the midfielder, who made his first team debut against Arsenal last season aged just 16.
Oxford currently has two years left on his contract, having turned down a fresh offer at the end of last season.
So far, the Hammers have rejected a £10million bid from German outfit Red Bull Leipzig, while Newcastle also requested to take him on loan but to no avail.
The youngster may have only played 13 times at senior level, but Slaven Bilic values him so highly because of his potential.
As the youngest player ever to make a Premier League appearance, Oxford has incredible maturity, though he will need to move to a club that will nurture his development.
The sheer size of City’s squad could make that difficult, and despite his undeniable talent, it would be hard for Pep Guardiola to guarantee him game time.
Check out Football Advisor for profitable betting predictions