OPINION
West Ham are in the process of streamlining their squad ahead of the new season following a summer of big spending, and one of the players who could be on the way out is academy graduate Reece Oxford.
Oxford spent last season on loan in Germany with Bundesliga side Borussia Monchengladbach, and seemed to impress during his time there.
However, Monchengladbach are yet to return with an offer to take Oxford permanently, and the future of the 19-year-old is far from certain ahead of deadline day.
According to the Daily Mail, Premier League rivals Everton are now showing interest in striking a deal for the versatile enforcer, who has failed to push on since his impressive domestic debut against Arsenal in 2015/16.
And, despite Oxford’s dwindling reputation in east London, the Hammers must avoid selling the young starlet to the Toffees this summer.
Oxford may have not made enough progress since his early days among the first-team squad, but there is obvious talent there, and to sell him on to a rival would be a move that the club may regret making.
The defender is still so young at 19 years old, and his potential ceiling is still so high, no matter the delay in development that has occurred in recent years.
The youngster has a contract with the club until 2021, so it is not as if the club are in a rush to cash in and sell him while they can.
Ideally, the Hammers can find a club willing to loan Oxford for another season, and must then hope that he pushes on and starts to become the brilliant player the club believe he can be.
In any case, a sale to Everton would be a criminal move from the Hammers, who would be risking so much by allowing one of their young talents to join a rival.
They must now banish any thoughts of that transfer going through and work out a better move for Oxford to make before deadline day.
