West Ham put £18m price-tag on defender Reece Oxford amid Manchester United and Manchester City's interest in youngster - Manchester United and Manchester City are interested in Reece Oxford
- West Ham will demand £18million if they allow defender to move on
- Oxford starred for England Under 19s at European Championship
- Bundesliga club Red Bull Leipzig saw £10m bid for Oxford rejected
West Ham have placed an £18million price tag on starlet defender Reece Oxford who is attracting widespread attention after taking England to the semi-finals of the European Under-19s Championship.Manchester City and Manchester United are among the clubs closely monitoring 17-year-old Oxford, who is currently involved in a contractual stand-off with West Ham.Newly-promoted Bundesliga club Red Bull Leipzig have already made a £10m offer for Oxford that would have netted the youngster £20,000-a-week, but it was rejected by Hammers chief David Sullivan.Oxford, who was part of the England side knocked out by Italy in the Euro semi-final on Thursday, sprung to prominence a year ago when he became the Premier League's youngest player in Slaven Bilic's first league game against Arsenal.
He went on to play a total of 12 games last season and West Ham now have a major decision to make as he enters the final two years of his contract with no progress on a new deal. The two sides are believed to be a long way apart on wages and bonuses.
With the Hammers demanding £18m for him, there is a belief his salary should reflect that valuation.
Manuel Lanzini's loan deal has become a permanent £9.4m transfer and he is believed to be on at least three times what Oxford has been offered.
City's Director of Football Txiki Begiristain in particular is aware of Oxford's development as he seeks to increase the number of British homegrown players over the next five years.
Oxford was a pivotal member of Aidy Boothroyd's young England team that defeated Croatia, France and Holland in Germany this month before exiting in the last-four with a 2-1 defeat against Italy.
He is expected to feature again for England Under-20s at next summer's World Cup in Korea.
Bilic described London-born Oxford as 'mobile and quick' after his impact last season but will now be forced to wait to see if the player and club can reach agreement or if the player moves on elsewhere.
The Hammers have signed seven players this summer including Lanzini. Tony Martinez, Havard Nodtveit, Sofiane Feghouli, Domingos Quina and Manchester United youngster Ashley Fletcher have signed for the club on a permanent basis with Besiktas winger Gokhan Tore arriving on loan.
But the club are still trying to sign the A-list centre-forward Bilic has demanded.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3705086/West-Ham-18m-price-tag-defender-Reece-Oxford-amid-Manchester-United-Manchester-City-s-youngster.html#ixzz4FJk9sWYk
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