According to reports from The Sun, Manchester City are stepping up their interest in Reece Oxford in a bid to beat Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United to the West Ham prodigy’s signature.
The 17-year-old hugely impressed during a 2-0 win over Gunners on the opening day of the season, shackling one of the Premier League’s most potent creators in Mesut Ozil upon his senior debut for the East London side.
His participation in first team affairs has been rather limited since, managing only another 58 minutes in the Premier League, but the division’s top clubs have tracked the England U17 for some time.
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Indeed, scouts from Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United reportedly monitored his progress with the Hammers’ U21 squad last term and the Gunners and the Red Devils have since been linked with £8million bids for the summer transfer window.
But according to The Sun, who also document Liverpool as avid admirers, Manchester City are hoping to steal a march on their rival suitors by stepping up their interest in the defender-come-midfielder.
Citizens scouts have been watching Oxford in action at U21 level recently and the Etihad outfit are now preparing a summer bid of their own, as incoming manager Pep Guardiola plans a huge overhaul of the squad he’s set to inherit from Manuel Pellegrini.