Everton are plotting a swoop to sign West Ham centre-back Reece Oxford in the January transfer window, according to the Daily Mail.
The newspaper has claimed on their live transfer blow [Sunday, 01:17pm] that the Toffees are readying a move for Oxford, 19, if he leaves the London Stadium due to his lack of first-team football.
It is understood that the 6ft 3 (transfermarkt) colossus would only considering leaving West Ham on a permanent basis rather than on loan and Manchester City and Borussia Monchengladbach are also credited with an interest in the defender.
Good move for Everton?
Oxford was very highly-rated at West Ham a few years ago but the centre-back has not really shown any major signs of development in the last couple of seasons where he has struggled out on loan with Reading and Monchengladbach.
At 19-years-of-age, he still has a lot of time to improve himself, but if Everton want to sign someone who is bound to break into their first team, then they should be looking at someone a bit better than someone who is just an Under-23s regular and had a failed loan spell at a bottom-half Championship club.
Oxford could be a good signing but he could also be a bit of a risk.
Do Everton really need him anyway?
This is Futbol rating 5/10
Likely to happen?
Oxford is probably fed up by the lack of first team chances at West Ham so there is a good chance that he could be on the move at some point in 2019.
The England Under-20 international qualifies as home-grown talent, which helps Everton as they aim for European football qualification this season, but that is also something that Man City would like about the teenager.
At the moment it looks likely that he will leave the Hammers, but it is hard to tell where he will end up.
This is Futbol rating 6/10