If we are to believe what some of today's papers have been saying, Manchester United and rivals City are set to lock horns off the field as well as on.
United are said to be lining up a move for West Ham’s talented youngster Reece Oxford with the Daily Mail suggesting that the Hammers’ chances of keeping the player are looking ‘increasingly bleak’.
The paper also reports that the 17-year-old has signed a new deal with Nike that ‘will net him a significant rise from his previous contract’, although Oxford is stalling at the moment.
Stories were circulating in the summer that Oxford had been offered a £20,000-a-week contract by Bundesliga club Red Bull Leipzig, who have already snapped up Oliver Burke from Nottingham Forest.
West Ham have put an £18million price tag on the youngster who is likely to stay in this country, with City also interested.
England Under 20 defender Oxford, who became the club’s youngest ever player to make his debut for the club at the age of 16 years and 198 days, has been likened to Rio Ferdinand.
He has made seven first team appearances for the Hammers, but is yet to feature under Slaven Bilic in the top flight this term. However, given the way the West Ham defence has been shipping goals, future opportunities could be around the corner.
Meanwhile, United are also being linked with another teenage sensation, Leon Bailey, the Genk starlet who was named young player of the year in Belgium last season.
The 19-year-old is also being monitored by Chelsea and City. Another Manchester showdown to whet the appetite.
City might consider themselves favourites to win the race for Bailey as Kevin De Bruyne also came through the youth system at Genk to become one of THE stars in the Premier League.
Bailey has represented Jamaica at Under 23 level, but is yet to play for the full national team. Only a matter of time, according to former Ajax boss Frank de Boer who says Bailey has ‘no weaknesses in his game’.
* Pep Guardiola is also said to be plotting a sensational January move for Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez. But why Guardiola needs Sanchez when he's aleady got Sergio Aguero, is anybody's guess.
Source: DSG
