West Ham: Approach for Oxford; chase for Manchester City youngster; Sakho latest

By Sam Leveridge

What is expected to be a long summer battle to keep hold of under 21s captain Reece Oxford has begun, with the Telegraph reporting that Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City have made an official approach for the defender who can equally play in midfield. The 17 year old is currently away on international duty, but the Hammers youngest ever player could well be plying his trade elsewhere when he returns.

With one bid from Germany already rejected, the East London club will have to decide whether they want to keep the player they’ve had in their ranks since the age of 12, or whether they cash in on him. Whether or not Oxford is willing to sign a new deal could well play an important role, but either way, a bid of at least £15 million is expected before it will even be considered by the club.

In the reverse situation, West Ham are said to be chasing young Manchester City forward Tyrese Campbell, according to the Daily Mail. The youngster is highly rated by coaches at the club, but the 16 year old reportedly has doubts about his ability to progress whilst Pep Guardiola is in charge.

The Hammers are keen to make a move for the England youth star, but face competition from Arsenal and PSV Eindhoven, but would show Slaven Bilic’s strategy of investing in the future yet again after the earlier signing of Ashley Fletcher from Manchester United, where investment could reap rewards in a few years time.

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There is also an update on the situation of want away striker Diafra Sakho in the Standard, after he refused to join the club on a pre-season tour of Austria in order to force a move. He has now been told that he will not be sold until the East London club secure one of their striker targets, having already suffered rejection from various big names.

No one at the Olympic Stadium is keen to let the 26 year old from Senegal leave the club, but they accept that he is desperate to leave and acceptable bids are expected, with a bid already rejected from Sunderland and Crystal Palace said to be set to join them in the chase. First though, the Hammers want to ensure that they have signed another striker, as they are already short in numbers in that position and do not want to be left short, even for their Europa League qualifiers coming up soon.

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One of the possible strikers to make his way to London could be Toulouse’s striker Wissam Ben Yeder. The 25 year old has a good record at the French club, and at £8.5 million is far from a big risk financially for the Hammers, although they could face competition from Leicester, according to the Guardian.

At just 5ft7in, he would represent a change in style from many of West Ham’s forwards currently, for a player who isn’t well known for his pace or his strength in the air, but Ben Yeder is well known for being an effective poacher who would work well alongside a striker such as Andy Carroll providing the chances and with plenty of crosses into the box, as West Ham already provide.

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