---
title: "Arsenal join Manchester United in £8m race for Reece Oxford"
canonical: "https://readwestham.com/2015/12/04/arsenal-join-manchester-united-8m-race-reece-oxford/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Michael Oliver"
section: "West Ham News"
published: "2015-12-04T09:13:36Z"
modified: "2015-12-04T09:13:36Z"
---

# Arsenal join Manchester United in £8m race for Reece Oxford

Arsenal have today been linked with an £8m January swoop for highly-rated West Ham youngster Reece Oxford in the [Mirror](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/arsenal-plotting-8million-move-teenage-6950804?).

The news of the Gunners’ reported interest comes just hours after the [Times](https://readwestham.com/2015/12/04/manchester-united-make-january-bid-west-hams-reece-oxford/) stated that Manchester United were also weighing up a similar offer when the January transfer window opens next month.

The 16-year-old made his West Ham first-team debut in the Europa league qualification rounds where he became the club’s youngest-ever player at a tender age of just 16 years and 198 days, but he caught media recognition after a stellar Premier League debut away at Arsenal on the opening day of the season.

![Justin Setterfield/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readwestham.com/readwestham/2015/12/484144698.jpg)

A centre-back by trade, Oxford was deployed in central midfield by Slaven Bilic due to a number of injuries, and the England U19 international flourished and established himself as a first-team squad player for the season.

West Ham will offer Oxford a new two-and-a-half-year deal when he turns 17 later this month, but are unable to offer him longer terms due to FA restrictions on under-18 players.

Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United and Arsenal were all keen on signing Oxford last year before he put pen-to-paper on his first professional contract at Upton Park.

Oxford has made six first-team appearances for the club this season and has been an unused sub a further three times as he looks to stake his claim for a starting role in the years ahead.