Rangers moveto bring in Oxford

RANGERS have contacted West Ham about a deal to take defender Reece Oxford on-loan until the end of the season.

The highly-rated 18-year-old Londoner, became the youngest first team player in the club’s history at the age of 16 years and 198 days when he started their Europa League qualifier against Andorran side FC Lusitanos in July 2015.

He’s also second youngest in the history of the Premier League after he started in a 2-0 win against Arsenal later that season.

Oxford has yet to play a league match for the Hammers this season, having appeared in their Europa League qualifiers then ruled out for two months with an ankle injury. Reports emanating south of the border suggested the Ibrox

side

had made an approach this week for the player, who has played for England at every youth level from Under-16 up to Under-20.

While Slaven Bilic has made no secret of his admiration of a player who he feels can be “world class” in years to come, handing him a new four-and-a-half year deal on his birthday in December amid rumoured interest from Manchester United, Manchester City and Arsenal, whether he is able to afford him badly needed playing time this season remains to be seen.

Oxford is fully fit again having been on West Ham’s bench three times during the month of January, but should the Croat decide that his first steps are better taken on loan, there is likely to be plenty of competition for the services of the 6ft 3in defender who is also comfortable in midfield.

Should he agree to the deal, he would become Rangers’ third loan signing of the January transfer window - following the arrivals of Jon Toral from Arsenal and Bournemouth midfielder Emerson Hyndman.