JOSE Mourinho is eyeing his first new signing of the summer after Manchester United submitted a formal £15m offer to West Ham for highly-rated defender Reece Oxford, according to the Express.
Mourinho was confirmed as the new United manager last week and the former Chelsea supremo is expected to be busy in the transfer market this summer rebuilding the squad he’s inherited from Louis van Gaal.
The so-called ‘Special One’ has traditionally been known for buying expensive established players at his previous clubs but it appears he may be switching his focus to youth at Old Trafford with Reece Oxford seemingly on his radar.
The 17-year-old has emerged as one of England’s brightest prospects since breaking in to the West Ham first team last season and he was hugely impressive in his 12 appearances in all competitions for the East Londoners.
The Express claim that Mourinho has made Oxford one of his prime transfer targets and has now sanctioned a formal £15m deal that would see United pay West Ham an initial £10m with a further £5m in performance-based add ons.
Oxford still has two years remaining on his current contract and West Ham insist he isn’t for sale despite the teenager turning down their latest long-term contract extension offer worth a reported £12,000-a-week.
There is no indication in the newspapers report as to whether the Hammers have officially rejected United’s opening bid but Oxford would be an exciting signing if the Red Devils could pull it off this summer.
The youngster is predominantly seen as a centre-back but he’s also capable of playing as a defensive midfielder so it would be interesting to see where Mourinho would play him if he was to make the move to Old Trafford.
Oxford began his youth career at Tottenham but moved to Upton Park in 2011 and progressed through their academy to become an England international at every youth level from Under-16 to Under-19, so he certainly has a bright future ahead of him.
