Manchester City have joined the £15million race to sign West Ham whizkid Reece Oxford
Scouts from Etihad club, Tottenham and Manchester United watched 17-year-old play for England U-19s against Holland
MANCHESTER CITY have joined the £15million race to sign West Ham whizkid Reece Oxford.
Scouts from City, Spurs and Manchester United watched the 17-year-old play for England U-19s against Holland on Friday.
The Hammers, who rejected a £10m offer from German side Red Bull Leipzig for Oxford, plan urgent talks to get the defender to sign a new deal. His current contract ends in two years.
Oxford is not the only player Pep Guardiola has his sights set on.
Real Sociedad keeper Geronimo Rulli, 24, is a £6.5m target for the new Etihad boss.
The Argentinian is City’s top choice as back-up for England No 1 Joe Hart. “If you want to play this type of football — and with that identity — it is also important to train with this mentality.”
Related Stories
But Chelsea will not be competing for blockbuster signings like £105million France midfielder Paul Pogba, who Antonio Conte signed from Manchester United in his spell at Juventus.
He added: “We must respect the squad. If we have fantastic wingers — Willian, Pedro, Kenedy, Cuadrado — you must understand that you can build a team to respect these types of players.
“For us, if we buy a winger for £100m we are mad. We are crazy. As it is not important for us.
“It is more important in another role — and if you spend £20m you will get a player that will adapt to our ideas and help to reinforce us.”