Championship club set to land West Ham United’s 17-year-old gem on loan

West Ham United are set to send highly-rated defender Reece Oxford out on loan next season to a Championship club, according to The Sun (via HITC Sport).

The Premier League side, who currently sit sixth in the English top-flight standings after easily defeating West Brom 3-0 at the Hawthorns on Saturday afternoon, want the young centre-half to gain valuable first-team action away from the London outfit during the forthcoming 2016-17 campaign to aid his development.

The 17-year-old, who is an England Under-19 international, has made 12 first-team appearances in all competitions for the Hammers so far this season under manager Slaven Bilic.

Oxford became West Ham’s youngest ever player after making his competitive debut last July after featuring in the club’s 3-0 victory over FC Lusitanos in their UEFA Europa League qualifying first round first-leg.

The report suggests that boss Bilic is keen on lending Oxford’s services to a Championship potentially bidding for promotion to the Premier League next term.