Oxford stalls on new contract?

Rather a worrying piece in the Daily Mail, claiming that 17-year-old Reece Oxford is stalling on signing a new contract and could leave for Man United when his contract expires a the end of the season. The only reason I can think of for selling James Tomkins was to give Oxford more games, and now it could be we lose both players. West Ham fans are always slightly wary of discussing teenage potential — Stuart Slater was a future genius and Alan Dickens was billed as the next Trevor Brooking and Freddie Sears the next Tony Cottee — but Oxford's performances for England U-18s and West Ham do suggest rich promise. So let's hope the contract impasse is sorted out soon. Meanwhile if Reece is as good as everyone thinks, after eight goals conceded in two games by WHU he might be worthy of a place either in defence or midfield. Some more first team action might convince him where his future lies.