Bundesliga club Hannover 96 are interested in signing West Ham United defender Reece Oxford, according to Kicker.

What's the word?

When the teenager made his debut for the Hammers in 2015 at the age of 16, many tipped him to become a key player at the club.

Despite not even reaching his 20s yet, Oxford's trajectory has not quite gone in the right direction.

The defender has had loan spells at Reading and Borussia Monchengladbach, where he was recalled from in January only to be sent back to on deadline day by then-manager David Moyes.

Manuel Pellegrini is now the man in charge, but it looks as though the Chilean does not have Oxford in his plans.

According to Kicker, Hannover are keen to recruit a central defender before the end of the month when the window closes, and the West Ham man is on their shortlist.

Does Oxford need to leave?

The centre-back is still very young, so perhaps it would be hasty to make a big career decision at this moment.

However, there does not seem to be much indication from West Ham that there is a big desire to keep him.

Oxford needs to start picking up regular minutes if he wants his career to progress, and perhaps the best thing for him is to leave West Ham.

This season in particular would be a struggle considering that the club recently recruited defenders Issa Diop and Fabian Balbuena.

Selling a player that clearly has talent would be Pellegrini's hardest transfer call of the summer, but it is also his easiest given the options he has at centre-back and the apparent desire of the youngster to go.

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