Paper Talk
Brendan Rodgers is facing D-Day in the Merseyside derby, with Liverpool's owners ready to pull the trigger if they lose at Everton.
Manchester United defender Marcos Rojo is a January target for Zenit St Petersburg. Argentina international Rojo fell out of favour with manager Louis van Gaal in the summer after failing to report for the club's pre-season tour of the United States over problems with his passport.
Everton boss Roberto Martinez has stepped up his interest in £12m-rated Swiss sensation Breel Embolo.
Manchester City are leading the chase for Benfica midfielder Victor Andrade.
Newcastle are weighing up a January move for Wolves striker Benik Afobe.
Brendan Rodgers faces the axe if Liverpool lose the Merseyside derby to Everton.
Emotional Dick Advocaat shed a tear on the touchline during his last match as Sunderland boss.
Jose Mourinho told Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich that he will have to sack him if he wants to make another managerial change after watching the club slump to a 3-1 defeat to Southampton.
Sunderland sporting director Lee Congerton has handed in his notice and is set to follow Dick Advocaat out of the Stadium of Light
Real Madrid's Gareth Bale and Sergio Ramos are fit to return for Sunday's derby at Atletico Madrid but James Rodriguez has been ruled out.
Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney claims it is harder to win the Premier League now than in any of his five championship-winning seasons.
West Ham have refused to allow Reece Oxford to represent England at the U17 World Cup. They fear their 16-year-old midfielder risks burnout if he plays too much football at a tender age.
Bayern Munich are more confident that Pep Guardiola will agree to extend his time at the club though they have yet to hold detailed contract talks with the Catalan coach.
Man United boss Louis van Gaal is urging Roy Hodgson to rest Wayne Rooney.
Sean Dyche and Nigel Pearson are the favourites for the Sunderland job If Dick Advocaat finally quits.
Newcastle are considering a move to buy back defender Mathieu Debuchy from Arsenal.
Chris Smalling has revealed he could have been playing against Man United at The Emirates today. The England centre-half, 25, was an Arsenal target when he joined United from Fulham for £11m five years ago.
Liverpool are keen on Portsmouth's highly-rated striker Conor Chaplin. The 18-year-old has just signed a new three-year contract with Portsmouth, who want to protect their asset as big clubs circle.
Arsenal are ready to offer Alexis Sanchez a five-year, £130,000-a-week new contract. Chile international Sanchez - who helped the Gunners win the FA Cup last season and scored the winner for his country in the summer's Copa America final - has proved to be an outstanding buy for manager Arsene Wenger.
Dick Advocaat is expected to leave Sunderland on Sunday after saying farewell to his players after Saturday's 2-2 draw with West Ham. The veteran Dutch coach is believed to have quit after sporting director Lee Congerton's departure.
Sean Dyche will be back in the frame to become Sunderland manager if Dick Advocaat quits - having come within minutes of landing the job in the summer.
Philippe Coutinho has told his big mate Neymar that he is staying put at Liverpool - the grandeur and riches of Barcelona will have to wait.
Juventus' fresh pursuit of Arsenal defender Mathieu Debuchy is the result of a sudden injury problem within Massimiliano Allegri's squad.
Barcelona will not pursue their interest in Celta Viga star Nolito after hearing his transfer fee.
BBC
Sunderland boss Dick Advocaat, 68, is expected to leave the club in the next few days. (Sunday Telegraph)
Former West Ham manager Sam Allardyce, 60, is ready to succeed Advocaat. (Sunday Times - subscription required)
Sporting director Lee Congerton is set to join Advocaat in departing the Stadium of Light. (Observer)
Arsenal are set to offer forward Alexis Sanchez, 26, a new five-year contract worth £130,000 a week. (Sunday Mirror)
Liverpool will compete with Arsenal to sign Napoli striker Gonzalo Higuain, 27, in January. (Fichajes - in Spanish)
Manager Louis van Gaal sent his Manchester United scouts to watch 23-year-old Porto defender Bruno Martins Indi in their 2-1 Champions League win over Chelsea. (O Jogo via Sunday Express)
Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group could dismiss manager Brendan Rodgers, 42, if they lose Sunday's Merseyside derby against Everton. (Sunday People)
The Anfield club are secretly setting up a home in Formby for a 'surprise guest' to use for an extended stay from November. (Sun on Sunday - subscription required)
Liverpool midfielder Philippe Coutinho says it is "truly an honour" to be praised by former Reds captain Steven Gerrard, who wrote in his autobiography the club should "treasure" the 23-year-old Brazilian. (Sunday Telegraph)
However, according to compatriot and Paris St-Germain defender David Luiz, Coutinho will not stay at Anfield next season if Liverpool do not qualify for the Champions League. (Sunday Express)
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, 65, says he will make an "impulsive" decision on retirement. (Sun on Sunday - subscription required)
Manchester City are favourites to sign Benfica's Brazilian midfielder Victor Andrade, 20, who is valued at £25m by the Portuguese club. (Sunday Mirror)
Out-of-favour Manchester United goalkeeper Victor Valdes, 33, may join Spanish club Sevilla in January on a free transfer. (Mundo Deportivo - in Spanish)
Everton, Liverpool and Southampton are interested in signing £12m-rated Ajax winger Anwar El Ghazi, 20. (Sunday People)
Former Manchester United defender Denis Irwin believes fellow Irishman Roy Keane should have been on Sir Alex Ferguson's list of world-class players he managed at Old Trafford. (Mail on Sunday)
Despite his side sitting third in the Premier League, Crystal Palace boss Alan Pardew, 54, says he "won't ever let it rest" until he gets to manage "one of the big clubs". (Mail on Sunday)
Everton boss Roberto Martinez says he does not "entertain what's happened in the past" as they seek their first Merseyside derby victory for five years against Liverpool. (Liverpool Echo)
Best of social media
No-one had a better day on Saturday than Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero, who scored five goals in 20 minutes against Newcastle. He tweeted: "Very happy about the five goals and the victory. Thank you all for the encouragement and support. C'mon, City!"
Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri has promised his team pizza when they keep a clean sheet but, following a 2-1 win at Norwich, defender Christian Fuchs tweeted: "Hey @LCFC. Who cares about a clean sheet? THREE POINTS LADS!!! Have a great trip home!"
Midfielder James McArthur said everyone is "buzzing" at Crystal Palace after victory over West Brom took the Eagles into third position.
And finally...
Newcastle players will be issued with club suits for the next home game against Norwich after Chancel Mbemba and Florian Thauvin arrived for matches wearing tuxedos. (Newcastle Chronicle)
Bolivia's national team wielded guns and were urged to give everything for the team during a visit to the country's military college before the South American 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign begins. (Guardian)
Wayne and Coleen Rooney spent nearly £150,000 on the kitchen for their Cheshire home - despite not cooking. (Sun on Sunday - subscription required)
Mail
Sunderland 2-2 West Ham United: Jeremain Lens goes from hero to villain as he sees red after incredible first-half lob gave Dick Advocaat's Black Cats a two-goal lead which was then squandered
Steven Fletcher gave Sunderland a 10th minute lead with a left-footed finish from a well-worked free-kick routine
Jeremain Lens then doubled Sunderland's advantage at the Stadium of Light with a sublime lob on 22 minutes
Carl Jenkinson got West Ham back into the game after surging into the box from right back just before the break
Lens then picked up his second yellow card with a reckless tackle from behind Winston Reid in the 57th minute
Dimitri Payet then netted on the hour for the Irons after Costel Pantilimon could only parry a Manuel Lanzini shot
By Craig Hope for The Mail on Sunday
Dick Advocaat cried at the sight of his Sunderland team finally bringing smiles to the faces of supporters in his last match at the Stadium of Light – but they were all left wearing a familiar grimace as a two-goal lead was surrendered in typically calamitous fashion.
The 68-year-old – who is set to quit after becoming disillusioned with life at the Premier League’s perennial strugglers – welled with emotion during a first half which ranks as the best performance of his seven months on Wearside.
That they were then reduced to 10 men and left clinging to a point serves to highlight the challenge facing the man who replaces Advocaat at the crisis club, who will also lose sporting director Lee Congerton in the coming days.
Dimitri Payet nets West Ham's equaliser on the hour after Sunderland stopper Costel Pantilimon could only parry a Manuel Lanzini shot
Croatia international Nikica Jelavic high-fives Dimitri Payet (right) after the 28-year-old Frenchman's right-footed goal for the Hammers
Referee Neil Swarbrick sends off Jeremain Lens after he picked up his second yellow with a reckless tackle from behind on Winston Reid
img src=http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2015/10/03/16/2D0B1E9600000578-3258706-image-a-19_1443886150817.jpg width=700>
Lens looked surprised to have been shown a red card but he could have no complaints as he left his side to face West Ham with 10 men
Carl Jenkinson (right) got West Ham back into the game after surging into the box from right back and finishing with his left foot
Afterwards, Advocaat refused to confirm he will leave the Black Cats but, tellingly, he said: ‘It's been difficult because sometimes I cannot do what I want to do, but they are good guys and they have shown what they are really capable of. It's good for the future of the club.’
When pressed directly on his own situation, he added: ‘I cannot say that (I will be manager for the next game). But I do not want to discuss my own future, you will hear one way or the other. Let’s wait and see.
‘I have made a decision on my future. It (my future) has nothing to do with this game.’
In fairness, winless Sunderland were unrecognisable from the rabble of recent weeks as they shot into a deserved two-goal lead thanks to goals from Steven Fletcher and Jeremain Lens.
But a Carl Jenkinson reply on the stroke of half-time stunned a buoyant home crowd and, after Lens was needlessly sent off for a second bookable offence, Dimitri Payet levelled on the hour mark.
Advocaat reflected: ‘The way we played was very positive for everyone. We showed the commitment you need in football. We were a joy to watch from the sidelines.
‘We could have been 3-0 or 4-0 up against a good side. That goal in the last minute of the half made a big difference.
‘The red card changed the game but the second goal was a joke the way we gave that away. That was frustrating because it’s not the first time we have given that type of goal away.
Holland international Lens scores Sunderland's second goal in the 22nd minute with a sublime, chipped finish
Holland international Lens scores Sunderland's second goal in the 22nd minute with a sublime, chipped finish
He received a pass from Yann M'Vila and from a couple of yards outside the area lobbed the ball over West Ham goalkeeper, Adrian
‘Overall I was very proud, the commitment was great.’
Opposite number Slaven Bilic embraced Advocaat on full-time, and revealed: ‘I told him to stay. First of all I feel sorry for all of the managers because of the pressure they are under from the media.
‘I know Dick, I am a big admirer. If he goes the Premier League will miss him.’
Even if Sunderland had won it would not have changed Advocaat’s mind. However, he might well have been having second thoughts during a blistering first-half display of energy, invention and endeavour – the sort of which has been unseen in these parts of late.
Their opener bore all the hallmarks of Manchester United’s cunning free-kick routine versus Liverpool last month. With all anticipating a cross into the area, set-piece taker Yann M’Vila skidded the ball back to the penalty spot where Fletcher had peeled free to fire first time through bodies.
It might have been two – half of the ground thought it was – when Fabio Borini smashed into the side-netting from a narrow angle moments later.
But there was no doubt about the goal which doubled Sunderland’s lead on 22 minutes, although West Ham were entirely complicit in the concession.
Payet’s pass sold Winston Reid short and that allowed M’Vila to spring Lens clear who dispatched the most delicate of chips above Adrian and in via the underside of the crossbar.
M'Vila played a low cross across the box to pick out the run of Fletcher, who had escaped the mass of bodies in the area
M'Vila played a low cross across the box to pick out the run of Fletcher, who had escaped the mass of bodies in the area
West Ham's English captain Mark Noble attempts a tackle on Sunderland's Swedish attacking midfielder Ola Toivonen (left)
West Ham striker Diafra Sakho (left) gives chase to a through ball alongside Sunderland's Uruguayan centre half, Sebastian Coates
Advocaat raced to the touchline in celebration before settling back in his seat with tears in his eyes.
If they were tears of joy then he might well have flooded the dugout had John O’Shea made it three when his header, from Lens’ corner, was kept out by the desperate claw of Adrian.
Borini, though, should have put the game out of sight after Fletcher’s impudent flick set him in the clear but the former Liverpool forward, with time to measure his shot, slotted the wrong side of the upright.
Instead of heading into the break three goals to the good, their lead was cut to just one in stoppage time as Jenkinson finished from Victor Moses’ cross.
West Ham were in the ascendancy after the restart and their task was made all the easier by Lens’ needless red card. He was given a second yellow by Neil Swarbrick when his reckless scissor challenge downed Reid in harmless territory.
Within two minutes West Ham were level as Manuel Lanzini’s swerving effort was hopelessly parried by Costel Pantilimon and Payet stole in to tuck home his fourth of the season and earn a point for the Hammers.
Advocaat, when later asked about his tears, said: ‘I’m always emotional after goals because we don’t score that many.
‘I was very surprised at the way we played – they played really well.’
And therein lies the reason why he has decided he can take this Sunderland team no further.
Noble waves to the travelling West Ham supporters prior to the match, with Victor Moses (left) leaving the team coach behind him
MATCH FACTS
SUNDERLAND (4-2-3-1): Pantilimon 4; Yedlin 6.5, O'Shea 6.5, Coates 6, Jones 6; Cattermole 6.5, M'Vila 7 (Gomez 90); Lens 5, Toivonen 7 (Larsson 84), Borini 6.5; Fletcher 7 (Rodwell 84).
Subs not used: Van Aanholt, Brown, Defoe, Mannone.
Scorers: Fletcher 10, Lens 22.
Bookings: Lens, Coates.
Sent off: Lens.
WEST HAM UNITED (4-2-3-1): Adrian 5; Jenkinson 6.5, Reid 5 (Collins 66, 6), Tomkins 6, Cresswell 6; Kouyate 6, Noble 6 (Zarate 79, 6); Lanzini 7, Payet 6.5, Moses 5.5 (Jelavic 58, 6); Sakho 5.5.
Subs not used: Randolph, Obiang, Antonio, Oxford.
Scorers: Jenkinson 45, Payet 60.
Bookings: Noble, Cresswell, Jenkinson.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Referee: Neil Swarbrick (Lancashire) 7.
Attendance: 42,932.
Man of the Match: Yann M'Vila.
Guardian
Embattled 10-man Sunderland throw away two-goal lead to West Ham United
Louise Taylor at the Stadium of Light
When the final whistle blew, Slaven Bilic stepped straight over to Dick Advocaat and hugged Sunderland’s manager unusually long and hard. Then the Dutchman took a fleeting look around the four corners of the stadium, issued a brief wave and promptly turned on his heel before heading down the tunnel.
Had he been an actor playing the part of a departing head coach, Advocaat would have absolutely nailed it. In reality the 68-year-old is set to walk into retirement after apparently resolving to leave the task of masterminding Sunderland’s latest relegation battle to someone else – he went so far as to bid his farewells to the squad in the dressing room after the game.
Why else was he fighting back the tears after Jeremain Lens (later sent off) put Sunderland two up? “I’m always emotional after goals – we don’t score many,” he joked during a light-hearted press conference that had the air of a farewell briefing.
“Yes, I have made a decision on my future,” he teased. “I don’t want to discuss my future now. Let’s wait and see.” In an earlier television interview he had described one of his team’s best performances of a generally wretched season as boding well for “the club in the future” but at other moments Advocaat used the word “we”. So was it still his team then? “It’s still my team today,” he replied. “And tomorrow.” Did that mean he might stay on longer? “No, I can’t say that.”
His West Ham counterpart is hoping for a U-turn. “I told him to stay,” said Bilic. “I would really like him to stay, he’s a man of knowledge and experience. It would be a pity and shame if he goes. I really hope he stays.”
Any change of heart seems unlikely, with a scheduled training session for already cancelled.
With Advocaat doing nothing to contradict the impression he was preparing to bid Wearside goodbye, his players, initially at least, appeared to be mounting an 11th-hour attempt to win him back.
Sharper, slicker, hungrier and consistently half a yard quicker than West Ham during the first 45 minutes, Sunderland appeared to have undergone a most extraordinary makeover. Virtually un-recognisable from their underachieving recent selves, they reduced Bilic to a study in quiet technical area fury as they strove to secure a first Premier League win of the season.
Advocaat’s decision to leave Jermain Defoe on the bench and deploy Steven Fletcher as his lone striker in a new look 4-2-3-1 formation swiftly paid dividends. When Carl Jenkinson conceded a silly free-kick for a needless shove on Fabio Borini, Yann M’Vila slid it low towards Fletcher who had made a late dash into the danger area. With West Ham confused by John O’Shea’s decoy run the Scotland striker used his left foot to sweep the ball beyond Adrián.
Across in the dugout Advocaat remained impassive, standing in arms-folded mode as the stadium erupted in celebration. Finally, he unfurled his hands and gave a gentle clap. By the time Lens doubled Sunderland’s advantage though, the Dutchman looked tearful.
This time Dimitri Payet’s slapdash pass sold James Tomkins horribly short an Lens nipped in to assume possession. All that remained was for the winger to spot Adrián slightly off his line and produce a delicate lob which went in off the underside of the bar. Choruses of “Dick, Dick Advocaat” echoed around the ground.
With Adrián saving well from O’Shea and Borini directing a couple of decent chances agonisingly wide his side could have been four up by half-time but, instead, West Ham rallied. Spotting the home defence’s failure to cut out Victor Moses’s cross, Jenkinson steamed, unimpeded, into the area, his left-footed 12-yard shot proving too good for Costel Pantilimon.
Undermining as that goal threatened to be, Sunderland – with Lee Cattermole impressing once again in a defensive midfield role alongside M’Vila – remained awkward opponents. Or at least they did until Lens saw red. A sly kick at the rear of Winston Reid’s legs prompted the winger’s second yellow card – and an early wallow in the Radox. “It totally changed the game,” said Advocaat.
Sure enough, Payet soon equalised. When Pantilimon could only parry a Manuel Lanzini shot he should have held, Payet was first to the rebound, his crisp dispatch redirecting it into the back of the net. Suddenly nerves corroded Sunderland’s reflexes. Yet if Nikica Jelavic spurned an inviting opening to win it for West Ham, Mark Noble was lucky to escape a second yellow card after obstructing Borini.
“I was surprised by the way we played,” said Advocaat. “I’m very proud.”
Telegraph
Dick Advocaat's side throw away two-goal lead
By Luke Edwards, Stadium of Light
Dick Advocaat is expected to quit today as manager of Sunderland, leaving the club searching for their sixth manager in just four years.
Nigel Pearson, the former Leicester City manager who, like Advocaat, kept his side up against the odds last season and the Burnley manager Sean Dyche are early favourites to succeed the Dutchman.
The Sunday Telegraph understands that Sam Allardyce, who would also be under consideration, is reluctant to return to management so soon after leaving West Ham United in June.
Carl Jenkinson scored the first goal for West Ham
“I don’t want to discuss my own future, you will hear one way or the other,” Advocaat said, when asked if he could clear the matter up after his side drew 2-2 with West Ham.
“Let’s wait and see. It [my future] has nothing to do with this game, but yes. I have made a decision.”
Asked earlier whether he could say that he would be in charge of the team against West Bromwich Albion after the international break, Advocaat said: “No, I can’t say that.” He insisted that they had shown against West Ham that they are good enough to stay up.
Match possession stats
“I have mixed emotions. The way we played today was very positive for everyone. We showed the commitment you need in football. We were a joy to watch. We could have been 3-0 or 4-0 up against a good side. I was very surprised at the way we played – they played really well. If you play this way there is no reason to worry.”
The Black Cats produced their best performance of the season, created enough chances to win two games, yet somehow managed not to win even this one. It was a most peculiar game of football.
West Ham were dreadful, yet they were pushing to take all three points in the second-half as they came back from two goals down and dominated after Jeremain Lens’ sending-off had reduced the Black Cats to ten men.
Sunderland were much improved after their defeat to United
An afternoon that initially threatened to persuade Advocaat to change his mind, as Sunderland sliced through West Ham, ended in the same mix of frustration, powerlessness and anger that has pushed him to the point of returning, exhausted, to Holland.
Less than three months after postponing his retirement plans the Dutchman, 68, has been crushed by the size of the job, just as Steve Bruce, Martin O’Neill, Paolo Di Canio and Gus Poyet were before him.
Sunderland have been abject this season, but they were brilliant in the first half. They scored twice and should have had three as Steven Fletcher smashed in the first from a well-worked free-kick and Lens chipped in an exquisite second, the ball bouncing in off the underside of the crossbar.
Sunderland had chances to extend their lead, Fabio Borini wasting the best of them when he rolled a shot the wrong side of the post with just Adrian to beat, although the West Ham goalkeeper also made one excellent save to keep out a John O’Shea header.The first wobble for the home side came just before half-time when, against the run of play, Carl Jenkinson thumped Victor Moses’ cross past Costel Pantilimon.
There was no way West Ham could be as bad in the second half as they had been in the first and Sunderland knew it. They were more tentative and the Hammers had an early chance as Dimitri Payet’s free-kick flew straight at Costel Pantilimon. The tension grew as Manuel Lanzini’s shot from the edge of the area just failed to find the bottom corner of the goal.
Under pressure from a reinvigorated West Ham, Sunderland’s cause was not helped when Lens ruined his afternoon with a second yellow card.
The Hammers had more than half an hour to score an equaliser and they needed only a few minutes as Pantilimon failed to hold on to another effort from Lanzini and Payet tapped in the loose ball.
West Ham felt they could go on to win the game, although they should have also been reduced to ten men when Mark Noble was extremely lucky not to be shown a second yellow for a crude foul on Borini. If that angered Sunderland, there was still relief as they clung on for a point.
“When you are 2-0 down with them having to chances to score the third one, to be fair you have got to be happy with a point,” said West Ham manager Slaven Bilic. “But on the other hand, we can’t afford to make those kind of mistakes or sloppy starts or whatever, especially here in the Premier League.
Metro
West Ham owners were due to fly on doomed flight that killed two pilots
Nicholas Reilly
A plane that crashed yesterday killing both of its pilots was travelling to collect the chairmen of West Ham.
West Ham owners David Gold and David Sullivan were due to travel to the Premier League side’s clash at Sunderland.
But the pair narrowly avoided boarding the doomed flight, after it crashed in a field in Chigwell, Essex, yesterday morning.
Mr Sullivan said: ‘The aviation company, London Executive Aviation, have two planes and we have flown on that particular plane about 50 times.
‘It was fifty fifty weather whether we got on the plane that crashed or the other one. It’s a real shock. My heart goes out to the families of the pilots. It’s very, very sad.
‘I am quite shocked to think David (Gold) and I could have got on that plane – it was the toss of a coin.
‘When we arrived at the airport it was already closed off because of the crash and we had to divert to Stansted to get a flight to Newcastle to get to the Sunderland game. We were a bit late for the match.
‘We used that airline all the time and they are really excellent. The planes are twin engine so if one engine failed it could still fly so it’s a mystery why it crashed. The pilots were very experienced guys.’
Police have said that the eight-seater Beechcraft King Air 200 crashed in a field in Chigwell at 10.20 am – shortly after taking off from Stapleford Airfield.
Posting on West Ham fan forum claretandhugh, Mr Gold said: ‘We are OK. The plane that crashed was arriving to take us to Sunderland.’
Aircraft operator London Executive Aviation described the victims as ‘experienced pilots’, and Essex Police are now probing the accident.
HITC
Slaven Bilic hails Manuel Lanzini after West Ham draw
The Argentine was a driving force in the Hammers coming from two down against Sunderland.
Gareth McKnight
West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic has praised midfielder Manuel Lanzini, telling the club’s official website that the Argentine’s link-up play with Dimitri Payet is a major part of the Hammers’ attacking play.
The Boleyn Ground outfit found themselves 2-0 down against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light yesterday, but the London outfit rallied to record a point away from home, drawing 2-2.
The 22-year-old Argentine played a role in the Hammers getting back into the tie, building on positive performances for West Ham this season.
Despite the fact that Payet got he equalising goal and will get most of the plaudits, Bilic has stated that Lanzini deserves praise.
The South American’s versatility is clearly an asset for the Croatian to use, with the retired defender hailing the Al Jazira loanee for his contribution.
“He is that type of player and that is why we got him,” Bilic told the club’s official website.
“People are saying he is a number ten, for me he is not that and he likes to get a lot of contact on the ball and he is gaining space. I like him a lot as a player and he is a big asset for us.
“He is the one that gives Payet a breather and the opportunities to get the ball when he is not marked. The two of them are really good together.”
Despite arriving in England as a virtual unknown to most, the former River Plate man has started five Premier League games for West Ham so far, scoring once.
With potential for a permanent switch in the summer, it looks like the Hammers have found another bargain in the transfer market.
BBC
Reece Oxford: West Ham manager explains England U17 omission
West Ham's Reece Oxford was left out of England's Under-17 World Cup squad because of concerns over fatigue, says Hammers manager Slaven Bilic.
Midfielder Oxford, 16, has appeared in three Europa League and three Premier League games this season.
England play their first World Cup match against Guinea in Chile on 17 October, with the final on 8 November.
"Reece is an exceptional talent that we have to nurture. And we need him in the first team," said Bilic.
"We have made a long-term plan for him to not to affect his body and his development. If we let him go for one and a half months or whatever, it's no good."
Oxford captained England when they qualified for the World Cup by beating Spain on penalties in a play-off in May.
Bilic added: "We are trying to sort that situation out with the Football Association and with Reece.
"My opinion is that if he plays, he should play for the Under-21s at least."
Oxford impressed on his Premier League debut as West Ham beat Arsenal on the opening day of the season on 9 August.
He played 79 minutes in that game, was substituted at half-time against Leicester the following week and came on for the final eight minutes against Liverpool on 29 August, his most recent first-team match.
