Manchester United Transfer News: Reece Oxford Eyed, Fresh Thomas Muller Rumours

Manchester United will look to bolster their ranks this winter with the acquisition of West Ham United youngster Reece Oxford, while the Red Devils have received a boost in their hunt for Bayern Munich star Thomas Muller.

Matt Hughes of the Times reported on Friday that Louis van Gaal's side are circling Oxford's signature with a view to offering the player his first professional contract after he turns 17 on December 16.

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It's expected that England under-19 international Oxford will pen a two-and-a-half-year deal at Upton Park upon reaching that milestone, the maximum deal for a player under the age of 18.

And the centre-back-cum-defensive midfielder appears happy to bide his time in east London for the time being, posting on his official Instagram account with the caption reading "My time will come":

Oxford has missed much of the first-team campaign since starring in the opening-day defeat of Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, where he showed maturity beyond his years to pacify the Gunners' creative weapons.

The Mirror's John Cross added that Arsenal are weighing up an £8 million bid for the youngster next summer, while Manchester City and Chelsea are mentioned among his previous admirers.

Despite playing just 54 minutes of Premier League football since that display, Oxford remains among West Ham's brightest gems, and the club's joint-chairman, David Gold, has assured fans he's receiving chances:

United boss Van Gaal has made some effort to promote young, promising talent during his time at Old Trafford, with Anthony Martial and Memphis Depay signed over the summer, while academy players are around the first team.

However, most of those talents sit closer to the attack, and Oxford might join the likes of Paddy McNair in competing for a place among the Red Devils defence were he to complete a move.

Given it was Slaven Bilic who started him against Arsenal to make him West Ham's youngest-ever senior player, Edmonton native Oxford may not be looking for a change of scenery just yet, however.

Away from Manchester, Bayern Munich are reportedly eyeing Sassuolo attacker Domenico Berardi as a possible replacement for star pupil Muller should he leave the club, per Transfermarketweb (h/t Metro). The report quoted Muller admitting the money on offer in England could lure him away from Bavaria: "The wages that are being paid in the Premier League are very tempting. It would be hypocrisy to deny that."

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However, United could see their bid stunted following a report from German newspaper Kicker, which claimed Bayern have already reached a verbal agreement to extend Muller's deal to 2021 (h/t James Cambridge of the Daily Express).

Muller is regarded as one of the most valuable assets at the Allianz Arena. He was moulded in the Bayern Munich academy before rising to become one of the most consistent and versatile forwards in world football.

And as Squawka's Greg Johnson has noted, the fact it was Van Gaal who initially handed Muller his chance at Bayern leaves the suspicion he could make the move to Old Trafford one day in the future:

Metro's report added that Chelsea would look to rival United in any deal for the World Cup winner, who has 20 goals to his name in 21 appearances across all contests this season, which is the most prolific campaign of his career to date.

Summer arrival Depay hasn't been the success Van Gaal might have hoped for in England, while the stuttering form of captain Wayne Rooney also means further recruits could be needed up front.

Muller strikes as the perfect fit given he can transition so easily from flank to flank or into a more central role should the team require it.

Convincing Der FCB to relinquish their grip on the 26-year-old would be a huge undertaking, but with the club alleged to be eyeing replacements, perhaps even Bayern are not invulnerable to losing their best stars.