Reece Oxford has been warned by manager Manuel Pellegrini that his days at West Ham could be numbered.
The 19-year-old defender has not played at all for the Hammers this season, and Pellegrini revealed on Thursday that he barely trains with the first-team squad.
Reports emerged this week that Oxford wants to fight for his place at the London Stadium, but the decision looks set to be taken out of his hands.
“A player who is 19 or 20 must be ready to play in the first team,” said Pellegrini. “If, for different reasons, you don’t have the space you must go to another club.
“Here, we have in his position a player who I am happy with.
“Angelo Ogbonna is also on the bench, but working very well every day. Issa Diop is playing well, and while Declan Rice doesn’t play in that position, he can.
“So, we will see what happens with Reece, whether he stays here, or if it is better for him to go and play for another team.”
Oxford burst on to the scene when, aged 16 years and 237 days, he became West Ham’s youngest-ever Premier League player and delivered a starring role in an opening-day 2-0 victory at Arsenal in 2015.
Eighteen months later, Oxford, on his 18th birthday, signed a reported £20,000-a-week contract, committing his future to the east London club until 2021.
The youngster was then sent on loan to Championship side Reading until the end of the season, before a year-long loan to Bundesliga club Borussia Monchengladbach, where he featured just eight times.
“This season will be difficult for Reece to play,” added Pellegrini. “I spoke with him some weeks ago to force him to continue to work as high a level as he can.
“If you don’t have space in the first team you must demonstrate in the Under 23s that you can make a difference in every game.
“It is a difficult moment for him and he must work very hard.”