Reece Oxford is eager to learn from one of the great centre-backs of the past 20 years having joined Reading on loan.

The West Ham youngster will spend the rest of the season under the tutelage of Jaap Stam, who during a 15 year playing career won the Champions League with Manchester United and was rated among the top players in the world.

West Ham have high hopes that Oxford, a target for Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool before signing a new contract in December, can go on to enjoy similar success and the 18-year-old revealed that the chance to work under Stam convinced him to choose Reading over other suitors, including Rangers and Nottingham Forest.

“One of the big reasons why I wanted to join Reading was Jaap Stam,” Oxford told the Reading website. “Like Slaven Bilic said, he was one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League and the world, so hopefully I can come here and he can teach me a few things.

“It is a bit out of my comfort zone, I’ve never been on loan! But it’s good. I’ve been speaking to the boys and their helping me get to know the club. Hopefully I can get in the team and help the boys push up the table.”

Oxford made his debut at just 16 years of age early last season but West Ham boss Bilic has not been able to hand the 18-year-old many first team opportunities this season, indeed the centre-back is yet to feature in the Premier League.

He was widely coveted during the January window but revealed that as soon as he heard of interest from Reading, third in the Championship, he knew it would be the right move.

“I heard a couple of days after I had played a reserve game for West Ham that Reading were interested,” said Oxford.

“I was thinking in my head ‘I want to get the deal done, they are one of the teams fighting for promotion’, so hopefully the loan can help both me and the club. I just wanted to get here as soon as possible really.”