West Ham fan Louisa Johnson is thought to have struck up a strong bond with defender Reece Oxford - and her football mad father approves.

The X Factor finalist, who will compete for glory this weekend, has reportedly been texting the 16-year-old footballer since visiting their training ground last weekend.

Louisa, 17, is a life-long fan of the football club and despite claiming to have exchanged flirty messages with One Direction's Niall Horan has been single since splitting with her boyfriend last month.

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Besotted: Louisa Johnson is thought to have struck up a close bond with West Ham defender Reece Oxford

Reece is said to be 'besotted' with the amateur singer, with a source telling TV Biz: 'Reece and Louisa hit it off straight away when they met at the West Ham ground.

'The trip was being filmed for a show video clip but once the cameras stopped rolling, the pair of them kept chatting and swapped phone numbers.'

Louisa was invited to Chadwell Heath with father Dave, a loyal supporter of the club, and it seems he's in support of the budding relationship.

See more X Factor news on Louise Johnson as she is rumoured to be texting Reece Oxford

Texting: They met during last weekend's visit to to Chadwell Heath training ground

Firm fan: Louisa and her father Dave have been life-long fans of the football club

The source added: 'One thing's for sure, Louisa's dad is delighted they have struck up a friendship. He is a real Hammers fan so it's a dream for him. Plus, he's seen first-hand that Reece is a nice lad.'

A representative for the X Factor has been contacted for comment on behalf of Louisa Johnson.

Louisa split with boyfriend Ellis before the live shows earlier this year, telling OK! magazine at the time of the split: 'We're mates and we really get on but it was a mutual decision. It was nothing bad at all and we still talk. It's great.'

She has already been contacted by two of One Direction's heart throbs, Niall and Louis Tomlinson since appearing on the singing competition.

Priviledged: They are thought to have hit it off the moment the cameras were turned off - and Dave (second right) approves

She shoots, she scores: Dave is supposedly backing the romance, saying it's a dream come true

Eyes on the prize: Louisa and her boyfriend Ellis split up at the start of the X Factor live shows

The songstress, who's in with a shot of winning this weekend in Rita Ora's Girls category, has also been linked to fellow contestant Mason Noise.

Louisa is kept on a tight-leash within the house however, as she recently explained to The Mirror newspaper.

'I turn 18 in January. At the moment in the X Factor house I'm not even allowed out to the shops on my own – I have to stay in.

'Even if I want to go home, it has to go through loads of people. It's not about wanting to drink alcohol. I'm not bothered about that. If I won the show I'd want to move out and live on my own and be my own person.'

Winner, winner: She stands a chance of winning in this weekend's final as part of Rita Ora's Girls category