EXCLUSIVE by Pete O’Rourke

West Ham United attacker Marcus Browne is poised to join Oxford United on loan this week, Football Insider sources understands.

A number of Football League clubs have expressed an interest in taking Browne on loan for next season, but Oxford have moved quickly to agree a deal with West Ham for the midfielder.

Browne is down the pecking order in new boss Manuel Pellegrini’s plans next season with West Ham bringing in a number of attacking reinforcements and they are happy to let Browne go out on loan to get valuable first-team experience under his belt.

Attacking midfielder Browne is highly-regarded at West Ham having come through the ranks at the club from the age of eight.

The 20-year-old made his West Ham first-team debut during the 2016/17 season when he played Astra Giurgiu in a Europa League qualifier and he has been named on the bench for several games.

Browne had a spell out on loan at Wigan during the second half of the 2016/17 campaign, but made only one brief appearance during his time at the Championship club.

West Ham want Browne to go to a club where he can play regularly and gain valuable first-team experience before returning to the London Stadium to challenge for a spot in the starting XI and they have given him the green light to join Karl Robinson’s League One Oxford.