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West Ham are expected to be busy in the transfer window with a number of comings and goings at the London Stadium.

The Hammers need to improve their squad and Slaven Bilic has already moved quickly to bring Pablo Zabaleta to east London.

More are expected to follow but the Hammers have a number of youngsters at their disposal who could make the step up to the first team, although co-owner David Gold has claimed that the young players at the club will not be able to break into the team at the moment.

Here we take a look at a few of the potential candidates that could make a name for themselves next season.

Reece Oxford

Reece Oxford came to the attention of Premier League fans two years ago after making an accomplished debut away at Arsenal on the first day of the 2015/16 season.

Since then it may not have gone quite according to plan and the 18-year-old is now facing a big year after only making seven appearances in the last campaign.

He was sent to Reading on loan in January but, while learning off the great Jaap Stam will be fantastic for his development, he only made five appearances for the club in a disappointing spell.

Borussia Monchengladbach are keen to sign the youngster on a two-year loan, although the Hammers are said to want to keep such a move to just one season.

Bilic will be keeping an eye on Oxford next month as he flies out with the England U19 squad for the UEFA European Championships in Georgia. He needs regular first-team football and he could come into contention if the club decide against sending him out on loan.

A solid U21 European Championships and pre-season could see him force his way into Bilic's plans, but he has the likes of Winston Reid, Jose Fonte, James Collins and Angelo Ogbonna to compete with.

Oxford is the future of West Ham's defence and this year could be his coming of age.

Declan Rice

(Image: Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images)

Big things will be expected of Declan Rice next season having made his Premier League debut on the final day of this year at Burnley.

Rice was involved in Bilic's last five matchday squads at the end of the season and he, just like Oxford, is rated very highly at the club.

The centre-back produced a number of fine displays for the club's Under-23 side last season and he finished the year by lifting the Premier League 2 trophy with a win at Newcastle.

His performances were so impressive that boss Terry Westley even suggested that Rice was the best player in the division last season.

The U23 captain was rewarded for his performances by receiving a call-up to the Republic of Ireland senior squad days after making his league debut at Burnley.

Rice is contracted to the club until June 2020 and many fans will be hoping he can make the step up to the first-team.

Voted as the club's Young Hammer of the Year, Rice has admitted that he may have to go out on loan next year if he can't break into the first-team.

After playing his way into first-team reckoning at the end of last season, you would expect Rice to be heavily involved with Bilic's team next campaign.

Josh Cullen

(Image: Pete Norton/Getty Images)

Josh Cullen will no doubt provide competition in midfield next season after a standout year on loan with League One side Bradford City.

The 21-year-old was a major part of Bradford's promotion quest, which culminated with a 1-0 play-off final defeat to Millwall at Wembley last month.

The midfielder was so impressive that he picked up four awards at the club's end of season awards, including the Players' Player of the Year award.

Bradford manager Stuart McCall certainly rated him highly and was very complimentary when talking about the youngster.

McCall said: "Josh has been consistently one of our top performers throughout this season.

"He has an old head on young shoulders. He is a great talker in the dressing room and a fantastic professional."

Cullen, who had his own chant at Bradford to 'Achy Breaky Heart' by Bill Ray Cyrus, also impressed many in the division after winning April's EFL Young Player of the Month.

After playing 46 games for the Bantams last year, it's surely got to be time for Cullen to challenge for a first-team spot.

The midfielder has a massive future ahead of him and he could well give Mark Noble, Pedro Obiang and Cheikhou Kouyate a run for their money.

Domingos Quina

(Image: Tom Dulat/Getty Images)

Domingos Quina is another player who could well push on for a first-team role with the Hammers next season.

The attacking midfielder was exceptional for the club's Under-23 side last year and was nominated alongside teammate Marcus Browne for the Premier League 2 Player of the Season award. Although he missed out on the accolade, it was a year to remember for the 17-year-old.

The Portuguese youngster only joined the club in the summer but he appeared for the first-team in the Europa League, as well as appearing on the substitutes' bench 12 times.

More will be expected of Quina next year but Bilic and West Ham know they have a serious player on their hands.

Bilic said: "He is one of those players that you think if he doesn't make it, then which player will?

"He has got everything and it is now down to us and up to him how much he is going to improve and dedicate his life to achieve something that God gave him. There is no doubt he has something exceptional.

"He is skillful and is one of those players who doesn't have to think about his first touch because it comes so naturally to him."

Quina flourished in his debut season for the club and he will no doubt come into first-team contention next season.

Toni Martinez

(Image: Getty Images)

The Hammers had a number of problems upfront last year and Toni Martinez will no doubt be given his chance with the first-team. The Spaniard is rated extremely highly at the club and he impressed Bilic and the club while on loan at Oxford last season.

Oxford are keen to re-sign the striker on loan once again next campaign but manager Michael Appleton believes their chances are extremely unlikely.

Martinez joined the Hammers from Valencia last season and was prolific for the club's Under-23 side before moving on loan to the League One side. The 19-year-old finished with 14 goals in 14 appearances for Westley's Under-23 team, as well as scoring in the fourth and fifth rounds of the FA Cup for Oxford.

Injury cut his spell at the Kassam Stadium short but he netted both goals on his return for the Under-23 side in the 2-1 win at Newcastle that sealed promotion from Premier League 2.

Many are expecting Martinez to be involved in the first-team squad next season and he has received high praise from Under-23 manager Westley.

Westley said: "He has come from abroad, has had to settle, has been learning the language.

"That shows just how well he has done. He's an out-and-out goalscorer. He puts his foot through the ball and he's clinical. Toni's record is frightening at the moment."

Don't be surprised if Martinez is banging in the goals for the Hammers next season.