West Ham will be free to bring Reece Oxford back from Borussia Monchengladbach in January because the teenager has not played enough in Germany.
Oxford’s loan contract said he had to make seven appearances for Monchengladbach to avoid the break clause being activated, but he has only appeared three times.
David Moyes will decide closer to January whether to have the youngster return to Rush Green so he can take a closer look.
Oxford's Bundesliga debut was as a late substitute back in October but his second and third appearances in the German top flight both came in the last week, with him starting both.