Oxford sacked their head coach Matt Bloomfield on Saturday almost two months after the end of their Championship campaign, with the club currently searching for a new name to guide them into League One.

The U’s had expressed interest in Lisbie having met with the 22-year-old previously but have since reduced their interest.

The Oxford Mail understands that the club has no made no recent contact whilst three League One rivals have had bids accepted.

According to the Reading Chronicle , Reading, Huddersfield Town and Sheffield Wednesday have all had bids accepted, with Sky Sports now reporting that Lisbie is undergoing a medical with the Royals.

Colchester United’s Kyreece Lisbie (centre) celebrates (Image: Cody Froggatt/PA Wire)

The location of the Berkshire club is understood to have been a factor in choosing Reading as his next destination.

Interest from Oxford is now considered over, especially after the departures of Bloomfield and head of recruitment Scott Mitchell to Leyton Orient earlier this month, the Oxford Mail understands.

The Colchester man had his breakout season last term after moving to Essex from Brentford in 2025, scoring 11 goals and managing six assists in 45 League Two appearances.

Understand there hasn’t been any recent contact from Oxford United regarding Kyreece Lisbie ❌

Led to believe U’s interest is over, especially since Matt Bloomfield and Scott Mitchell’s departures#oufc 🟡 https://t.co/O2GRSBJJE0

— malachi (@MalachiObrey) June 21, 2026

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He has been the subject of plenty of interest in League One this summer, with Peterborough United also previously interest but deciding against meeting Lisbie’s wage demands.

United are yet to make their first signing of the summer transfer window, which officially opened last week.

Colchester United manager Danny Cowley (left) celebrates with Colchester United’s Kyreece Lisbie (Image: Nigel French/PA Wire)

The club has undergone significant changes higher up the food chain after Mitchell’s departure and the arrival of new chairman Dusan Bogdanovic who replaced Grant Ferguson, the former chair moving to a role on the board.

Head coach Bloomfield was dismissed at the weekend meaning the club’s next priority is finding a new boss, with the players reporting back for pre-season on Wednesday, June 24.

The Oxford Mail reported earlier that former Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey is of interest to Oxford, with the Welshman shooting to the top of the bookmakers’ odds to become the next U’s head coach.

The club has previously met with Ramsey and were impressed with the former Gunners and Juventus man.

The 35-year-old is looking for his first role in professional football management having previously taken over at boyhood club Cardiff City for the span of three games after Omer Riza lost his job in 2025.

Ramsey holds a UEFA A License and is currently studying for his UEFA Pro Licence and has spent time shadowing Wales manager Craig Bellamy.

The U’s parted ways with head coach Matt Bloomfield on Saturday almost two months after suffering relegation to League One late in the Championship season.

Bloomfield took over in January after Gary Rowett was sacked two days before Christmas and oversaw an upturn in form, but was unable to find enough points to guide Oxford to safety.

The club’s search for a new head coach is underway, with former Wales international Ramsey emerging as the bookmakers’ favourite to lead the Yellows into the 2026/27 season.

The Oxford Mail understands that there is longer-standing interest in Ramsey with the 35-year-old impressing the club’s higher-ups in an earlier meeting between the two parties.

After retiring from professional football in April of this year, it is understood that the three-time FA Cup winner is on the lookout for his first managerial role.

Ex-Arsenal man Aaron Ramsey is favourite to become Oxford United’s next head coach (Image: Nick Potts/PA Wire)

Ramsey has taken charge of a club briefly, receiving the reins at Cardiff City for a span of three games in 2025 after Omer Riza was dismissed by the Welsh outfit, seeing the Bluebirds relegated at the end of the 2024/25 season.

The Caerphilly-born Welshman began his career at Cardiff before moving to Arsenal as a 17-year-old.

He spent 11 years with the Gunners, becoming a club hero, winning three FA Cups and two Community Shields.

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A move to Italian giants Juventus in 2019 saw him become a league title winner in his first season before spells at Rangers, OGC Nice, Cardiff and Mexican club UNAM closed out his impressive career.

If Ramsey were to be appointed Oxford boss, it would be follow the trend of young, big name managers taking over in League One along with former teammate Jack Wilshere at Luton Town and ex-Manchester United man Tom Cleverley at Plymouth Argyle.

Ex-Arsenal man Aaron Ramsey is favourite to become Oxford United’s next head coach (Image: David Davies/PA Wire)

Ramsey’s lack of head coach experience means it would come with its risks, however it would be a statement of intent and a bold move from head of football operations Ed Waldron, new chairman Dusan Bogdanovic and owner Erick Thohir.

United are currently looking for their fifth boss in three years with the aim of staying in the second tier meaning the club moved to a more pragmatic style of football under Rowett.

They then acted again when the former Yellows head coach began last season poorly, bringing in Bloomfield in an attempt to replicate the impact that his predecessor had in the previous campaign.

Bloomfield was dismissed by the U’s on Saturday almost two months after failing to keep the club in the Championship.

The club parted ways with the 42-year-old after just 162 days in charge, Bloomfield joining the club in January, taking over from Gary Rowett.

The timing of the decision has brought up questions amongst supporters, with the United squad is set to report back in OX4 for pre-season before the end of the month.

Earlier this month, Yellows assistant Mike Dodds was rumoured to be heading to Blackburn Rovers to reunite with former colleague and new Rovers boss Tony Mowbray.

Matt Bloomfield and Mike Dodds celebrate Oxford United win (Image: Jason Dawson)

The two worked together at Sunderland during Mowbray’s 16-month long spell in charge of the Black Cats.

According to reporter Alan Nixon, Dodd’s potential move to Blackburn has been aided by the surprise sacking of Bloomfield.

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When asked on X of the impact of the Yellows head coach’s on the progress of Dodds’ transfer, he replied: “It helps.”

Dodds joined Oxford alongside Bloomfield in January.

The 40-year-old was previously in charge of Wycombe Wanderers seven months in his head coach role to date as he was sacked in September 2025.

He was previously a coach at Sunderland for four years and Birmingham City before that where he was credited as having a positive impact on the development of Real Madrid and England star Jude Bellingham.