Oxford united FC
Oxford United: Matt Bloomfield hints at summer changes
The U’s were defeated 2-0 by the promotion-chasing Lions at The Den, Alex Neil’s men missing out on automatic promotion to the Premier League despite their victory.
Oxford were relegated before their penultimate match of the season before beating Sheffield Wednesday 4-1 last weekend.
After defeat in London, Bloomfield commented on the squad’s status for next season in League One.
“I cannot wait to get working, to get building, to get moving forward,” the 42-year-old declared.
“There’s a lot for us to do.
“We’ve got the nucleus of a really good squad for League One.
“We’ve got some real good young players who are going to help complement the seniors.
“We still know there’s going to be a lot to do because [success] doesn’t just happen.
“I’ll be back into work on Tuesday morning. There’s obviously lots of conversations to be had with loan players returning, with lads who are either under contract or out of contract.
” There’s lots for us to work through and the only way it’s possible is just to get on with it. We’ve got to do it this week.
“Ed [Waldron] and I have been doing a lot this week already and that will continue this week moving forward.
“We’ve got to make sure that we’re putting the building blocks in place.
“The end of the season is always really unsettling, especially when you change divisions.
Will Lankshear is the last remaining player to applaud the U’s support. 🥲
An emotional goodbye for the Spurs loanee – what an asset he has been. 👏#oufc 🟡 pic.twitter.com/qVrFB0pcno
— malachi (@MalachiObrey) May 2, 2026
“I’ve learned a lot, especially in this last week, about what we need to do moving forward.”
Bloomfield lamented the two goals that Oxford conceded on Saturday, Femi Azeez the scorer of both.
“The counter-attack from the first one I’m so disappointed with,” the United boss continued.
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“It’s our free-kick, the ball ends up in the back of our net. There’s some things we need to go over in the summer and adjust because we need to be a winning team next year more often than what we’ve been in the last two years.
“I think that’s probably the biggest disappointment for me right now; the fact that we’ve come up against such a good team and such a big day for them, yet you’re looking at both goals saying they’re both so preventable.”
Bloomfield remained firm when questioned on his position at head coach for next season.
“I’m excited for next season. I’ve not been told anything to the contrary, so I keep working.”
Matt Bloomfield’s Yellows are still to make their first signing of the summer transfer window after it opened on Monday.
The U’s have reportedly met with Colchester United forward Kyreece Lisbie, with Huddersfield Town and Sheffield Wednesday both also interested, and the club has now been linked with in-demand Doncaster captain Bailey.
The midfielder has been at Rovers since 2023 and was named in the League One Team of the Season last term.
Bailey managed an impressive 13 goals and five assists in 46 third-tier games from midfield as Donny finished 14th in the league.
The 27-year-old rose through the ranks of Premier League side Newcastle United’s academy before suffering injury troubles and being released by the Magpies.
He then joined Gateshead in 2021 before making the move to South Yorkshire two years later.
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Oxford are now eyeing a move for the Englishman, according to Football Insider, but face hefty competition.
Fellow League One competitors Sheffield Wednesday, Stockport County, Bradford City and MK Dons are all also reportedly in the hunt.
As well as being named in the Team of the Season, Bailey was also nominated for the League One Player of the Season award but lost out to Leyton Orient striker Dom Ballard.
Lisbie has been the subject of plenty of interest from League One clubs having previously met with Oxford over a potential deal.
It was revealed earlier this week that Sheffield Wednesday and Huddersfield Town have entered the race for the Colchester United forward, with Reading having dropped out of the hunt not long ago.
Matt Bloomfield’s U’s are yet to secure a first signing of the summer transfer window which opened on Monday.
Former Brentford B youngster Lisbie had a breakout season in League Two last term, scoring 11 times and assisting eight in all competitions.
His twin brother, Kyrell, currently plays for Peterborough, but the club’s chairman, Darragh MacAnthony, has confirmed that the Kyreece will not be joining his brother at the Posh.
When asked on X whether Kyreece would be going to Peterborough, MacAnthony replied: “No chance. Too expensive. Wages wise been offered by massive clubs for our cap, and now bigger clubs in. That’s football. Move on and next!”
The news means that competition for Lisbie’s signature has decreased slightly.
It was reported by Football League World that Wednesday were in the hunt, however the Posh owner has hinted at the contrary.
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When one Owls fan asked if Lisbie would be heading to Sheffield, MacAnthony replied: “No, buddy.”
If true, that would leave Huddersfield and Oxford as the two main clubs named in reports as contenders for the 22-year-old’s services.
Reports from the Reading Chronicle have stated that the fee required for Lisbie is in the region of £500,000 to £750,000 with the Colchester man entering the final year of his contract in Essex.
The English forward, who is the son of former Premier League and EFL striker Kevin Lisbie, helped Danny Cowley’s side to a 12th-placed finish in League Two last year.
Oxford will be looking to improve their forward line for next season after the big loss of top goal scorer Will Lankshear to parent club Tottenham Hotspur.
The U’s currently have Stan Mills as their only traditional right midfielder meaning the addition of Lisbie would provide some healthy depth and competition if the club is able to keep hold of Mills this summer.
On the left, Aidomo Emakhu and Jeon Jin-woo are both tied to the club, with Siriki Dembele and Marselino Ferdinan both on the fringes.
Oxford will compete in League One next season after suffering relegation from the Championship last term, finishing 22nd in the table.
Matt Bloomfield’s side will compete in the third tier after a two-year stint in the Championship which saw the U’s relegated in 22nd place last season.
One key date has already passed as pre-season approaches, with the summer transfer window having opened on Monday.
United are yet to make any signings, but did see 10 players depart the club last month after their contracts expired.
The full set of fixtures for the 2026/27 campaign are set to be announced next week on Thursday, June 25.
This includes the Championship, League One and League Two as well the Carabao Cup and Vertu Trophy, both of which the Yellows will be competing in.
The club has confirmed that players will report back at the ‘end of June’ with the squad then travelling to Spain for a week-long warm-weather training camp.
Upon their return from the camp, the U’s will face National League side Aldershot Town in their first friendly fixture on July 21 before a second match four days later against League Two outfit Barnet on July 25, both away from home.
July 28 sees Oxford host Crawley Town before the welcoming of Premier League club Ipswich Town to the Kassam on August 1.
Competitive action commences the following weekend with the first round of the Carabao Cup over August 8 and 9.
The weekend after will be the long-awaited start of the league season, with August 14 to 16 seeing the action.
The FA Cup first round proper, in which third and fourth tier sides enter, is set for November 7.
The summer transfer window will close at 11PM on September 1, with the winter window running for its usual month from January 1 to 11PM on February 1.
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Full list of key dates –
Monday, June 15 – summer transfer window opens
Thursday, June 25 – EFL, Carabao Cup and Vertu Trophy fixture release
Thursday, July 2 – TV coverage announced until end of September
Tuesday, July 21 – Aldershot Town (A)
Saturday, July 25 – Barnet (A)
Tuesday, July 28 – Crawley Town (H)
Friday, July 31 – TV coverage announced until January 11
Saturday, August 1 – Ipswich Town (H)
Weekend of August 8 & 9 – Carabao Cup first round
Weekend August 14, 15 & 16 – Championship, League One, League Two opening fixtures
Tuesday, September 1 (11PM) – summer transfer window closes
Saturday, November 7 – FA Cup first round proper (League One teams enter the competition)
Friday, January 1 – winter transfer window opens
Monday, February 1 (11PM) – winter transfer window closes
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