Oxford united FC
Can Spurs recall Will Lankshear from Oxford United early?
Spurs are currently fighting for their lives in the Premier League and have a large injury list including forward players such as Mohammed Kudus, Xavi Simons, and Dominic Solanke.
Currently in the relegation zone with the threat of Championship football next season a real possibility, fans of the London club have called for the early return of some of their players who are currently out on loan.
One of these names is The U’s Will Lankshear who was named Men’s Young Player of the Year and Men’s Golden Boot winner at Oxford’s awards evening on Sunday.
With 12 goals in all competitions for a struggling Yellows outfit, some Spurs have called for Lankshear to be recalled from OX4 now that their fate this campaign is decided – Matt Bloomfield’s men were relegated to League One last weekend.
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The Premier League confirmed to football.london that players cannot return and play for their parent clubs before the season ends.
Football.london stated: “Premier League loan players are essentially de-registered from the parent club and re-registered elsewhere and that cannot change back until the next registration period opens, which in this case would be the summer transfer window.
“The guidance is that other than the early recall of a goalkeeper in exceptional circumstances, no other player on a long-term loan – full or half season – will be permitted to return to their parent club outside of a transfer window and play first team football.
“So if a loan recall happens outside a window, the player may train but not be eligible for matches until the next registration period unless special exceptions exist.”
The U’s will play host to the Tractor Boys on Saturday, August 1, with kick-off scheduled for 12:00PM.
The fixture is the fourth pre-season friendly confirmed by the club and the first from a division higher than League One, where Oxford will compete next term.
United will face National League side Aldershot Town (Tuesday, July 21) and League Two club Barnet (Saturday, July 25) away from home before the welcoming of another fourth-tier outfit Crawley Town (Tuesday, July 28).
The U’s have also confirmed that tickets for the trip to Aldershot are now on sale.
Oxford played Ipswich twice in the Championship last season as Matt Bloomfield’s side suffered relegation whilst the Suffolk club were promoted to the Premier League, finishing second.
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Under former head coach Gary Rowett, the Yellows pulled off a shock 2-1 victory against Kieran McKenna’s men in OX4 in late November, Mark Harris and Przemyslaw Placheta scoring the goals.
They were defeated 2-1, however, in the second fixture, Will Lankshear scoring the only goal for the U’s at Portman Road.
The Tractor Boys are currently on the hunt for a new manager after McKenna stepped down last week in order to take a break from football management.
The U’s reportedly met with the Colchester United winger as they look to secure his services ahead of the 2026/27 League One campaign.
Thames Valley rivals Reading pulled the plug on their interest earlier this month but it has since been revealed that Wednesday and Huddersfield are both also in the race for Lisbie’s signature alongside Oxford and Peterborough United.
The 22-year-old scored 11 goals and managed eight assists in 45 League Two appearances last season and has one year left on his contract at the JobServe Community Stadium.
Football League World has named the Owls and the Terriers as two competitors to the U’s for Lisbie, whose twin brother, Kyrell, plays for third tier rivals Peterborough.
Lisbie is also the son of former Premier League and EFL striker, Kevin.
Matt Bloomfield’s Oxford held interest in the winger in January but were blocked alongside Reading FC from signing the player but Colchester United’s chairman.
An estimated fee of between £500-750K is Colchester’s current asking price.
Lisbie played for the academies of Leyton Orient, Watford and Brentford during his youth before experiencing his first taste of senior football for Cray Valley Paper Mills.
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He moved to Colchester from Brentford B in early 2025 and spent a brief time on loan with Braintree Town at the end of the 2024/25 season.
The Englishman won the Young Player of the Year award at Colchester’s end of season awards
After their relegation from the Championship, Oxford are looking to bolster and fill gaps in the squad after 15 players in total were released and had their loan spells end in OX4 last month.
The Yellows finished 22nd in the second tier, two places above rock-bottom side Wednesday with whom they are competing for Lisbie’s services.
After losing forward players like top scorer Will Lankshear, Myles Peart-Harris and Jamie Donley, more goals will be needed at the Kassam if they are to bounce straight back in League One.
Lisbie appeared on the right wing most frequently for Colchester last term, with the Essex club finishing 12th in the four tier.
Oxford only have supporters’ and players’ player of the year Stan Mills as a pure right midfielder and so the signing of the youngster would provide some healthy competition and quality backup for Mills.
The U’s are yet to make their first signing of the summer after the transfer window officially opened on Monday.
Sykes was one of three players – alongside Harry Cornick and Sam Morsy – to be released by the Robins last week after the appointment of new head coach Michael Skubala from newly-promoted Lincoln City.
The former Yellow left the club for the red side of Bristol in 2022 after making 136 appearances in OX4 during a three-year stint.
Sykes scored 11 times for Oxford and managed 21 assists, including the consolation goal in the U’s 2-1 League One play-off final defeat to Wycombe Wanderers in 2020.
He arrived at the Kassam in 2019 from semi-professional Northern Irish club Glenavon.
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The Republic of Ireland international went on to make 153 appearances for Bristol City, scoring 18 goals.
The 28-year-old has been linked with Championship sides Preston North End, Blackburn Rovers and Charlton Athletic but his next destination is still yet to be confirmed.
Sykes enjoyed his best season for Oxford back in 2021/22, before his move to Ashton Gate, scoring eight goals and bagging five assists, proving the club right in renewing his contract the year prior.
Taking to social media, the Belfast-born man said upon leaving the Robins: “[There are] a lot of moments that will stay with me forever. A place that really felt like home. Thank you to all who played a part in making it feel that way. It’s been a pleasure! Syksey.”
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