Oxford united FC
Transfer latest as Oxford United aim for League One success
Oxford are looking to secure a swift return to the Championship next season after suffering relegation in their second successive campaign in the second tier.
Under Matt Bloomfield, the U’s form improved but it was not enough to keep the side in the division with the club now keen to improve the squad.
10 names departed the club last month upon the expiry of their contracts, including first-team players Przemyslaw Placheta and Hidde ter Avest.
With a further five players returning to their parents clubs after loan spells in OX4, the squad is light in certain areas and rumours have started to surface regarding potential new signings.
A big departure regarding transfer business was confirmed recently, with the U’s head of recruitment, Scott Mitchell, leaving the club to join League One rivals Leyton Orient as director of football.
Mitchell had been at United since November 2024 after joining from Wycombe Wanderers.
Ed Waldron, Oxford’s head of football operations, said: “I’d like to extend my thanks to Scott for all his hard work and dedication over the past 18 months. He has made a significant and valuable contribution to our recruitment team and we wish him all the best in his new role at Leyton Orient.”
In regards to additions, it is understood Colchester United forward Kyreece Lisbie has held talks with the club with the U’s leading the race for his signature.
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Peterborough United and Reading are also amongst the teams interested in the 22-year-old who is reportedly priced between £500K-750K.
Oxford are reportedly interested in two other League Two stars.
Jaze Kabia of Grimsby Town is reportedly on the Yellows’ radar, with the 23-goal striker also on Leyton Orient’s radar.
Malachi Fagan-Walcott of newly-promoted York City is another who has apparently caught the eye of the U’s.
Scottish outfit Hearts have reportedly had a £750,000 bid rejected for the defender as they face a battle with a number of League One sides.
The 24-year-old was part of the York side who won the National League in dramatic fashion last season.
Charlton Athletic defender Alex Mitchell has been linked to the Yellows after impressing on loan at Plymouth Argyle, whilst full-back Henry Fieldson of Scottish side Queens Park has also garnered interest.
In regards to outgoings, Yellows midfielder Brian De Keersmaecker has been linked to Championship club Derby County but it is understood that there has been no movement regarding the Belgian at present.
The U’s are looking to strengthen after their relegation from the Championship last season, with a new striker wanted by supporters after the return of fan favourite Will Lankshear to his parent club Tottenham Hotspur.
Chaplin spent last season on loan at boyhood club Portsmouth as the club survived in the second tier, the 29-year-old scoring twice and managing one assist in 40 appearances.
Meanwhile, his parent club Ipswich secured promotion to the Premier League by finishing second in the league only behind runaway champions Coventry City.
The Englishman was key in the Tractor Boys’ League One promotion-winning season where they finished second, Chaplin scoring 26 goals that year to win the division’s Golden Boot award, joint with Peterborough United’s Jonson Clarke-Harris.
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He was also awarded Ipswich’s Player of the Season award and included in the League One Team of the Season.
Chaplin then struck 13 goals in the Championship as the Suffolk side were promoted again, before suffering relegation from the Premier League the year after.
The attacking midfielder was released by Ipswich last month following their return to the top flight and SportsBoom are reporting that Oxford have ‘expressed an interest’ in signing the free agent.
With experience in the top tiers of English football and proof of goal scoring prowess in League One, Chaplin would be a sensible addition to the U’s ranks.
Tottenham Hotspur want £20 million for 21-year-old Will Lankshear and have turned down multiple bids for him, according to Hayters.
The ex-U’s striker, who was the club’s top scorer last term with 12 goals in all competitions, is highly rated by his parent side who narrowly avoided relegation from the Premier League last season finishing two points above the drop zone.
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However, they haven’t ruled out selling him if the right offer comes in with Portuguese side Sporting CP reportedly interested.
In addition Spurs is also considering another loan move for Lankshear to a Championship club, although the London team is looking to fund a summer spending spree that has already seen a £52 million bid for defender Jan Paul Van Hecke accepted by Brighton.
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Lankshear has made three Premier League appearances for Spurs as well as scoring one goal in three Europa League features.
In a breakout season in men’s football, the England youth international became a fan favourite in OX4 for his tenacity and goal scoring success in a struggling Championship team.
The 21-year-old’s attitude off the pitch also endeared the fans to his name, with the player crediting the club as the place where it all began ahead of a hopefully successful career.
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.
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