Oxford’s transfer priority will be focussed on a central midfielder if they lose Brannagan or Sykes, and we have outlined four potential options in a piece already.
If Oxford are able to get one of them, or a different
midfielder, then attention will turn to strengthening other positions.
The problem in this regard is there is not really one
particular position which needs strengthening.
Left Back is Oxford’s shortest position, with a heavy reliance on Steve Seddon staying fit, and a back up striker would be useful.
The rest of the pitch appears pretty
well stacked at the moment, especially if Browne, who is reportedly close to a
move to United, was to arrive for a third spell at the Kassam.
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| Oxford's Squad Depth: The size of the lettering indicates the Minutes played in those positions. Red highlighting represents long-term injuries. |
This could be a window of opportunistic signings, so here are a few which Oxford don't necessarily need, but could target if they wanted to bolster their squad.
Connor Wickham
No Club
ST
Age: 28
Transfer Type: Permanent
Connor Wickham has been released by Preston North End
following the end of a disappointing short-term deal signed in the summer, and
is now available on a free transfer.
The striker, who has also had spells at Crystal Palace and
Sunderland in the Premier League, made only two appearances for the Lilly
Whites, and suffered a major Hamstring injury which prevented him from
establishing himself in Ryan Lowe’s team.
There would, then, be questions over how fit Connor Wickham will
be going into a move this January, and United have certainly been in a position
of signing an aging, injury prone striker before where it has not worked out perfectly
(see Sam Winnall).
Wickham, though, comes with a high pedigree and, injuries
aside, has a strong track record of scoring goals at the highest level.
He has scored 19 premier League goals in 6,464 minutes, a
rate of a goal every 341 minutes. Whilst not revelatory goalscoring form, it is
a very respectable return in the top division of English football, whilst
Wickham also has 24 Championship goals.
Wickham offers more physicality up front, adding an extra
dimension to United’s game when they need to break teams down.
Standing at six foot three inches, Wickham will be a major threat from open play and set pieces, where Oxford have been lacking so far this season.
At 28-years-old, Wickham is not a spring chicken but, if he
can stay fit and make an impact, he has the potential to make a real difference at
Oxford for a few years at least, especially if Robinson’s side don’t get
promoted.
A short-term deal which takes him through to the summer, with an option to extend it should the move be a success, would seem a suitable arrangement for a player who needs to prove he can still cut it, quickly.
Tyrese Francois
Fulham
CDM/CM/CAM
Age: 21
Transfer Type: Loan
Tyrese Francois is a relatively unproven midfielder, and
probably wouldn’t be ready to step directly into the shoes of Sykes or
Brannagan if they were to leave.
The Australian born midfielder, though, could be an
interesting loan move if Oxford wanted to find midfield back up at an
affordable price.
Francois can play in central midfield, or further forward
as a number 10, and is a technically gifted player capable of opening games up.
This ability to drive through opponents is similar to Marcus McGuane, and would ease the creative burden on Herbie Kane in United's midfield were Huddersfield or one of the many Championship clubs able to get their hands on Mark Sykes.
Francois could fill in further back, too, where Oxford are particuarly short.
He started Fulham’s first game of the season at home
to Middlesbrough in defensive midfield, and came on for the final stages of
their next match against Huddersfield there, too.
Since then, injury and selection has seen him slide down the
pecking order, and his contract is up this summer.
Given Fulham’s strong form since Francois has been out of action, they may be open to letting him leave on loan this January, and it is possible that Oxford could pursue a permanent deal in the summer if a new contract at Craven Cottage does not materialise.
Demetri Mitchell
Blackpool
LB/LW
Age: 25
Transfer Type: Permanent/Loan
This is a deal which is less likely to happen, particularly
in a January transfer window, but Mitchell has played just 21% of the available
minutes for Blackpool this season, and is the perfect fit for what Oxford need.
Mitchell is an attack minded left-back, who can fill in
further up field if needed.
Whilst he has nominally been used as a wing back for
Blackpool, he has the ability to play on the wing, which makes him the ideal
candidate as United look for a left footed winger this window as well as full
back cover.
Mitchell’s contract is up this summer, and with James
Husband, Luke Garbutt and Reece James all playing at left-back ahead of him,
Mitchell may be available earlier than the summer should Oxford make a suitable
offer, which could involve Brannagan going in the other direction.
Deteriorating negotiations with Blackpool over the Brannagan swap put this deal into doubt, but he would be the ideal fit for an attack minded full back to cover for Seddon.
Mitchell’s 1.2 shots per game was the fifth most of any full
back in League One last season, and he ranked in the same position for dribbles
per 90.
His 1.4 key passes per game, meanwhile, ranked him in the top 16th
percent of all League One full backs to have played at least 10 matches.
Mitchell is not much of a crosser, with just 0.4 accurate crosses
per game putting him 52nd out of 80 full backs in England’s third tier,
but his natural left footedness still gives United another option, and his
ability to get to the by-line is impressive.
He has also played on the right for Blackpool, cutting in on his favoured left foot.
Ethan Bristow
Reading
LB
Age: 20
Transfer Type: Loan
Bristow started this season with three consecutive starts, all
at left midfield (wing back), but didn’t appear for the next 22 matches, due to
a combination of injury and selection.
Following an unrelenting injury crisis at the Madejski, he has
played 90 minutes in the last two matches, but those have been a 2-1 defeat to
Middlesbrough and 7-0 loss to Fulham, and there may be the opportunity for
Bristow to go out on loan this January, should Reading find sufficient back up
elsewhere on the pitch.
Bristow is out of contract this summer, and going out on
loan may give himself a chance to prove his worth at Reading, or even a higher
club.
This would be an ambitious move, particularly with first
team football not necessarily assured if he was to make the move down to League
One, but he would certainly be the kind of player Oxford need this January.
In his limited minutes, Bristow has averaged 3 tackles per 90
(18th of all Championship full backs) but only 0.5 interceptions
(110th).
Bristow, then, is a player who enjoys his individual duels,
but does not often step out of defence to win the ball back, electing instead
to keep to his man and win the ball one against one.
His 2.5 fouls per 90 (5th of all Championship
full backs) indicates he is more than willing to engage in a physical battle
with his winger, and suggests he is a difficult full back to get past.
Bristow doesn’t offer much going forward, but would be excellent back up for Seddon.
Jermaine Defoe
No Club
ST
Age: 39
Transfer Type: Permanent
A story which has emerged rapidly in recent days has been Oxford’s shock interest in Former Ranger’s striker Jermaine Defoe, who has been released by the Scottish Champions after only two appearances this season.
Whilst a transfer to
former clubs Sunderland, Portsmouth or Charlton would appear more likely, talks were reportedly
held with Oxford on Tuesday about a possible move and Defoe would be an
interesting addition.
Defoe is almost certain to add goals, having scored 284 goals
across an illustrious career, that has taken him to Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham
and then Premier League Sunderland.
Defoe is not a tall player, and would certainly be more of
an advanced forward, latching onto balls played in behind, than a target man.
Since the 2009-10 season, Defoe has averaged just 0.1 aerial
duels won per game, indicating his preference to get the ball into feet or
played in behind.
He is quick to get his shots off, too, averaging 2.5 shots
per 90 since 2009. For context, that would rank him in the top ten in the
Premier League this season, whilst his career best 3.8 shots per 90 he averaged
with Tottenham in the 2013-14 season would put him above Cristiano Ronaldo (3.5)
and Harry Kane (3.3) this season, only trailing Mohammed Salah (4).
Whilst even Defoe would admit comparisons to Ronaldo and
Kane are exaggerated, he is clearly an elite finisher who has the potential to
make a real difference in League One.
Luke Cundle
Wolverhampton Wanderers
CDM/CM
Age: 19
Transfer Type: Loan
Luke Cundle has found himself on the bench in many of Wolves' Premier League matches this season, and even got a solitary minute in their 3-1 victory over Southampton on Sunday.
Cundle is a central midfielder who has played much of his football this year as a holding midfielder in Premier League Two.
In his nine matches, he has registered two goals, and has also captained the under-21's side in the Papa John's Trophy.
Having impressed at youth level, Wolves may want to keep hold of him to further his development in a year which may offer some game time to youth given their relatively mid-table position. They may even feel a championship move is on the cards.
Oxford could capitalise, though, if Wolves want to give Cundle extra game time, and he would fit right into United's midfield should they lose Brannagan or Sykes.
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