Oxford United defender Josh Ruffels has emerged as a transfer target for Nottingham Forest, according to The Athletic.
Josh Ruffels Targeted By Nottingham Forest
Oxford Defender Is Out of Contract in the Summer
Josh Ruffels has had a stellar season for Oxford United but the 27-year-old left-back is out of contract in the summer. Talks have been ongoing for some time and many fans have resigned to seeing the Oxford-born defender depart at the end of the season.
The U’s have acted quickly with tying up out of contract players, with Jack Stevens, Simon Eastwood, Sam Long, Mark Sykes and Alex Rodriguez Gorrin all extending their stays in recent weeks.
But now, it looks as though Championship side Nottingham Forest are ready to take advantage of the unsolved contract situation, after watching the defender ‘with interest.’
Josh Ruffels: Mr Consistent
Having reached 300 appearances for Oxford United this season, Josh Ruffels is often dubbed as ‘Mr Consistent’ by supporters. In match ratings, the left-back would often be given a mark of between six and eight, while his goalscoring exploits have seen another side of his game this season.
Ruffels has added six goals and laid on six assists for the U’s this season in what is his most prolific season for goal contributions.
Nottingham Forest
According to the report, Forest have been monitoring Ruffels ‘with interest’. The Reds currently have four players that can cover at left-back but Yuri Ribeiro will be out of contract in the summer and there are doubts over the future of Nicholas Ioannou, who has been away on loan.
In addition, the U’s signed Marcus McGuane this week ahead of the new season from Forest. The 22-year-old had been on loan with the U’s this season but returned to his parent club after picking up a thigh injury in late January.
Now that McGuane has made the move permanent, it could be used as a bargaining tool for persuading Ruffels to move the other way.
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