This week is, once again, all about transfer stories. Oxford United manager Karl Robinson has all but confirmed that defender Josh Ruffels will depart the club in the summer. However, the U’s have also identified a couple of replacements as the club prepare for a busy transfer window.
Oxford United Weekly Round-Up: Josh Ruffels Future to Be Resolved Soon
‘Evident’ That Oxford Find a Replacement for Josh Ruffels
Speaking on BBC Radio Oxford’s end of season Wasn’t At The Game Show, U’s boss Karl Robinson all but confirmed that defender Josh Ruffels will leave the club in the summer.
The 27-year-old is out of contract at the end of the month and has attracted interest from Championship clubs, including Nottingham Forest and Huddersfield Town.
Robinson said: “I think it’s quite evident we’re going to need a left-back so that is something we’re being very aggressive with at the moment.
“We’ve looked at a lot of full backs – there’s different ones that fall under different brackets, there’s 30 plus-year-olds where we know what we’re going to get but is it enough?
“Is there one we can go and buy at 23 or 24 to maybe 27, and you know they’ll make you better, or do you go for the ones who might be 21 or 22 that have a tremendous ceiling, but there’s going to be a fundamental aspect of development where we might take a bit of a dip in that period of getting them up to speed.
“That’s the conundrum we have right now with that position.”
Josh Ruffels Replacements
With the Oxford-born defender set to depart after eight years at Grenoble Road, the U’s have rightfully started to create a shortlist of possible replacements.
On Thursday, BBC Radio Oxford reported that the U’s had identified Brighton and Hove Albion’s Alex Cochrane & Eastleigh’s Joe Tomlinson.
Cochrane is a 21-year-old left-back who is currently on loan at Belgian club Union SG from Brighton. The England U20 international has made two senior appearances for the Seagulls and is under contract until June 2022.
Like Cochrane, Tomlinson began his career at the AMEX Stadium but signed for National League side Eastleigh from Hungerford Town last summer. In 40 league appearances for the Spitfires, the 20- left-back has scored 11 goals, with eight coming from the penalty spot.
Ryan Williams Linked With Oxford Return
On Friday, BBC South TV and Radio sports commentator Andrew Moon reported that Portsmouth winger Ryan Williams is a target for the U’s.
The 27-year-old, who spent the 2013/14 season on loan at Oxford, is out of contract at Fratton Park in the summer.
The Australian international had been offered a new deal by Danny Cowley, but it has been rejected with the club offering reduced terms.
Karl Robinson Interview
As previously stated, U’s boss Karl Robinson was a guest on BBC Radio Oxford’s end of season Wasn’t At The Game Show. He covered several topics, including the transfer window, futures of players and contract news.
With Ruffels unlikely to stay at the club, Oxford have started to scout replacements. The U’s boss also wants to bring in seven or eight new faces, with four as wingers, and one wide player should be expecting a medical in the next seven days.
Robinson also spoke of Sean Clare’s role when returning to the club. The midfielder played as a right-back at the start of the season but performed well while on loan at Burton Albion in the central midfield role. Robinson has told the 24-year-old that he needs to prove he is a number eight otherwise he will be sold.
The U’s boss also addressed speculation surrounding Cameron Brannagan and Rob Atkinson, with both players being linked with moves always from the club.
Main Photo
