{"id":455902,"date":"2019-06-12T09:46:51","date_gmt":"2019-06-12T13:46:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lwosonfootball.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/?p=455902"},"modified":"2020-12-28T11:33:53","modified_gmt":"2020-12-28T16:33:53","slug":"oxford-united-gavin-whyte","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2019\/06\/12\/oxford-united-gavin-whyte\/","title":{"rendered":"REPORT: Oxford United’s Gavin Whyte Given Price Tag"},"content":{"rendered":"

Oxford United<\/a> manager\u00a0Karl Robinson<\/a>\u00a0has put a price tag on winger Gavin Whyte<\/a>, but the U’s boss is reluctant to sell him.<\/p>\n

Robinson insists that it will take an offer in excess of \u00a34 million for the Northern Ireland international<\/a> to depart the Kassam Stadium.<\/p>\n

Gavin Whyte Given Market Value<\/h1>\n

Whyte’s Career So Far<\/h2>\n

Gavin Whyte became an exceptional signing when he joined the U’s just last summer. It was believed to be a fee in the region of \u00a3100,000 from Crusaders<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The winger, who has also been called up to Michael O’Neill’s Northern Ireland squad<\/a>, featured 36 times for the U’s, scoring seven goals.<\/p>\n

Prior to his debut season in England, he had netted an impressive 43 goals in 132 appearances for the NIFL Premiership side. During his time there, he won three league titles in four years.<\/p>\n

Whyte, who scored on his senior international debut, has made five appearances for the senior side. He also featured seven times for the Northern Ireland U21 side.<\/p>\n

Interest in Whyte<\/h2>\n

It was reported at the beginning of the month by Gareth Fullerton of Belfast Live<\/a> that\u00a0Nottingham Forest were interested in the winger. It was said that the Championship side were looking to place a \u00a32 million bid for Whyte.<\/p>\n

Rumours were rife with the link of Whyte and Forest, but no bid has yet been made. It is likely the new price tag given to the winger could delay proceedings further.<\/p>\n

Whyte was also an interest to Leeds United last summer, but the Northern Irish man decided to join Oxford instead to better his career.<\/p>\n

He told\u00a0The Belfast Telegraph<\/a>: “At that stage, Leeds was where I wanted to go. Because everyone knows they are a massive club and I knew Stuart Dallas.<\/p>\n

“Obviously it’s easy to say it now, but I know I made the right decision in the end going to Oxford. Because I played a lot of games in the first team and I’m really enjoying it.<\/p>\n

“If I’d signed for Leeds I probably would have played a lot of Under-23 games. And I may not have enjoyed it as much or progressed the way I have at Oxford.”<\/p>\n

Whyte Set For Record Oxford Transfer?<\/h2>\n

If, or when, Oxford sell Whyte for upwards of \u00a34 million, he would become a record transfer sale for the club.<\/p>\n

This currently stands with Kemar Roofe, who joined Leeds in 2016 for \u00a33 million following the U’s promotion from League Two.<\/p>\n

Karl Robinson<\/h2>\n

Oxford manager Karl Robinson is adamant the winger won’t go for less than the asking price.<\/p>\n

Robinson told the Oxford Mail<\/a>: \u201cIt\u2019s going to cost over \u00a34 million for Gavin Whyte. That\u2019s what it is.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve had nothing, so I\u2019m not talking about any other club. I don\u2019t want any other club to think I\u2019m being disrespectful. But we have a value.”<\/p>\n

Robinson added: \u201cI sold Ademola Lookman (to Everton<\/a>) for more than \u00a39 million. Ezri Konsa as a centre back was over \u00a33 million (to Brentford), Del (Dele Alli, Tottenham Hotspur<\/a>) was over \u00a35 million.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve got to be confident in the fact that our players are not for sale. Unless you want to pay what we think these players are going to be worth.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf we want to build a team we have to keep our best players. And if we don\u2019t (then it has to be because) it gives us tremendous flexibility to go and bring in a lot more players.<\/p>\n

Whyte\u2019s season eventually finished last night, but the winger didn’t feature in Northern Irelands 1-0 win at Belarus.<\/p>\n

Good news from Robinson\u2019s angle is that the winger,\u00a0who played 90 minutes against Estonia<\/a>, is not agitating for a move.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve spoken to Gavin and he\u2019s happy,\u201d the U\u2019s boss said.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe knows exactly where the land lies. He knows how much support we\u2019re going to give him and how much we\u2019ll help each other.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think we\u2019ve stuck by him, given him a chance and helped him through certain stages. But equally he\u2019s paid us back more than enough in his performances.\u201d<\/p>\n

Main Photo<\/p>\n

Embed from Getty Images<\/a>