Cardiff City has tabled a £1.5 million bid for Oxford winger Gavin Whyte, according to Pete O’Rourke at the Football Insider.
But the offer seems an unusual fee, considering the U’s had already dismissed a £2 million interest from Nottingham Forest before Karl Robinson put a price tag of £4 million to prize the Northern Ireland international away from the Kassam stadium.
The 23-year-old arrived at Oxford last summer having signed from Crusaders in a deal reportedly worth £100,000 and had a terrific debut season at the League One side.
During his time at the Kassam, Whyte scored nine goals from 47 appearances in all competitions, including a hattrick in the U’s 2-3 win at Shrewsbury Town.
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.
And his impressive form at Oxford then led to a call up to Michael O’Neill’s Northern Ireland side, and the winger, who scored on his debut, has made earned five caps for his national side.
Whyte was also an interest to Leeds United last summer, but the Northern Irish man decided to join Oxford instead to better his career.
He told The Belfast Telegraph: “At that stage, Leeds was where I wanted to go. Because everyone knows they are a massive club and I knew Stuart Dallas.
“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.”
Forest didn’t put an offer in for Whyte, and it’s likely the U’s would reject the Bluebird’s bid claiming it isn’t anywhere near their evaluation of the player, but if Whyte did step up to the Championship, I feel it could be hit or miss for the winger.
Yes, he had an excellent debut season at Oxford, but I believe another season in League One will boost both his experience but also his value.
From a club point of view, Oxford can’t afford to lose the winger. Robinson already has a depleted squad, and given the lack of summer signings so far, the boss will need to keep hold of his key assets, with Whyte being one of those.
