The U's News

May Round-Up: Incomings and Departures Begin

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Oxford United began the month by targeting St Mirren midfielder, Ethan Erhahon. The 20-year-old is also being targeted by League One rivals Portsmouth and Serie A side Sassuolo. The Scottish club will be looking for a six-figure sum to lure the Scotland U21 away, with a £200,000 few being reported. The midfielder, who has made 94 appearances for the club, scored once and provided two assists from 19 Scottish Premiership games this season.

Charlton Athletic and Burton Albion have targeted Oxford United midfielder Alex Rodriguez Gorrin. The Spaniard is out of contract in the summer but the U’s are looking to tie him down on a new deal, despite being out of action with an ACL injury since November. However, the report suggests that Gorrin is considering his options before committing his future to Oxford, with League One rivals monitoring the situation.

The U’s then announced which players would be leaving the club. Sam Winnall and Jamie Hanson were the only two senior members to depart while youngsters Leon Chambers-Parillon and Michael Elechi were also told they wouldn’t be offered a new deal.

Joel Cooper was then the next player to leave the club after both parties agreed on a split by mutual consent. The 26-year-old managed just 90 minutes of league football spread over six matches, with 11 outings in total.

Following links last month, reports then suggested that Bristol City were “in talks” with Mark Sykes. The midfielder was out of contract in the summer and a departure has always looked likely, with Championship clubs monitoring the situation.

Despite the departure of Cooper and the imminent exit of Sykes, the U’s made their first addition with the arrival of Sam Baldock. The 33-year-old joined the U’s in February and scored four goals in seven appearances before picking up an injury. He has signed a two-year deal with the club.

The news that was to be expected – Mark Sykes joined Bristol City. The 24-year-old completed a medical and joined the Robins from the U’s on a free transfer. The midfielder made 137 appearances for Oxford and leaves following his most productive season of eight goals.

The U’s were then boosted by the news that the club have triggered a one-year extension for James Henry and Elliott Moore. Henry, who joined the club in 2017, has scored over 50 goals in over 200 appearances while Moore was appointed club captain in December 2020. The club have also offered fresh terms for Alex Rodriguez Gorrin and Billy Bodin.

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