Nottingham Forest Watching U’s Defender ‘With Interest’
Josh Ruffels of Oxford United celebrates after scoring his sides fifth goal during the Sky Bet League 1 match between Burton Albion and Oxford United at the Pirelli Stadium, Burton upon Trent on Saturday 2nd January 2021. (Photo by Jon Hobley/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Oxford United defender Josh Ruffels has emerged as a transfer target for Nottingham Forest, according to The Athletic.
The 27-year-old is out of contract in the summer and talks have been ongoing for some time, raising questions about his future at the club.
And now, after the U’s signed midfielder Marcus McGuane from the Championship outfit on a permanent deal, it may give Chris Hughton some leverage to manoeuvre a deal.
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.
Ruffels has scored six times this season and added a further six assists from left-back. Despite being born in Oxford, he came through the ranks at Coventry before joining the U’s in 2013, where he has since surpassed 300 appearances for the club.