Oxford United manager Karl Robinson has revealed his plans for the upcoming January transfer window. The U’s boss is looking to bring four new players to the club, including two wingers and a centre back, with the fourth position unrevealed.
As with the new salary cap and squad limit rules, if the U’s boss is successful in bringing four new faces the three or four may need to leave the building, either permanently or on loan.
Following Joel Cooper’s return to Linfield, Robinson does have an additional spot but knows he needs to free up some more spaces in the squad.
Speaking to the Oxford Mail, Robinson said: “It’ll sort of depend on the availability of some of the players we bring in. We’ll just have to wait and see.”
“We’re having some very interesting conversations with players outside of this football club that whet the appetite.
“Equally, if those fall flat on their face I could be on my hands and knees with a begging bowl to keep people motivated.”
With two fixtures against AFC Wimbledon and Plymouth Argyle coming up, it could give a couple of the fringe players to make a stake for their position in the squad, with the manager still undecided.
He added: “There’s always time. A lot of it is down to some of their decisions, as well as my own.
“There’s one person that will have a big relevance on what we do, but that’s something we’ll keep to ourselves.”
Although permanent moves away seem unlikely, loan options are more suitable for the club.
Robinson added: “The important thing is all of these players know they’ve got a future here. It’s solely in their hands.
“The one component that I don’t ever give them a percentage back on is their effort.
“The pride we have in the badge has to stand for nothing other than 100 per cent effort.
“If you fall short of that, you fall short of playing for the football club.”
Although Robinson hasn’t revealed which players are in danger of leaving, it has been mooted that John Mousinho moving into a coaching role could free up one spot. Other players could include Jamie Hanson, Rob Hall and Mark Sykes, who have all struggled with game time this season.
