Roofe Money Won’t be Invested in the Squad
Following the sale of Kemar Roofe from Leeds United to Anderlecht, Oxford United received a fee from the profit after the club inserted sell on clause following his departure to Elland Road.
Roofe left Oxford for £3 million in 2016 following the U’s promotion to League One, and the former fan favourite is the clubs record sale.
And after completing his move to Belgium for a fee reportedly being around £7 million, the U’s stand to receive around 15 per cent which works out around £360,000.
This is after West Bromwich Albion, the club Roofe joined Oxford from, have taken their 40 per cent, another clause in the confusing deal.
But despite reports claiming the money Oxford receive would go to former Chairman Darryl Eales, who the club still owe money to, the Oxford Mail understands the income would go straight to club.
But today, U’s boss Karl Robinson has said that the money won’t be invested in the squad but will be entrusted elsewhere in the club.
Robinson told the Oxford Mail: “It will go elsewhere. A lot of internal things are happening at the moment that legally we can’t speak about, but we’re hoping to get something with the money that can consolidate us for years to come.
“That’s more important than over-spending on the pitch. I’m not here to bleed the club dry. We have to make sure of the health and internal growth of the club so it’s here for a long period. This money will hopefully go to something that will make us a better club.”
Since the arrival of new chairman Sumrith Thanakarnjanasuth in February 2018, the club has invested in a new training ground and better facilities and it’s believed the money would help fund this area.
The U’s are still in need of a striker, but it’s believed the budget is enough to attract the players that Robinson is after without in the inclusion of the Roofe money.