Oxford United manager Karl Robinson is hopeful of bringing three loan players back to the club next season.
Matty Taylor, Marcus Browne and Liam Kelly all impressed the U’s boss last season, who is looking to bring them back to Grenoble Road.
Taylor, who joined from Bristol City on a season-long loan last summer, netted an impressive 17 goals in all competitions. However, reports suggest that the Robins will release the striker in the summer following the expiration of his contract.
Browne joined the U’s in January. He netted four and provided four assists from 13 games, before scoring the equaliser in the League One playoff so final first leg against Portsmouth.
The winger spent last season on loan at Grenoble Road but he joined Middlesbrough in the summer despite the U’s looking to retain his services. However, he made just five starts for the club before leaving in January.
The other player is Kelly. On loan from Feyenoord, Kelly has only made five appearances as a result of injuries but has impressed the U’s boss nonetheless. The former Reading midfielder is out of favour in Holland, having made just two appearances.
With Rob Dickie likely to leave, Robinson knows investment is key. Speaking to the Oxford Mail, he said: “I think we need to bid for players, that’s one way round it.
“I think we need to put money on the table. We know the players we want and what they’re going to cost. I think there’s a necessity to sign Matty Taylor.
“I want him and he wants to come,” the U’s boss added.
Speaking about Kelly, Robinson said: “We’ve seen glimpses of Liam Kelly that are exceptional. I think he’s found it hard being away from home.
“The big thing is I brought Liam in unfit. I think if you brought him in now and I could see him in pre-season it gives me a chance to experiment.
“But I wasn’t willing to experiment when we were doing so well and had a formula. Now the formula can restart again.”
