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Oxford United Braced For Championship Transfer Raid Following Transfer Embargo
Oxford United winger Stanley Mills is of interest to several Championship sides, including Preston North End.
The winger was left out of the Yellows’ pre-season training camp abroad in Spain, with the Oxford Mail reporting that this was due to fitness issues and that he will remain at home alongside Frankie Kent, who has yet to be registered due to the club’s transfer embargo.
North End Eye Swoop
However, his future at the Kassam Stadium has been cast into doubt with reports from Football Insider’s Pete O’Rourke revealing that a number of Championship clubs are keen on signing Mills.
The only team officially named by the report is Preston North End, who are on the lookout for new attacking options following the exit of Lewis Dobbin after the end of his loan spell, with the Aston Villa man joining Southampton in a permanent deal.
The 22-year-old was a regular under Matt Bloomfield last season, playing in all but three of the U’s Championship matches last season, and provided three goals and four assists.
Oxford United face a difficult task should they opt to sell any player due to their current transfer embargo, which has barred them from registering any players, with the club hopeful that their restrictions will be lifted by the January window.
When discussing their transfer ban, club chairman Dusan Bogdanovic said in an open statement:
To be absolutely clear, our shareholders remain fully committed to the Club and will continue to provide the funding and support that they have consistently given throughout their ownership. They are invested, both financially and emotionally, in Oxford United’s long-term success, and recognise the responsibility that comes with being custodians of this great Club.
Over the last few seasons, we had to rapidly adjust to the realities of competing in a higher division and the increase in funding that required. Despite our best efforts, we were unable to retain our Championship status and are now working through the challenges that higher costs, reduced revenues and new financial rules present.
We are sometimes required to make difficult decisions in the short term. Those decisions are never taken lightly and, understandably, may not always be popular. However, our responsibility is to ensure we protect the long-term interests and sustainability of the Club. We will always act in a way that we believe safeguards Oxford United’s future and gives the Club the best possible platform for success.
Embargo Holds Key To Sales
With no players able to be recruited this summer, Oxford United will surely be on lockdown mode in order to give them the best shot possible under new manager Aaron Ramsey.
Stan Mills may not have been the most pivotal player to the Yellows’ chances last season, but with a drop in divisions and the inability to replace some players like Will Lankshear and Myles Peart-Harris, he will surely have an important role to play in the coming months.
While Preston North End may prove to be an alluring destination with their tendency to develop some top talent, Oxford’s circumstances have probably shut the door on any possibility that the former Everton man exits in the coming weeks.
The same can be said of Jamie McDonnell, who is also of interest to another Championship side, with the Football Lowdown exclusively reporting that an unnamed club are weighing up tabling a £1 million bid for the midfielder.
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