adminOxford United boss shares plans for January transfer window
Gary Rowett has shed light on Oxford United’s main objectives in the upcoming January transfer window.
The U’s sit in the relegation zone after defeat to Preston North End on Saturday and look in need of reinforcement if they are to stay in the Championship this season.
With injuries to key players and an imbalanced squad, United must be precise in their movements in the new year.
“You always want to strengthen,” the Yellows boss revealed.
“And that’s because you’re not happy with where you are, I think that’s just the nature of where we are in the league.
“In this period of the year, I’ve been top of the Championship and desperate to add players, I’ve been mid-table and desperate to add players and it’s no different where we are in the table at the moment.
“What our capabilities are; we’ll have those discussions. The recruitment team have worked incredibly hard to find good options and there’ll bit be a little chance for a little bit of flux within the squad.
“We spoke about not as many players going out on loan perhaps in the last window so we’ll want to balance that number out, but you don’t want to balance the number out and lose quality.”
Rowett has spoken previously about the imbalance in the squad.
Lots of attacking additions joined the ranks in the summer with not enough midfield reinforcements entering the doors, an area that seems most likely where the U’s will try and strengthen.
🗣️ Verdict from a disappointing, quiet afternoon at the Kassam as Oxford lose to Preston. 🤔#OUFC 🟡 pic.twitter.com/mh5xdw6yT7
— malachi (@MalachiObrey) December 13, 2025
“For different reasons, we’ve ended up a bit light in certain areas so of course you always want to try and address that balance,” the 51-year-old continued.
“We’re a side who are averaging a goal a game which is always hard. You’re always looking for different ways to score more goals.
“Sometimes when you don’t get those players out in the summer, that’s perhaps the main focus of the window, to readdress that balance but I think we ideally need to try and strengthen as well. We’re in a position where we all want to try and kick on.
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“We’re all aware of how competitive this division is.
“Of course we’ve got two or three injuries to key players at the moment, but you’re always looking for two or three other players to come in and kick you on again.
“We saw that in the last [January] window; Ben Nelson coming back fit, bringing Alex Matos in and you saw that impact that those players can have to strengthen the group, so we’ll be looking for the same again.
“It’s just where do you target that budget, what does that look like in terms of what you can bring in?”
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