OXFORD United look like missing out on a sensational attempt to bring in one of France's top players, Bruno Rodriguez.

The 32-year-old striker has been training at Oxford, along with a French goalkeeper, with a view to a possible permanent move to the Kassam Stadium.

But United's new management team say the club cannot afford Rodriguez and they are turning their attentions to the goalkeeper.

Rodriguez, born in Bastia, Corsica, began his career with Monaco and then helped Bastia to promotion from the French second division.

He has played for a number of clubs in the French first division, including Bastia, Metz, Strasbourg, Paris St Germain, Lens, Guincamp and Ajaccio. He was at Metz last season.

Four years ago, while he was at Lens, he played against Arsenal in the Champions League.

He also played in Spain, on loan to Rayo Vallecano. but had an ill-fated brief venture into English football with Bradford City in the 1999-2000 season and didn't play a match.

Manager Ramon Diaz's assistant and translator, Jean Marc Goiran, admitted there were two French players Oxford were looking at.

He said: "One is Bruno Rodriguez, who is a big player in the French first division, and the second one is a goalkeeper.

"Rodriguez does not look possible because he would cost too much, but we are looking at the goalkeeper.

"We have identified the goalkeeping position as a priority because when we came in, we only had one (senior) goalkeeper."

When Diaz and his coaching team arrived at the Kassam Stadium, regular No 1 Chris Tardif was injured and has had problems with his kicking.

For their first two matches they have bravely thrown in youth team keeper Bradie Clarke, who has performed very well.

But they realise that, for the team to mount a serious charge in League Two after Christmas, they will need a more experienced goalkeeper, especially if Tardif continues to have fitness problems.

Goiran added: "I would rather not give the goalkeeper's name, because we will still be in negotiations over the next few days."