Martin Thomas is believed to have been in talks at The Kassam Stadium yesterday about his Oxford United future.

The former Swansea and Brighton midfielder was one of several out-of-favour players, to whom Oxford have made offers to leave.

Already Robert Quinn and Richard Knight have taken up the offers.

It's believed an offer also went to Manny Omoyinmi, who is currently on holiday, though his position is being reviewed because of Jamie Brooks's illness.

Meanwhile, reports from Cambridge have claimed that midfielder Ian Ashby and defender Andy Duncan have been in discussions with Atkins about a possible move to Oxford.

Ashby, a utility midfielder, and former Manchester United player Duncan, who can play at centre back or right back, were both released by Cambridge United at the end of last season because the Abbey Stadium club could not afford to keep them.

Atkins has already had talks with a host of players.

But no firm moves are likely yet until the United manager has cleared the decks of the players he would like to see go. The position of Joey Beauchamp sholud be clearer after today's examination by a specialist on a his prolonged toe inujury.