KARL Robinson revealed Oxford United fielded an approach for one of their players this week as he insisted the club will go about their transfer business quietly.

This weekend marks the midway point of the January window, with no signings or exits at the Kassam Stadium so far.

It has not stopped the rumours circulating, with reports yesterday claiming Sky Bet Championship outfit Huddersfield Town are one of several clubs monitoring in-form midfielder Mark Sykes.

Robinson confirmed one team have recently been in contact about an unnamed player, but suggested United’s valuation put them off.

The U’s head coach said: “We spoke to one club this week about one of our players and they knew exactly where we stood, so they could move on.

“We told them the price tag and they said they can’t get to that.

“I’m not saying who the player is, we’ll leave it for people to have that conversation.”

It is a week since Blackpool’s first attempt to sign Cameron Brannagan was made public, with the U’s rejecting a bid understood to be north of £500,000.

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The Championship club are still interested, although it remains to be seen whether they will meet the midfielder’s seven-figure buyout clause.

Robinson added: “Most of our players have buyout clauses in their contracts, when you sign your contract you know the reasoning behind that.

“When we get close to that and we think it’s right for the club we’re always open and our shareholders will never change, they know it’s part of why people come here.”

In terms of incomings, United were this week linked with Coventry City midfielder Jordan Shipley.

Robinson was tight-lipped on the rumour, adding: “He’s a good player, but we’re not going to speculate on other players in this window.

“I don’t think it’s that type of window, players are very few and far between for the first time in a long time.

“You have to be very careful about what people think you’re after and not after, so we don’t declare our interest in any player.

“I know of him, but it’s no comment on any players moving forward.”

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Nonetheless, Robinson sought to reassure supporters that a quiet window so far does not mean United are letting it pass them by.

He said: “I don’t think it takes a tremendous football brain to know where we’re short, so I think there’s a sense of calmness.

“There’s a lot of work going on behind the scenes.

“I know it might frustrate fans that nothing’s coming out, but hopefully people will respect the fact that we’re not shouting our mouths off about what we can and can’t do.

“Sometimes as a manager you have to do that to rattle a cage, sometimes it’s the board, sometimes it’s the team we want something from.

“We know when to be quiet and right now is the time to keep our heads down.”