Oxford United are locked in talks with Matt Green but are hopeful a deal can be reached with the talented 22-year-old striker.

It is understood that the U's have been in discussions with Green, and his agent, for a number of days.

And boss Darren Patterson will be especially keen to sign the forward, who did so well while on loan to Oxford from FA Cup finalists Cardiff City last season, after just missing out on a number of other targets.

Prolific scorer Daryl Clare opted to move from Burton Albion to Rushden & Diamonds instead of Oxford last week because of family reasons, and wingers Chris Hackett and Jamie Cook, who both used to play for United but are now at Millwall and Crawley Town respectively, chose to stay where they were.

Hackett and Cook are both players that Patterson would have liked to have signed, but he was philosophical about missing out.

"We spoke to Chris and put a verbal offer to him, but he had the chance of staying with Millwall and playing two leagues higher, so it was a no-brainer for him.

"But he's someone I've got a lot of respect for. I would have been delighted to have signed him, but it was always going to be a long shot."

Hackett has signed a six-month deal at The Den, following injury problems last season.

Patterson said: "We'll be monitoring him very, very closely."

United's manager was due to meet Cook for talks, but at the last minute he got a text from the player saying he had signed a new deal at Crawley.