OXFORD UNITED have imposed a midweek deadline on two of their main summer targets.

U's boss Darren Patterson wants the duo - with whom he has been in talks over the last few weeks - to give him an answer within the next 48 hours.

Patterson has been frustrated by a number of potential recruits turning Oxford down and going elsewhwere.

But he admits some of their decisions had not particularly surprised him.

"Some have been no-brainers", he said. "They have moved to a club two levels above for a lot more money. But that doesn't stop me trying to get them.

"That doesn't mean I'm setting my sights too high. I've been deliberately setting my sights high to begin with because, at the end of the day, that's what we need.

"I want some proper players, not average players, to add to the quality we've got here - and it will probably mean we have a smaller squad this season."

He added: "We know the areas that need strengthening.

"There's not been a great deal of activity in general so far this summer, though some clubs have bought quite a lot very early.

"We're working hard to get players in, but I'm not going to take somebody just for the sake of it.

"I'm adamant that I'm not going to take anybody who's not as good as what we've got. We're continuing to meet players, to speak to players, and we are hopeful that we'll sign some as soon as possible.

"We've got two priorities at the minute that we've worked very hard on over the last two weeks - and the time frame of us waiting will be the middle of this week.

" We won't be waiting - if it's delayed any longer then we'll just move on."