LIAM Manning is hopeful that Oxford United can add ‘one or two’ more signings before the club departs to Spain next week.
The U’s have already acted quickly in the summer transfer window, bringing in Ruben Rodrigues, Jordan Thorniley, Josh McEachran and James Beadle.
United returned for pre-season training on Monday, ahead of flying out to Alicante for a week of warm weather training.
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Head coach Manning is optimistic there could be a couple more fresh faces for the trip to Spain.
He told this newspaper: “Ideally and hopefully we’ll do maybe another one or two before we go to Spain, that’s what we’re hoping for.
“Things move and change so quickly in the industry, so it’s difficult to commit to that.
“Quite a few of the lads that we’ve signed are ready for now, we’ve got people that are ready to hit the ground running.
“I think that’s what we need, people that are proven at the level.
“Then it’s around adding some players that have got high potential and high profile.
“We’ll continue doing the work to hopefully add to the ones we’ve done so far.”
Rodrigues kicked off the U’s summer signings when his move from Notts County was announced on June 13.
The 26-year-old creative midfielder scored 19 goals and bagged 15 assists, to help the Magpies secure promotion to Sky Bet League Two last season.
United reportedly beat Championship side Cardiff City, plus League One rivals Barnsley and Derby County, to his signature.
#oufc players returned for pre-season today – with some sporting new squad numbershttps://t.co/zQzsI38djE
— Oxford Mail OUFC (@OxfordMailOUFC) June 26, 2023
The following day after Rodrigues joined, former loanee Thorniley signed for the club with his contract at Blackpool to expire.
The 26-year-old centre back made 25 appearances for the U’s, all of them starts, during the 2021/22 campaign.
On June 16, Oxford-born midfielder McEachran became the club’s third signing in four days, joining from MK Dons.
Manning worked with the Chelsea academy product during his time as MK Dons head coach.
All three officially become United players on July 1 when their deals expire at their former clubs.
Beadle then signed for the U’s on Friday, arriving from Brighton & Hove Albion on a season-long loan deal.
The 18-year-old goalkeeper played for England at this year’s Under-20 World Cup and impressed on loan at League Two side Crewe Alexandra during the 2022/23 campaign, playing nine times after joining in January.
Like Rodrigues, Thorniley and McEachran, Beadle officially joins United on July 1.
He is to train with parent club Brighton before linking up with the U’s for their trip to Alicante next week.
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About the author
To sign up to Liam’s latest Oxford United newsletter for free, click here: https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/newsletters/
Formerly the politics reporter for the Oxford Mail, Liam now covers all things Oxford United.
Liam attends the U’s home and away, as well as covering other big sports stories across the county.
His Oxford United newsletter is released every Saturday morning at 6am.
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