THE January transfer window opens today, but where do Oxford United need to strengthen in the market?

The U’s are relatively well-placed when it comes to general depth in the team, largely thanks to the work done during the summer to assemble a squad which can challenge at the top end of Sky Bet League One.

However, as we now enter January, there are a couple of key areas where reinforcements are likely to be sought.

READ ALSO: Our player ratings after Oxford United let slip two-goal lead in final game of 2023

The most obvious position to recruit for is up front. United’s three strikers have been goal-shy so far this campaign, with not enough pressure being put on first choice centre forward Mark Harris.

The Welshman initially got off to a flying start for the U’s after joining from Cardiff City in the summer, netting three times in his first three league games, including a match-winning brace at Derby County.

His red card in the defeat at home to Port Vale on September 2 didn’t seem to faze him at first, as three days later, he scored twice at Northampton Town in the EFL Trophy.

However, he has scored just once since then – a late goal in the 5-0 hammering of Chelsea Under-21s, again in the EFL Trophy.

It means he has gone 18 league games without a goal.

Oxford Mail:

Confidence in the penalty area appears to be low for Harris, who is having minimal touches inside the box during games.

The runs he was making at the beginning of the campaign, to stretch teams and get in behind opposition defences, have dried up in comparison to the early weeks of the season.

That’s not to say he isn’t working hard for the team. Harris cannot be faulted for his pressing from the front and endeavour to chase defenders down.

Put simply, he’s still running the hard yards, but not in a way that is hurting teams as much.

The 25-year-old is United’s sole senior striker, and for that reason, has continued to lead the line despite his downturn in goals.

Competition for a place up front comes from Gatlin O’Donkor and Sonny Perkins, both of whom are 19 and still learning the game.

O’Donkor is yet to score this season, while Perkins has netted once in the six games across all competitions he has played.

After a breakthrough campaign last year, O’Donkor began this season well. Previous head coach Liam Manning used him as an impact player from the bench, holding the ball up and winning set pieces to help the U’s see out games.

When he has been used from the bench and United are chasing the game though, the picture is different.

O’Donkor has been unable to have the same effect, struggling to have a presence in front of goal.

Perkins meanwhile was afforded few opportunities under Manning, a trend which has continued under Des Buckingham, and parent club Leeds United will surely be considering recalling him this month.

It means Harris hasn’t enjoyed the competition that the rest of the squad has. A new striker to come in and rival Harris is surely a must for the U’s if they are to remain in the hunt for promotion come the end of the season.

Elsewhere, the hamstring injuries suffered by wingers Marcus Browne and Kyle Edwards has left United with Tyler Goodrham, Stan Mills and Josh Murphy as the options out wide for much of the campaign.

If the injuries to Browne and Edwards are to continue too long into 2024, then it might be worthwhile United adding another winger to their ranks, allowing healthier rotation.

Talk of adding a defensive midfielder has surrounded the U’s for many of the past transfer windows, and it’s likely to crop up again this month.

It would arguably be a harder position to recruit for, compared to a striker or winger, as bringing a quality enforcer into the club would likely require a substantial transfer fee.

Such a luxury for a League One side would also come at a luxury cost.