ABERDEEN have opened the way for Oxford United to move for £400,000 rated midfielder Dean Windass - if they want to.

Dons boss Alex Miller took Windass into his office and told the 29-year-old he was prepared to let him go, even though he has a year left on his conract, because he wants to raise cash to bring in other players.

Windass, a former teammate of Malcolm Shotton's at Hull, said: "I would be keen to speak to Oxford if they are interested in me. I know 'Shotts' very well."

The player's agent has been instructed to try to find him a club and Windass, who has also attracted the interest of Huddersfield and West Brom, seems likely to return to England.

Shotton may have instigated an inquiry for him a year ago because Aberdeen confirmed that Barnsley asked about his availability a year ago, when Shotton was part of Danny Wilson's management team at Oakwell.

Shotton told me, before setting off with United's players to Cyprus: "I know Dean very well, not just from having played with him at Hull, but as a friend. He's a good player. "We will be looking at a number of players because I want to change one or two things around, but I've not had any contact with him to date."

United director Maurice Evans, the club's chief scout, said: "Funnily enough, one of the first jobs Brian Horton asked me to do was take a look at Dean. He's got a lot of ability but he's had a few disciplinary problems."

Windass, who can also play as a forward, has struck nearly 100 league and cup goals in eight seasons with Hull and Aberdeen after moving to Boothferry Park from non-League North Ferriby United in 1991.

It's been a long time since United have had a creative goalscoring central midfielder. Trevor Hebberd, who hit 24 goals in three seasons in the mid Eighties, was the last prolific centre park midfielder who could also produce classy defence-splitting passes.

Since then Robbie Mustoe, Jim Magilton and Matt Murphy have been regular scorers from midfield but last season United relied heavily upon winger Joey Beauchamp cutting in from the flanks to score from deep.

Should Shotton decide to go for Windass, he would almost certainly have to sell first and he has already indicated he would be reluctant to lose Beauchamp, his jewel in the crown.

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