Oxford United have offered rising star Dean Whitehead a two-year extension to his current contract in a bid to keep him at the Kassam Stadium.

Dean WhiteheadThe midfielder has produced a series of outstanding displays since breaking into the first team in September, prompting huge interest from other clubs, including several first division outfits.

And with the 21-year-old out of contract in the summer, chairman Firoz Kassam knows he needs to move quickly to try and ensure Whitehead's future is with United.

The majority of the players' contracts expire in the summer.

But I understand that Kassam has offered the Abingdon youngster an extension which would see him stay at the club until the summer of 2006.

The move comes after a string of impressive performances led Sunderland, Wigan, Watford and Nottingham Forest, among others, to take a look at Whitehead in recent matches.

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