LIAM Manning says he will be talking to Oxford United’s out of contract players in the coming days to discuss their futures.

The standout name among those whose deals expire in the summer is striker Matty Taylor, currently on loan at Sky Bet League One rivals Port Vale.

Other first team players out of contract in the coming weeks include midfielders Alex Gorrin and Ben Davis, plus striker Slavi Spasov.

Meanwhile, Djavan Anderson, Jodi Jones and Kie Plumley all have one-year options included in their deals.

READ ALSO: Oxford United boss reacts to being shortlisted for manager of the month

United secured League One safety following the 3-0 win at Forest Green Rovers on Saturday, unless a huge goal difference swing on the final day of the season occurs.

With third tier survival almost intact, the U’s have added certainty when it comes to making decisions on players for next season.

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When asked about the out of contract players at the club this summer, Manning said: “I’ll be sitting with each of the players individually over the course of the next week.

“They’re extremely important conversations that I’ll be having with the players.

“Of course, they’re bits that are private and that in time, we’ll obviously release when it’s been decided.”

Taylor has scored four goals in 13 appearances for Vale since joining on loan late on deadline day in January,

The striker’s move to Vale came as something of a shock, with the 33-year-old United’s seventh-highest goalscorer of all time.

In total, he has netted 64 time for his hometown club but struggled this season, scoring just six times across all competitions.

Only three of his goals had come in League One, two of which were in the 4-0 thrashing of Vale at the Kassam Stadium in November.

One factor which may influence his long-term future is the managerial position at Vale.

When Taylor arrived in Staffordshire, he linked up again with his former Bristol Rovers boss Darrell Clarke.

Taylor previously helped fire Clarke’s Rovers to back-to-back promotions to the third tier, netting 67 goals in two and a half years, prior to his controversial move to neighbours Bristol City.

Last month though, the Valiants parted company with Clarke, who was replaced until the end of the campaign by former U’s captain Andy Crosby.

It is believed that Clarke’s position at Vale was a big draw for Taylor when making the move.

Gorrin meanwhile has only played 13 times this season, and last featured as a substitute in the Emirates FA Cup win at Woking back in November.

The Spaniard missed a large chunk of last season after sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in November 2021, while this December he suffered a similar injury to the other knee.

Davis has been on loan at Thai outfit Port FC this season, while 21-year-old striker Spasov has spent time with Banbury United this campaign.

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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.