LIAM Manning admits Oxford United still need reinforcements at the top end of the pitch, after a promising start to his first transfer window at the club.

The U’s have already signed Ruben Rodrigues, Jordan Thorniley, Josh McEachran, James Beadle and Fin Stevens during the summer transfer market, with the latter two arriving on loan from Premier League sides Brighton & Hove Albion and Brentford respectively.

However, only one of those players – Rodrigues – is likely to play a key role in the final third for United next season.

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Asked where he would still like to strengthen in the transfer window, Manning responded: “It’s the top end of the pitch to be honest, we’re fully aware we still need strikers and we still need wide players.

“It’s tough because strikers are always in demand, the hardest part of the game is scoring goals.

“I wouldn’t say there’s an abundance of options out there either.

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“It seems to be in recent years, and I don’t know whether it’s academy systems and teams playing one up front more often, so less being developed, but there’s not huge numbers of available strikers out there.

“We’ve done a huge amount of work and had a huge number of conversations, and we’re quite clear on the targets and who we want to speak to, and who we think will be a really good fit for us.

“Ed Waldron has worked in France previously and I’ve had experiences abroad as well, so it’s about touching base with some of the contacts we’ve got to help maybe identify potential other recruits.”

As it stands, Manning has Rodrigues, Billy Bodin, Marcus Browne, Tyler Goodrham, Josh Murphy and Yanic Wildschut at his disposal as options to play in the final third, while Sam Baldock and Gatlin O’Donkor are the only recognised centre forwards in the squad.

Baldock though only managed four appearances, all in February, last season due to fitness issues, while it is unlikely 18-year-old O’Donkor will be expected to lead the line on a regular basis next season.

Midfielder Cameron Brannagan was United’s top goalscorer in all competitions during the 2022/23 campaign, finishing the season with 12 goals to his name.

He was closely followed by Swansea City loanee Kyle Joseph and Bodin, who netted 10 and nine times respectively.

Matty Taylor scored six times – with just three of those strikes coming in Sky Bet League One – prior to his January deadline day loan move to Port Vale, however no other player managed more than five goals for the U’s last season. Taylor was not offered a new deal this summer and leaves United as a free agent.

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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.