DES Buckingham hopes that familiarity with the Oxford United way will play a part in enticing three of the club’s promotion heroes to stay.

The U’s are in talks over new deals for Josh Murphy, plus Joe Bennett and Josh McEachran, with all three players out of contract this summer.

Murphy is of course the one creating the headlines, with a host of clubs reportedly fighting for his signature.

Second tier sides Blackburn Rovers, Hull City, Queens Park Rangers, Stoke City, Sunderland and West Bromwich Albion have all been credited with an interest in Murphy, in addition to Portsmouth and Derby County, who joined United in earning promotion from Sky Bet League One.

This newspaper understands that Murphy was made an offer by the U’s within 24 hours of promotion at Wembley.

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The 29-year-old scored both goals as United beat Bolton Wanderers 2-0 in the League One play-off final.

U’s head coach Buckingham said: “We’ve made the offers to the players and spoken about the reasons as to why we want to offer them contracts, and what that looks like for them, both now and in their future.

“We’ve done our bit. They know what we’re about, what we do and how we do things, and I’d like to think that will play a big part in their decision-making, but ultimately it’s up to them if they want to stay.”

Murphy joined United on a free transfer in July 2022, after his contract with Cardiff City expired.

He initially struggled with form and fitness problems, and was then sparingly used under former boss Liam Manning.

Buckingham’s arrival in November offered a new lease of life for Murphy, who hit electric form from mid-February onwards, netting eight goals in the final 19 games of the season.

Oxford Mail:

Buckingham added: “We got in after the parade on Monday, and I’ve been in pretty much every day since. Every day, Ed Waldron [head of recruitment] and myself have been in, and we’ve had the ownership group over as well.

“We’re working as hard as we can to make sure we’re not falling behind, but we’re probably two weeks behind officially speaking to people.

“We’re doing as much in that space as we can, to get what we need.”

Midfield duo Marcus McGuane and Josh Johnson have had one-year options in their deals triggered, while winger Kyle Edwards will remain with the club while he continues his rehabilitation from a hamstring injury.

Meanwhile, U’s quartet Billy Bodin, Marcus Browne, James Henry and Steve Seddon have been released and will leave United this summer.

Bodin, Browne and Henry were part of the U’s squad which earned promotion this season, while Seddon spent the campaign on loan at Burton Albion.