Oxford United are closing in on the deal to bring Chris Hargreaves back to the club.

The 37-year-old midfielder has expressed a strong desire to return to the Kassam Stadium to try to help the U’s win promotion.

Torquay left him out of their squad at Barnet on Tuesday night so he could sort out his future.

And negotiations have continued between United chairman Kelvin Thomas, who is currently in the States, and Gulls chief Colin Lee.

It's understood that both sides have compromised to enable the deal to go through, and that could happen in the next 48 hours.

The transfer is likely to be a loan to Oxford until the end of the season.

U’s boss Chris Wilder didn’t want to comment on the subject except to say: “We’re still confident that Chris will be able to join us. Talks are ongoing.”

The sticking point was that Oxford were keen to bring Hargreaves back on a three-month loan, but League Two Torquay were insisting that Hargreaves’ Football League contract, which ran to the end of June, was honoured.

Torquay manager Paul Buckle was openly critical of the U’s.

He said: “Oxford haven’t helped us. They weren’t prepared to pay Chris through the summer – I feel that Oxford have messed us around.”

Thomas, though, has simply been doing what he feels is in Oxford’s best interests.

Hargreaves remained at Plainmoor and played in Torquay’s 3-2 home defeat by Burton, a match in which they led 2-0, and it was a testament to the veteran midfielder that he was named as sponsors’ man-of-the-match.

If Hargreaves’s move does go through, it would take Oxford United’s squad to 21 for what is likely to be a very hectic three months.