Oxford United striker Constable denies Swindon rumours

The Robins made two offers for the 27-year-old in the space of 24 hours, but both were rejected by the U’s.

One report yesterday afternoon claimed that Constable had asked to speak with United’s arch rivals over a potential move.

But the popular striker, known as Beano, denied that this was the case on Twitter.

“To clear up the rumours, I have never asked to speak to Swindon,” he said.

“So don’t know where that has come from!

“No truth whatsoever.”

Constable, who has hit 78 career goals for the U’s, scored twice as Oxford recorded a first win at the County Ground in 38 years earlier this season with a 2-1 success.

Robins boss Paolo Di Canio first declared his interest in the striker ahead of the derby clash last August, when he wrongly branded Constable a Swindon fan, when he actually supported Spurs as a boy.

“We have had an offer for James Constable and it has been rejected,” United boss Chris Wilder said.

“As I have said before, for any transfer to happen, all three parties have got to be in agreement – the two clubs and the player.

“I’m not surprised, however, that other clubs are interested in our players.”

Constable held talks with League One side Bournemouth in August, and turned the Cherries down, despite being offered a better financial package than he was on at Oxford.

And while Swindon will offer him more money again, it seems unlikely that Constable would consider moving to another club in the same league as Oxford.

After turning down Bournemouth, the striker said: “I felt with a team in a higher division it was worth talking to them.

“I asked for what I felt was adequate and they agreed to that.

“But it was down to me in the end and I didn’t want to leave.”

Di Canio was unusually reserved at a press conference yesterday.

When asked whether Swindon would go back in with another bid, Di Canio replied: “I don’t know. There are clubs talking about some situations, but I don’t want to talk about this.”