It’s not been a great summer for Karl Robinson, with his Oxford side arguably weaker than they were last season.
He’s missed out on a number of targets, Luke Garbutt and Marcus Browne two who featured last season but did not return for the current campaign.
Losing Gavin Whyte is also a blow, with Robinson thought to have targeted Ched Evans as a possible replacement. Whyte, who could play out wide or through the centre, was one of only two recognised strikers on the Oxford first team squad.
It seemed as though a loan move for Sheffield United’s Evans was a viable option, but that’s now looking highly unlikely after he was linked with a move to Fleetwood.
It was with the Cod Army that he scored 18 goals last season and after being spotted watching their development side this afternoon as reported by the Blackpool Gazette, it seems he set to reunite with Joey Barton’s side.
Evans hit 18 in 41 matches, but is not likely to force his way into the Sheffield United setup following their promotion to the Premier League. That’s led him back to Fleetwood’s training base at Poolfoot Farm, where he looks to complete another season-long loan deal.
Our View
Evans is a real handful in the third-tier, but he isn’t going to play in the top flight. That means a loan move and, if no Championship clubs want to take him on, he’s bound to be heading into League One.
Karl Robinson perhaps says a bit too much to the press; nobody would have known they missed out on Evans if he’d kept his trap shut. Instead, he’s left with egg on his face once more.
It’s not been a good summer for the U’s.
I think you’ll find Robinson announced last week on a radio interview which included a board member, managing director and Robinson that we had spoken to Ched and he would prefer to stay up north if possible so oxford cooled their interest over 2 weeks ago.