Oxford United midfielder Marcus McGuane has admitted that he would like to remain at the club beyond his current contract, according to the Witney Gazette.
The 24-year-old joined the U’s in 2021 following a successful loan spell from then-Championship side Nottingham Forest, where he failed to make a single appearance after arriving at the City Ground from Barcelona.
He has become an ever-present at the Kassam Stadium over the past couple of seasons and has featured in all 13 of Oxford’s League One fixtures this season. Under the guidance of Liam Manning, the club have enjoyed an excellent start to the campaign and currently sit four points behind leaders Portsmouth in second.
With Championship football the ambition, Oxford have moved quickly to tie down a number of first team stars over the past few weeks, with defender Ciaron Brown the latest to pen a long-term contract.
McGuane’s current deal is set to expire at the end of the season, but the former Arsenal youngster has affirmed his desire to remain in Oxfordshire. Speaking to the Witney Gazette, he said;
“I love being here and I enjoy being here, and this is somewhere that I want to stay.
“My family are happy being here as well, so this is definitely somewhere that I want to stay and kick on, and get the club to where I think we should be.”
The publication does state that the defensive midfielder could have an option to extend his current contract by an additional year. Meanwhile, McGuane has been named in the starting lineup for this afternoon’s home clash with Wycombe Wanderers.
Writer’s View
Oxford are perhaps the surprise package of League One so far this season. Many predicted the U’s to be in and around the play-offs, but their start to the season has defied even those odds.
McGuane has played a key role in their surge up the table and it would appear that he will remain at the Kassam Stadium beyond this season, news which will be met with glee from supporters. There is sure to have been many clubs in the division keeping a tentative eye on the situation, but it would appear as if they will have to cast their net elsewhere.
