OXFORD United are prepared to pay a fee this week in order to land their top target – who head coach Michael Appleton is certain will score goals in Sky Bet League One this season.

With only 11 days left until the season kicks off, the U’s are still looking to replace top-scorer Kemar Roofe.

The club’s recruitment department have had several successes bringing in free agents who can be developed.

But in this instance, Appleton believes it is time to reinvest a small slice of the more than £4m in fees received for Roofe and Callum O’Dowda in order to bring in someone with proven class.

He said: “To try and replace the likes of Kemar and Callum is going to be difficult enough as it is, but to try and replace them with freebies is even tougher.

“There’s no doubt we’ll have to pay a fee for the type of quality we’re going to need to replace the goals we’ve lost.

“I’m hoping we can do that this week.”

U’s chairman Darryl Eales has already sanctioned an increase in the playing budget following the high-profile transfers out of the club this summer.

They did believe Matty Taylor would fit the bill, but the 26-year-old performed a U-turn following talks earlier this month and signed a new contract at Bristol Rovers.

Simeon Jackson, another striker believed to be on their wish-list, signed for Walsall last week.

United’s issue will be on not paying over the odds for their target, considering the selling club will be aware they have received significant fees.

Appleton acknowledged it had been an issue already.

“It’s probably been the scenario we’ve had over the last week or so,” he said.

“We’re not going to go out and spend £1m on a player, or anywhere near that.

“We have a way of working which has been successful over the last 18 months or so and hopefully will be for the next however many years.

“We will continue to bring players in with massive quality and potential.

“Hopefully we can help them fulfil that, but sometimes you have to go out there and get someone who isn’t just potential and can hit the ground running to get the goals you need.”