CLUBS across the country are planning for the 2023/24 season with retained lists submitted and players being released.
An XI of former Oxford United players whose contracts have expired can be put together, but what do you think to ours?
LISTED: Every player released by League One clubs this summer
GOALKEEPER
Queens Park Rangers revealed Jordan Archer was in talks with the club when they announced their retained list. The 30-year-old played eight games for the U’s during a short spell in the 2019/20 season.
RIGHT BACK
Released by beaten Sky Bet Championship play-off finalists Coventry City, Todd Kane ended the season on loan at Charlton Athletic in League One. The former Chelsea youngster impressed in a half-season loan with the U’s in the 2017/18 campaign.
CENTRE BACKS
Curtis Nelson and Jordan Thorniley have both left Blackpool this summer, and were prominent players during their time at United. Former captain Nelson made 121 appearances during a three-year spell, while Thorniley spent the first half of the 2021/22 season on loan with the club.
LEFT BACK
Completing the back four is another released by Blackpool in Luke Garbutt. He spent the 2018/19 campaign on loan at United, bagging four goals in 36 matches.
CENTRE MIDFIELD
After 63 appearances for Brentford – 39 in helping them to the Premier League – Tariqe Fosu will leave the Bees when his contract expires this summer. He played 33 times for the U’s, scoring 10 goals.
A left back now, Josh Ruffels played in midfield before moving into defence. The Oxford-born 29-year-old made 318 appearances across eight seasons before a move to Huddersfield Town, who he leaves this summer after two years.
RIGHT MIDFIELD
Jordan Graham enjoyed two loan spells at United from Wolves, in 2015 and 2019. The 28-year-old leaves Birmingham City after two years with the club.
ATTACKING MIDFIELD
Gavin Whyte bagged nine goals for United before a move to Cardiff City in July 2019. Whyte revealed his Bluebirds exit on Instagram last month, having had a second U’s spell on loan in the 2021/22 season.
LEFT MIDFIELD
Mide Shodipo enjoyed an eye-catching loan spell with the U’s in the 2020/21 season, netting 13 times in 46 matches. The 25-year-old will leave QPR this summer.
STRIKER
Dan Agyei has become a key man at Crewe Alexandra in League Two, scoring 16 goals for them last season. He has been offered a fresh deal by the Alex.
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About the author
To sign up to Liam’s latest Oxford United newsletter for free, click here: https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/newsletters/
Formerly the politics reporter for the Oxford Mail, Liam now covers all things Oxford United.
Liam attends the U’s home and away, as well as covering other big sports stories across the county.
His Oxford United newsletter is released every Saturday morning at 6am.
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