Aaron Ramsyey could make Peterborough United‘s Archie Collins the first permanent signing of his tenure at Oxford United.
The Yellows are under new management after the club decided to move on from Matt Bloomfield, who was unable to keep the Kassam Stadium side in the Championship.
Oxford Enter Five-Club Race
Now, with the former Arsenal man installed as their new chief heading into League One, the U’s are eyeing new recruits to try and challenge for an immediate promotion back to the second tier.
According to the Peterborough Telegraph, Oxford are in a four-way battle to secure midfielder Archie Collins, competing with Portsmouth, Sheffield Wednesday and their Thames Valley rivals in Reading.
Leicester City are also in contention, with the Foxes in need of selling some stars in order to balance their books, which could see Harry Winks, Oliver Skipp and others walk this window.
Joining Posh in 2023 from Exeter City, the 26-year-old has been a regular in the squad, playing 159 matches and appearing in all but one of the club’s League One matches last season under both Darren Ferguson and Luke Williams.
Following the club’s previous summer window, in which stars like Kwame Poku, Malik Mothersille and Ricky-Jade Jones were sold, Collins opted to reject a new contract offer, which has allowed him to walk as a free agent at the end of this month.
Important Battle Ahead
Throughout his time at Peterborough United, even when it was known he was going to leave the club, Archie Collins has been a standout star for his team and a player that Darragh MacAnthony tried to convince to stay with improved terms.
However, he has instead decided to walk away, and that could prove to be a brilliant free agent signing for any of his potential suitors this summer.
It is up to Collins where he ends up, but his best option could be at Oxford United, who face an intriguing summer following their relegation to League One.
Perhaps the best placed to go back up of the three League One sides vying for the midfielder’s signature, the Yellows have taken a big punt on an unknown manager in Aaron Ramsey, who is finally heading into the dugout following his retirement.
He will come into the club as a key figure immediately, and if paired with club stalwart Cameron Brannagan, could form a formidable partnership that can control matches.
Securing him, along with a new striker to replace the output of Will Lankshear, should arguably give Oxford a squad that can battle for the title, leaving it all on Ramsey as to whether he can put them into that conversation.
