Exclusive: Leicester & Oxford United set for transfer battle over ex-Cardiff City star | OneFootball

Two of League One's presumed promotion favourites are in the mix for an experienced free agent

Aaron Ramsey was appointed as Oxford United's head coach earlier this week, and he's set to battle with a League One rival for one of his former players during his short caretaker stint at Cardiff City, Football League World can exclusively reveal.

Despite their relegation from the Championship after a two-year stint in the second tier, it was widely expected that the U's would stick with Matt Bloomfield, who was appointed at the Kassam Stadium in January to replace the outgoing Gary Rowett.

Unable to keep Oxford in the division, Bloomfield still looked well-positioned to be the individual to manage a potential promotion push in 2026-27, but in a real surprise, the 42-year-old was axed by the United hierarchy - and replaced by managerial novice Ramsey.

Former Arsenal and Wales midfielder Ramsey had an incredibly brief stint as Cardiff City's interim manager at the end of the 2024-25 season after Omer Riza's sacking, and after a brief playing venture in Mexico, the Welshman hung up his boots in April ready for a new challenge - and he's duly landed at Oxford for the next step.

Ramsey has to deal with what is already a relatively large squad without any player departures, but he's eyeing up someone he knows very well from his recent two-year stint with the Bluebirds.

Ryan Wintle eyed up by League One duo after Cardiff City exit

FLW understands that Ryan Wintle is on Ramsey's radar as he looks to freshen up his Oxford squad early on and make a statement to the rest of League One.

Wintle was a team-mate at Cardiff of Ramsey's for two years, having arrived in the Welsh capital in the summer of 2021 on a free transfer from then-League One side Crewe Alexandra.

Whilst not immediately establishing himself in City's first-team squad, having been loaned out to Blackpool for the first few months of 2021-22, Wintle ended up racking up 163 appearances in a five-year period for the Bluebirds, whilst also spending one of those seasons on loan at Millwall.

Wintle was a surprise announced departure by Cardiff when their retained list for the summer was announced, having appeared 40 times in League One under Brian Barry-Murphy in City's promotion-winning campaign and winning the club's Player of the Year in the process, but it is isn't just Oxford who are battling to land the 29-year-old on a free transfer.

Leicester City are also in for Wintle's services, FLW can confirm, with new Foxes head coach Russell Martin looking to take them in a new direction after two relegations in a row from the Premier League into League One.

Action Images

A number of experienced midfielders remain on Leicester's books for now, such as Harry Winks, Oliver Skipp and Hamza Choudhury, but whether or not one or all remain at the King Power Stadium ahead of the new campaign remains to be seen, with Wintle very much being eyed up for a move to the East Midlands.