Oxford United shunned Leicester City and Sheffield United's transfer advances - It could keep them up | OneFootball

The U's refusal to sell Brannagan may prove decisive as they look to avoid the drop

Oxford United’s decision to resist late transfer window pressure from Leicester City and Sheffield United may prove pivotal in their fight to remain in the Championship.

The retention of midfielder Cameron Brannagan, long regarded as a club talisman, offers both continuity and quality in what already looks set to be a challenging campaign.

Brannagan was the subject of sustained interest throughout the summer, with both Leicester and the Blades monitoring his situation closely.

Yet, Oxford stood firm. In the short term at least, that resolve represents a statement of intent from the U’s hierarchy: survival in the second tier matters more than a lucrative fee.

Cameron Brannagan retention should ease some Oxford United relegation anxiety

Already regarded as an Oxford legend, Brannagan’s importance to the side cannot be overstated.

The midfielder has been directly responsible for half of the club’s goals so far this season, including a superbly taken free-kick against Coventry City that salvaged the U's first point of the campaign.

He has scored two of Oxford’s four goals, with promising Tottenham Hotspur loanee Will Lankshear supplying the other two.

Beyond his numbers, Brannagan provides leadership and familiarity in a squad that has seen significant change.

Oxford’s summer transfer business showed ambition, with winger Filip Krastev arriving from Belgian club Lommel, veteran defender Ben Davies joining on loan from Rangers, and Brian De Keersmaecker beginning to impose himself after a slow start.

But while those additions carry promise, none bring Brannagan’s proven record at this level or his deep understanding of the club.

For a side battling early adversity, that continuity may be as valuable as any new signing.

Oxford United’s tricky start raises questions over their survival chances

Survival, however, will not come easily. Oxford endured a poor pre-season tour of Malaysia, returning with a string of injuries and little momentum.

That misfortune has continued into the Championship’s opening weeks. They sit in 22nd place with just one point from their opening fixtures, ahead only of crisis-hit Sheffield Wednesday and an underperforming Sheffield United side who were tipped to challenge at the other end of the table.

The underlying numbers tell a similarly sobering story. Oxford are still without a clean sheet, have recorded the lowest average possession in the division, and their cumulative expected goals (xG) of 3.8 ranks fourth-lowest in the league.

Gary Rowett faces the dual task of stabilising his defence and coaxing more control in midfield, particularly against the higher-calibre opponents they face weekly.

The fixture list offers little respite. Following the international break, Oxford resume their campaign with daunting matches against Leicester and Bristol City.

Both sides possess attacking firepower that could punish Oxford’s defensive vulnerabilities if improvements are not forthcoming.

Amid this difficult backdrop, keeping Brannagan looks less like an achievement of convenience and more like a necessity for Oxford’s chances of avoiding a return to League One.

His ability to create moments of quality from limited opportunities has already proven vital this season, and his experience could again prove decisive.

Oxford remain a long way from safety, and their early season numbers underline the scale of the challenge ahead.

But in Brannagan they retain a player capable of altering games, lifting teammates, and inspiring belief. If the U’s do manage to stay up, their refusal to cash in on their midfield linchpin may well be remembered as the decision that made the difference.