Oxford United plot £1m Nottingham Forest transfer move | OneFootball

The U's are looking to add further reinforcements to their squad under Matt Bloomfield

Oxford United are reportedly plotting a seven-figure transfer move for Nottingham Forest midfielder Jamie McDonnell, who is currently on loan with Mansfield Town of League One.

That is according to Alan Nixon - via Patreon - as the U's look to bolster their squad under the newly-appointed Matt Bloomfield, with the former Luton Town boss eventually taking over at the Kassam Stadium following the dismissal of Gary Rowett on December 23rd.

In what is his second post at Championship level, Bloomfield will be hoping to succeed where he previously narrowly failed at Kenilworth Road, as, despite a late resurgence in the final weeks of last season, the Hatters were relegated on goal difference, with Oxford one of the sides to eventually confirm their safety at the Bedfordshire side's expense.

Oxford are currently 23rd in the second tier table, having accumulated just 22 points from their opening 25 outings - albeit their last scheduled fixture away to Sheffield United at Bramall Lane will be replayed later in the campaign due to a late postponement owing to recent baltic conditions.

It has been well-documented that the club does not have the financial resources comparable to many divisional rivals, meaning Bloomfield, like his predecessors in the form of Rowett and Des Buckingham, will have to work within his means in order to aid a survival bid for a second straight campaign, with his new employers currently three points adrift of Portsmouth in 21st.

Despite Bloomfield only being appointed last Friday ahead of the club's eventual penalty-shootout success over MK Dons in the FA Cup, Oxford had already completed two signings, with Jamie Donley's loan move from Tottenham Hotspur initially exclusively revealed by Football League World, before he was followed through the door by former Brentford forward, Myles Peart-Harris.

And, it appears that the relegation-threatened club are not stopping there when it comes to adding further depth to their midfield ranks, as McDonnell could be set for a first career stint in the Championship.

Having already added eight current players to their squad across the summer and winter transfer window, McDonnell could be the latest man to join Oxford, with a handful of their previous signings also seeing young prospects join on either a permanent or loan basis from clubs in the Premier League.

The only minor exception to the above trend is that Luke Harris recently saw his loan spell from Fulham cut short, with the Welsh playmaker scoring just once - against Middlesbrough - in 16 league appearances for the Yellows.

McDonnell has previously progressed through the academy ranks at the City Ground, having initially been acquired from NIFL Premiership side, Glentoran, as a 16-year-old, before turning professional with the East Midlands side in February 2021.

Despite not registering a senior competitive appearance for the Reds thus far, the two-time Northern Ireland international was part of Warren Joyce's Under-18s side which reached the FA Youth Cup final against Manchester United in May 2022, where an Alejandro Garnacho-inspired performance saw the Midlands outfit lose 3-1 at Old Trafford.

The Lisburn-born 21-year-old was then handed his first breakthrough in the senior game last season when he joined one of Bloomfield's former clubs, Colchester United on a season-long loan, eventually scoring once in 37 appearances for the Essex club whilst earning high praise for his performances at the base of midfield.

He has since made the step-up in class to League One level with Mansfield under the management of ex-Forest midfielder, Nigel Clough, who, again, heaped praise on the defensive midfielder's style and performances for the Stags, which included last weekend's 4-3 victory over Sheffield United.

"He's a throwback, in terms of he likes tackling and heading," said Clough.

"Academies these days don't produce many players like that. They produce wonderfully technical and gifted players at times, but it's almost a forgotten art that you still have to get the ball back and still have to tackle and head it.

"I just love his whole attitude towards playing football."

Such attributes have clearly caught the eye of Oxford, who will be hoping to cut his stint at Field Mill short, so McDonnell can become a permanent member of Bloomfield's ranks in a deal potentially worth in excess of £1m.

Jamie McDonnell would be a smart addition to Oxford United's midfield

It remains to be seen if a deal can be completed by Oxford for the highly-rated midfielder, although there's no denying that it represents a shrewd piece of business.

O'Donnell is clearly a player with a high ceiling despite his lack of current involvement with Forest, and he would hope that a permanent move to the Kassam could provide an extra springboard in terms of his development.

Given Clough's aforementioned description, the Northern Irishman fits the bill for the type of player which Oxford require in the relegation battle, and even if they are unsuccessful in those aims, they would have a leading League One midfielder on their books next season in a first-time promotion bid.