Oxford United pursuing fresh contract agreement for 6-goal attacker amid expected transfer interest | OneFootball

Oxford United want to tie Mark Harris with a new contract to deter rivals from pursuing him this summer

Oxford United are seeking to tie versatile Wales international Mark Harris down to a new contract following their Championship survival.

The U's secured their second tier status a week prior to the end of the campaign, and now manager Gary Rowett will have to address who stays and who goes ahead of 2025-26.

One player he seems keen to keep though is Harris, who led the line for most of the season at the Kassam Stadium.

Oxford United set to take Mark Harris action

According to a report from journalist Alan Nixon via Patreon, Oxford would like to agree new terms with Harris this summer, as he heads into it with just one more year left on the deal he signed back in 2023.

Harris joined the U's from Cardiff City two years ago, and scored 15 goals for them as they were promoted from League One last season.

The Welshman started the 2024-25 season sensationally, winning the Championship's Player of the Month award for August after scoring four goals in their first five League matches.

Goals have tailed off since then - he only scored a further two throughout the remainder of the season - but the key to importance to Gary Rowett is his versatility, while the player himself has spoken of buying into the new manager's ideas.

Harris can play as a striker, a winger or just behind a main striker, and this versatility means that his contribution to the Oxford team is about more than goals alone.

Oxford United will be concerned that rivals will be keen on Mark Harris

It is an inevitable fact of life for the Championship's 'smaller' clubs that bigger clubs will start to take note of a player performing in the way that Harris has for Oxford these last couple of seasons.

He still has a further year on his contract, so the club's desire to tie the player down to a fresh deal is more about insurance than any immediate, pressing necessity.

But the appeal of a versatile attacking player in this division is clear. Clubs have struggled to score goals this season, with only seven managing 60 or more in 46 games. Greater attacking options could give a club a crucial advantage next season, especially if the chase for play-off places is as tight as it has been this season.

With another season in the Championship now looming for his team, Rowett clearly sees the value in Harris, and a new long-term deal now would mean one less headache to drag out through next season, too.