Oxford United should join West Brom in ambitious Tottenham transfer hunt | OneFootball

Oxford United should rival West Bromwich Albion for the signing of Tottenham Hotspur youngster Jamie Donley.

As they prepare for a second successive season in the Championship, Oxford United will be looking to build on survival last year and cement themselves as a team that belongs in the second-tier.

To do so, the U’s will have to become a little bit more adventurous in order to sustain themselves in the Championship, and that will require a bit more thrust and intricacy in the final third.

Having gained promotion under Des Buckingham, Oxford then struggled to become effective and robust enough in the Championship, leading to him being replaced by Gary Rowett in December.

The former Birmingham City and Millwall boss certainly shut things down at the Kassam Stadium, and made them immensely difficult to play against and beat.

The one growing concern, that was eventually allayed by survival, within the fanbase would be the lack of creativity and efficiency in the final third; a lack of spark.

Oxford will likely be tough to play against one again next season, but they need something extra in the final third and the man who could fill that void would be Tottenham Hotspur attacking midfielder Jamie Donley.

Oxford should pursue ambitious move for Donley

Now, it has to be said from the off that a move for Donley would be an ambitious one, especially with Ryan Mason’s West Bromwich Albion said to be interested in the 20-year-old.

As well as that, Spurs are currently holding off on sanctioning a loan move for the former England youth international until new manager Thomas Frank has a look at him from close quarters in pre-season.

If a deal was to eventually be something possible, though, then Oxford should try and push themselves right to the front of the queue, as he would be the ideal man for the number ten position in a Gary Rowett system.

Versatile in terms of position because, whilst a natural so-called ‘ten’, he would have the ability to drift and float wide depending on the formation, whether Rowett prefer a back four for next season in something like a 4-2-3-1 shape, or he goes with a back three, whether that be by using two tens, one ten or wingers in attack – Donley fits the bill regardless.

Another practical element would be the physicality that Donley possesses. Rowett is known for his attritional, percentage-based football, and that often requires ‘big lads’, for want of a more sophisticated and nuanced expression, getting around the pitch.

Donley is technically excellent and can glide around the pitch but, at 6 ft and with his build, having now played a season of EFL football, he is also capable of putting himself about.

Then we can get onto the gifts that Donley would be able to provide Rowett with the ball at his feet; and especially from set-pieces, such as corner kicks, for which a Rowett side tends to be most threatening from.

The Northern Ireland international can strike with both feet, has dead-ball ability and a speed of thought that marked him out as a level above League One last season.

Why Oxford would work for Donley

Having played for a more ideological coach in Wellens, with a desire to play attacking and free flowing, fluent football, it would perhaps now aid Donley to not necessarily go to the other extreme, but work with someone further down the spectrum in terms of Rowett.

Thomas Frank, someone who appears to balance a desire for progressive, modern day football with a pragmatic awareness to get the best out of the players at his disposal, is someone who falls in between and that would only help Donley moving forward.

As well as that, it is likely to remain crucial that he gets regular game time and remains a key man wherever he is, and whilst that could be the case with the Baggies, it is far more likely at Oxford.

The U’s tried to bring in some maverick creativity last summer with the arrival of Louie Sibley, but that move hasn’t worked out, and Ruben Rodrigues has also now departed the club for Brazilian side Vitoria.