Oxford United have submitted a substantial offer for a winger as they are looking for attacking options to improve their chances of staying in the Championship.
With Gary Rowett taking charge at Oxford United, the club is looking to back their new manager with some new weapons. One of their targets appears to be Hull City’s Ryan Longman as they have submitted a substantial offer for the 24-year-old.
According to Pete O’Rourke at FootballInsider247, Longman’s contract expires this coming summer, so the Tigers are, of course, interested in cashing in on the former Brighton and Millwall man. The talks between the two clubs are said to be in the advanced stages.
Will Longman Improve A Languishing Attack?
Currently, Oxford United are seventeenth in the Championship. They have scored the third fewest goals and are hoping that Longman’s experience will lend a hand in improving their standing. Since Longman used to play under Gary Rowett, the U’s current manager, at Millwall, there is definitely some familiarity with the system implemented.
While the Brighton academy product has never scored more than eight goals in a single season in his career, Oxford United is hoping that his versatility and ability to spark an attack will be the key to boosting their fortunes. Longman’s versatility might be a helpful addition to the squad as he has played at wingback, midfielder, and winger throughout his career. While with Gary Rowett at Millwall, he was primarily used as a left midfielder, but he was also used at other positions when necessary. This might give us a glimpse into how he might be used at Oxford.
Longman is more of a facilitator than scorer. His ability to outmuscle opponents, win the ball, and get into favorable positions are what can make him special. Even if he’s not on the ball, he makes runs that can trouble any team’s backline. He has only scored one goal this year for Hull City, so a change of scenery might do him some good.
Why Are Hull City Willing to Let An Attacker Leave?
With Hull City dwelling in the relegation zone, one might wonder why they seem so willing to let a winger go when they could use all the help they could get. As mentioned earlier, Longman’s contract is going to end after the season, and he has not been a consistent goal contributor for the club. He has only scored seven total goals in four seasons. A huge part of that may very well be his extensive injury history while playing for the Tigers, which is slightly concerning for a club looking into obtaining his services.
Oxford United are hoping that a move like this will keep them in the Championship, but there is a lot to consider when it comes to Ryan Longman. However, if he can stay healthy, Longman can be a good asset for any club, and that is exactly what the U’s are hoping will happen.