Championship transfer news: Oxford United 'close to signing' Serie A striker

Oxford United are reportedly closing in on the signing of Cagliari forward Nik Prelec.

After impressively finishing in 17th place in their first season back in the Championship for 25 years, Oxford are now looking to make further strides up the standings.

So far, Gary Rowett has been able to make three notable additions to his squad, including the arrival of Fulham midfielder Luke Harris on loan.

Huddersfield right-back Brodie Spencer and Heracles midfielder Brian De Keersmaecker have also made the switch to the Kassam Stadium.

According to Sky Sports News, an effort is now being made to acquire the services of Prelec from Cagliari.

Who is Nik Prelec?

The report claims that Prelec will be travelling to England over the coming days in the hope of finalising a transfer.

Since joining Cagliari in January 2023, the 24-year-old has made 16 appearances, all in Serie B action with two assists having been contributed.

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Prelec's greater success has come on loan at the likes of WSG Tirol and Austria Vienna in the Austrian Bundesliga, where he has chipped in with 14 goals and six assists from 63 appearances across the last two seasons.

He helped the latter earn third place in the table during 2024-25, but he is now back at his parent club with his future having been in limbo.

Seemingly with no prospect of being re-integrated back into the Cagliari fold, the former Slovenia Under-21 international is allegedly on his way to the second tier of English football.

Why do Oxford need a striker?

Despite emerging as one of the surprise packages last season, no player in last season's squad scored more than six goals.

Mark Harris and left-sided Greg Leigh were the leading marksmen with that many strikes, while Tyler Goodrhram contributed the most assists, also with six.

With the creativity of Ruben Rodrigues having been lost, Rowett will hope that players such as Prelec and others that will presumably follow can fill the void.