A report from the Oxford Mail has confirmed that former Reading, Bolton Wanderers and Millwall midfielder Jem Karacan is currently on trial with League One side Oxford United, as he looks for a new club after his release from Australian side Central Coast Mariners earlier this summer.
Oxford United are on the lookout for a new midfielder given that midfielder Jamie Hanson and loaned in man George Thorne have been ruled out for the foreseeable future. Manager Karl Robinson has been scouring the free agent market as he looks for further reinforcements, and he has now given a trial to a former transfer target.
It has been reported by the Oxford Mail that Jem Karacan – who Oxford tried to sign back in 2018 – is on trial with the club, featuring in an Under-23s match against AFC Wimbledon. Karacan is not the only man on trial with the U’s at the moment, with Malik Dijksteel also on trial.
The 18-year-old is the younger brother of Middlesbrough man Anfernee Dijksteel and he too featured in the Under-23s match against AC Wimbledon.
Having come through the youth academy at Reading, Karacan has played the majority of his career in England. In his eight years as a Reading player, he played 175 times for the club, scoring 13 goals and providing 16 assists before leaving to join Turkish side Galatasary. In 2017 he returned to England with Bolton and then went on to play for Millwall.
At the end of his time at The Den, Karacan made the move to Australia to play for Central Coast Mariners and now, he has returned to England and Oxford United could offer him a route back into the English game.
