Speaking to the Banbury Cake, Oxford United manager Karl Robinson has been discussing the chances of signing trialists Jem Karacan and Malik Dijksteel, who have featured for the club’s Under-23s side in recent weeks.
Oxford United are in the market for a new midfielder after injuries to both George Thorne and Jamie Hanson. As a potential option, the club moved to bring ex-Reading and Bolton Wanderers midfielder Jem Karacan in on loan, while Malik Dijksteel – the younger brother of Middlesbrough man Anfernee Dijksteel – is also on trial with the club.
Now, Robinson has said that he is weighing up the chances of a deal, saying that a decision is likely to be made shortly. He said:
“Jem’s a long way off and he knows that, but he’s a good lad and a good footballer. It’s a bit unfair on him seeing him on Tuesday, when it was his first game since April. We have to take a realistic view on that and we’ll do that today.
“It might be something we look at in the very short term. But there are a few others out there we need to have a conversation about, then finances will play a role. If it’s going to have an impact on what we do in January I’m not prepared to do anything and wait until then.”
Robinson went on to discuss the chances of signing Dijksteel, saying that he has been impressed with the youngster. He said:
“Malik’s only 18, a lovely footballer brought up in the Dutch development system. I’ve worked with his brother (Anfernee) so I know the family really well. He’s a young player we’re looking at, we are constantly looking to keep that flow going with the younger players.”