DARRYL Eales believes this is the crucial week for Oxford United to negotiate if they are going to stand the best chance of hanging on to their star names this summer.

So far the U’s have not lost a contracted player they wanted to keep, but speculation is starting to swirl around a couple of Pep Clotet’s key figures.

An approach for skipper John Lundstram, reportedly from Sheffield United, is understood to have been knocked back, while winger Marvin Johnson has been linked with several Premier League clubs.

There are more than six weeks left before the transfer window shuts, but the next few days are viewed as the most important by Eales, who was speaking before the squad returned from their pre-season training camp on Sunday.

The U’s chairman said: “As soon as we get back from Portugal, the next week is the critical one.

“If we get past a certain point, I’d like to think that we’d keep everyone.

“Obviously Marvin, because of the quality of his performances, seems to be constantly speculated about.

“The good news from my perspective is he’s got another two years plus an option on his contract.”

United have a strategy which is focused on unearthing young talent, developing them into assets and selling one for a sizeable fee each summer.

But the quota is not set in stone and after Kemar Roofe and Callum O’Dowda departed for a combined fee in the region of £4m a year ago, Eales is relaxed.

He said: “Pep understands there’s absolutely no need to sell any players.

“I’ve tried to be as transparent and brutal with him as I can be about where the issues are.

“Because of our model, we’ve got some very good young players who will be attractive to teams in the Championship, if not the Premier League.

“I think that speaks volumes about what we’re trying to achieve as a club, but that also brings risks.

“We were fortunate last summer, despite the way certain things happen, that we sold Callum and Kemar.

“The reality is that because of the way football deals are done, half the cashflow from those deals is due in July.

“That more or less pays for this season, so the club is in fantastic shape financially.”

And so far, the United chief has not detected signs that anyone’s head has been turned.

He said: “As far as I’m concerned the group seems as strong as ever.

“There’s certainly no sign that Marvin, or anybody else, wants away.”