OXFORD United are hoping an improved offer will be enough to secure a deal for Jem Karacan.

The midfielder, a free agent after leaving Bolton Wanderers at the end of the season, held talks with the U’s last week.

A contract was then put to the 29-year-old and United boss Karl Robinson was hoping to get a final answer by Tuesday evening.

However, it emerged last night there has been further negotiations and a new deal is now being considered.

Robinson said: “I spoke to his agent yesterday and he was talking about one or two things over his contract.

“What we offered them there was some manoeuvring within that. We’ve gone back with something and we’ll just have to wait and see.”

On top of a space for a holding midfielder, which they hope Karacan will fill, United still want to add at least two more attacking players.

Reading striker Sam Smith is still a possibility and Robinson is expecting to know more about a variety of targets after the last round of friendly matches.

He said: “Hopefully they will come through games. A few of them are playing this weekend.”