AGREEING a permanent deal for Matty Taylor has become one of Oxford United’s priorities in what boss Karl Robinson hopes will be a quiet January transfer window.

The striker has been a big hit since returning to the U’s, scoring six goals from nine starts.

He is on loan from Bristol City until the end of the campaign, at which point the 29-year-old’s contract expires.

Robinson has used some of the 11-day gap between fixtures to focus on recruitment plans for the new year.

With the side 14 games unbeaten and several players set to return from injury in the next month, the head coach believes only minor tinkering is needed to maintain their promotion push.

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But United have made no secret about wanting to keep Taylor for longer.

Robinson said: “We are getting better, but this next window is a really peculiar one. Do we need much?

“If you said to me 'what’s your wish-list?' I think we all know Matty Taylor is one we’d like to do.

“I think we need a flying winger, pure pace, something different to what we have, and left back cover.

“That’s all I need.”

However, Robinson is well aware the side have caught the eye and a host of clubs covet his top players.

While insisting he doubts whether anyone could afford them, the U’s boss knows everyone has a price.

That means much of the planning going on now is about drawing up lists of targets in the event of a departure.

He said: “The scouting list (for our games) is forever growing and we know who it will be for.

“These are things we have to make sure we get right.

“So our plan has to revolve around that.

“We’re ahead of the game at the moment.

“It’s important over the next six weeks that we keep ourselves ahead.”

One other uncertainty at this stage is Chris Cadden, who appears likely to be recalled from his loan in January by Columbus Crew.

But Robinson has suggested the U’s could be interested in exploring options to extend his stay, with a meeting set up with the MLS club next month.