KARL Robinson has confirmed the release clause in Cameron Brannagan’s contract has been triggered.

The Oxford United head coach would not name the midfielder’s potential destination, but the Oxford Mail understands Sky Bet Championship club Blackpool are closing in on the 26-year-old.

READ MORE: Blackpool closing in on Cameron Brannagan

The Tangerines have had multiple bids for Brannagan rejected over the last two transfer windows, including one on deadline day in January.

But they have now met the seven-figure release clause in the former Liverpool trainee’s contract just days before the start of the Sky Bet League One season.

“The option has been triggered,” Robinson said.

“We’ve just been speaking about do we go and buy somebody, but I don’t think we can do that 24 hours before the season starts. We’ll have a look on Sunday and see where that goes.

“There’s an option in his contract that if it’s triggered he’s got the right to speak.

“The club he’s going to has been very aggressive in that, we’ve been very aggressive in the counter offer as well.

“You’ll read a lot of negativity surrounding it, that’s part of the industry we’re in, but we’ve tried everything.

“I’ll try to keep my head up and be dignified. There are so many things that aren’t right in my view, but I’ll just smile and wish him luck.

“He’s a great young man who has given everything to the football club.”

Brannagan has a year left on his U’s contract and has been the subject of bids from Championship clubs in the last three transfer windows.

The midfielder has been one of United’s most influential players since arriving from Liverpool in 2018, scoring 29 goals in 188 games.

Last term was arguably Brannagan’s best at the club as he found the net 14 times and won three end of season awards, while he was named in the PFA League One team of the year.

If the deal is completed, the No 8 would be United’s second big-money departure this summer, following Luke McNally’s move to Burnley.

Robinson said: “People will speak externally about this or that could have happened, but don’t think when you work 24/7 in the industry that every eventuality wasn’t spoken about.

“The buyout was to protect the football club, so even from that we get a decent fee.

“We’ve sold a lot of players and a lot of money’s come in this summer, and we do have that freedom to spend it. We’ll fight and that’s what we do.”