Hull keeper Oxley on Latics radar

HULL City ’keeper Mark Oxley has been linked with a loan move to Boundary Park

ATHLETIC have been linked with a swoop for Hull City’s Mark Oxley.

The Sheffield-born goalkeeper (22) recently signed a two-year deal with the newly-promoted Premier League club, but could be sent out on loan to gain experience.

That is where Athletic may step in. Oxley, who had a spell at Burton in League Two last term before returning to the KC Stadium as a result of a broken finger, is thought to be on the radar of Lee Johnson as he seeks a new number one following the departures of Dean Bouzanis and Alex Cisak.

But though Oxley’s name is currently doing the rounds on social media, a deal is understood to be some way off.

One player who is definitely on board for next season is Korey Smith — much to the delight of Athletic’s manager.

So keen was Johnson to bring in the former Norwich midfield man this summer that he even admits to not fielding Smith at Shrewsbury last season in order to deny a Championship manager in attendance a first-hand glimpse of his talents.

“I was really pleased with Korey last season,” said Johnson. “He is the sort of character we wanted to bring in and we have done an awful lot of work to make it happen.”