--- source: thedugout.football generated: 2026-07-25T10:16:02.329Z last_updated: 2026-07-25T04:00:00+00:00 data_provider: API-Football canonical: https://thedugout.football/clubs/oxford-united/news/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cub3hmb3JkbWFpbC5jby51ay9zcG9ydC8yNjQwODQ3OS5veGZvcmQtY2l0eS1tYW5hZ2VyLXJldmVhbHMtc3VtbWVyLWxvYW4tbWFya2V0LWludGVyZXN0Lz9yZWY9cnNz --- # Oxford City manager Ross Jenkins eyes loan market in summer transfer window - **Source:** - **Published:** 25 Jul - **Club:** Oxford United - **Original URL:** https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/sport/26408479.oxford-city-manager-reveals-summer-loan-market-interest/?ref=rss Oxford United FC Oxford City Football Sport Oxford City manager Ross Jenkins is eyeing the loan market this summer as the club looks to supplement their impressive recruitment so far. The Hoops have brought in a number of both experienced and youthful new recruits this summer transfer window including former West Bromwich Albion youngster Evan Humphries and Oxford United academy product Tyrone Marsh. City have won all three of their pre-season fixtures so far, most recently triumphing over Birmingham City Under-21s with a 3-2 victory. The club dipped into the loan market on nine occasions last season, bringing in names such as Sam Lewis from Premier League club Aston Villa and O'Shea Ellis from Birmingham. Speaking to the Oxford Mail, Hoops boss Jenkins touched on the club's interest in the loan market this summer. "With their parent clubs...some of them go on to Spain. Some of them go to Portugal. They go to Austria. Martin Spackman, founder of TotalQ, with Ross Jenkins, Oxford City head coach (Image: Fortitude Communications) "They're part of the first team. But when they come back to those trips, probably a week before the season starts, they start filtering out their squads," the 35-year-old boss said. "That's when we go and pick up those gems. I thought we picked up two really good loans last season. Young loans, I'm talking. "Evan [Humphries] and O'Shea. We had Sam Lewis from Villa, a young loan, but obviously had an injury and went back. We've always had a really good, solid loan connection with the clubs whether it's locally or afar. READ MORE: Oxford City boss Ross Jenkins on ambition and marquee signings READ MORE: Three things learnt from Aaron Ramsey's Oxford United "That's definitely a market that we dip into. We don't need to go too heavy at the start. "But if we can add one or two on loan, that'd be really good for the group." Squad size is also something that Jenkins has one eye on, which could be aided by the loan market. "It is not a massive squad at all," the City manager pondered. "If you can aim for 22, 23 players. New Oxford City signing Tyrone Marsh (Image: SAM DONEGAN) "You're going to get a few injuries; that's absolutely normal. I think last season we had a bit of a smaller squad to start. And when those injuries hit us, they really hurt us. "We have to be sensible that we might need to double up in a couple of areas. But we don't want a squad of 25, 26, 27. Because you've got players you're not going to get game time. "It's not good for them. We don't want to drag them through the mud. We don't want to drag them up and down the country. "We want boys to get their fair share of minutes." The Hoops play their fourth pre-season friendly on Saturday against National League South side Walton & Hersham.