Tyler Goodrham predicted to leave Oxford United on one condition as Leeds United, Sunderland lurk | OneFootball

The 21-year-old was said to be attracting plenty of interest in the January transfer window

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Tyler Goodrham was reportedly a wanted man in the winter transfer window, with links to a number of Championship sides surfacing before the February 3 deadline.

Leeds United, Coventry City and Sunderland were all said to have had an interest in the Oxford United man at the start of the year, but the 21-year-old stayed at the Kassam Stadium with the U’s.

With his quality on the ball and willingness to run at defenders, the young star looks destined for the top during his career, and it would be no surprise to see more interest in his services when the summer comes about.

With that in mind, we spoke to Football League World’s Oxford United fan pundit Jack Shoemark about the situation, and what he predicts could happen when the season comes to an end.

Tyler Goodrham stays at Oxford United after Championship interest in January

Goodrham has adapted well to life in the Championship this season, with the playmaker scoring three goals himself, as well as setting up another three for his teammates in his first taste of second tier football.

The form turned plenty of heads of sides involved in the top half of the division during the mid-season transfer window, with Football Insider stating that Leeds, Sunderland and Coventry were all eyeing the midfielder, as well as Swansea City.

Having played a massive part in the U’s rise up to the second tier, Goodrham has established himself as a key part of his side’s attacking output, and for that reason Shoemark knew it was only a matter of time before clubs came knocking, but was confident they could keep hold of their star in the short-term.

“It is no surprise that Tyler Goodrham is attracting interest.

“He is rapidly approaching 150 senior appearances for Oxford now, he has three goals and three assists this season in hist first taste of Championship football, and he is still only 21.

“As a young English player, you are always attracting attention and you will always have people watching you if you are performing well.

“I think realistically the interest in January was never going to see him move on, his first child was born before Christmas time, so maybe his priorities in life have changed now, he has a family to provide for these days.”

Tyler Goodrham summer prediction made

While Oxford would have been doing all they can to stop one of their main assets leaving in the middle of their first season back in the second tier, it could be a different story in the summer, as clubs with deeper pockets try to lure Goodrham away from the Kassam Stadium.

With over 100 league games by the age of 21, the creative midfielder has proven he has bags of potential when charging into the final third, and wouldn’t look out of place in a side chasing for a promotion spot in the Championship in the future.

Every player has a price tag on their head, and Goodrham will be no different, leaving Shoemark in two minds over wha the off-season could hold for the player and his football club.

“I had no concerns that he was going to leave in January, but the summer potentially offers a different viewpoint. If he has a good final third of the season I am sure that interest will increase. Not only from those clubs that have scouted him for a while, but other clubs too.

“Young English talent always attracts interest and always attract pretty bulky bids, but I think Goodrham is fairly switched on, and enjoys fairly regular football with Oxford, and his family circumstances is different from a few months ago.

“That being said, I think he is fully aware that football is a short career, and he has spoken about wanting to play at the highest level he can.

“If the club were to accept a bid - and I think it would take a sizeable amount of money because he has still got a fair amount of time on his contract - I think Goodrham himself would have to seriously think about his options, and whether any of the clubs in for him could change his life.”

For any club in the Championship, the fear that a side with seemingly limitless funds will come and strip you of your best assets never goes away, and the Oxford fan shares those sentiments, while still remaining positivity about Goodrham’s future.

“My gut feeling in February is that he won’t go in the summer, but if he has an incredible finish to the season, then I think we can expect some bids to really test the Oxford United board.

“Once those bids start coming in with real money and real figures, I think it will be very difficult for the board to turn big money down, and ultimately it comes down to Tyler Goodrham then.

“I think with a contract offer and the opportunity to play potentially at a higher level, or at least one competition at the top end of the Championship, I think perhaps there is a risk that he takes the opportunity presented to him if it comes about.”