KARL Robinson says Oxford United need a mixture of smart and marquee signings in order to push for promotion next season.

After two failed attempts via the play-offs, the U’s boss has acted swiftly in the transfer window to add Marcus McGuane and Ryan Williams to his squad, and has previously said he hopes to see seven new signings this summer.

Robinson is confident he can bring in ‘three or four’ new faces ahead of the start of the Sky Bet League One season on August 7, plus four more before the transfer window closes on August 31.

Of those new faces, Robinson said there would be a combination of shrewd and glamour signings.

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He said: “We’ve got to bring in the right players for the football club first and foremost.

“The right ones that might be game ready, as well as bringing in some of the development ones that we polish up and sell.

“That has been a method and one we’ll continue to use in a successful manner.

“The other ones are a little bit difficult as well, we think we can bring in some players to improve.”

McGuane joined from Nottingham Forest at the beginning of last month after impressing on loan.

He suffered a thigh injury in United’s 2-0 win over Bristol Rovers on January 23, just as he was becoming a key component in the United midfield.

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His arrival on a permanent basis can certainly be regarded as one of the marquee signings Robinson highlighted.

McGuane was a youth player at Arsenal, where he made two appearances in the Europa League, before moving to Barcelona in January 2018.

He made a substitute appearance for the first team in the Catalan Super Cup Final, before joining the City Ground.

Meanwhile, Williams – who had a loan spell with the U’s during the 2013/14 season – joined after rejecting a new contract at Sky Bet League One rivals Portsmouth.

The 27-year-old has won promotion to the Sky Bet Championship with Barnsley and Rotherham United since his U’s days, with that experience in the third tier more likely putting him in the ‘smart’ category.

Meanwhile, the U’s are reportedly closing in on the signing of Portsmouth striker Ellis Harrison.

The News in Portsmouth says the U’s are now in pole position ahead of Fleetwood Town to sign the 27-year-old.