BRISTOL City have made a bid for Oxford United’s Rob Atkinson, according to reports.

Bristol Live is reporting that a bid in excess of £1.4 million has been made for the 22-year-old defender.

This is the latest in a battle for Atkinson’s signature that took an unexpected twist at the weekend when The Sun on Sunday revealed Celtic were registering interest in Atkinson.

It has been a first full season in the Football League to remember for the young defender, who was named in both the Sky Bet League One Team of the Season and the PFA League One Team of the Year.

The defender scored twice in 44 appearances, netting his first in the 4-1 win at home to Shrewsbury Town in April, and scoring the second in United’s 3-3 draw with Blackpool in the second leg of the play-off semi-final.

Atkinson signed for the U’s from Eastleigh in January of last year, and has helped fill the gap left by the departure last summer of Rob Dickie to Queens Park Rangers.

Atkinson has two years left on his contract, with United under no pressure to sell.

The club reportedly value him at more than the £2 million QPR are believed to have paid for Dickie.