Exclusive: Cardiff City Enter Race with Exeter to Land Oxford Winger Owen Dale

Cardiff City and Exeter City are battling it out for Oxford United’s Owen Dale, SportsBoom can exclusively reveal.

Our sources understand that the U’s winger is on the radar of a number of League One clubs.

But it is understood that talks have already begun between Oxford chiefs and the Bluebirds over a loan move. 

The Grecians remain interested in securing the services of the 26-year-old, but now face stiff competition from the Welsh club.  

It is understood Oxford are open to selling the player and would command a fee in the region of £100,000-£200,000. 

Dale is understood to be desperate for first-team football and would prefer a permanent move after falling out of favour at the Kassam.

A pacy and electric wide man, Dale remains a highly attractive League One option despite failing to cut the mustard in the Championship for Gary Rowett.

New Start Needed

Dale is not in Rowett’s plans at the U’s this season and has not been named in the squad for any of the club’s opening three fixtures of the campaign, including their EFL Cup win over League Two Colchester United.

The winger moved to the Kassam at the end of the winter window last year and helped United secure promotion via the play-offs to the Championship. 

He made 11 appearances in the second tier last term, only four of those starts, before Des Buckingham was sacked and has not featured once for the club since Rowett took over at the backend of 2024.

Dale made a deadline-day loan switch to Wigan Athletic last season, but the Latics decided against trying to get the player back this summer.

Speaking about the player last season, Rowett admitted: “You can’t keep everybody happy and you can’t give everyone what they want. Owen is one of those. I know he’s a really good footballer and a really good player.”

“He’s been one that has been unfortunate along with a few, and there’s an opportunity for him to go and play at a very good level, so for me, if players want to go and play football, that’s what they should do.”