Oxford sign Slovenia Under-21 forward Prelec

Cagliari forward Nik Prelec has spent the past two seasons on loan at Austria Vienna

Oxford United have signed Cagliari's Slovenia Under-21 international forward Nik Prelec on a season's loan with an option to buy.

The Championship club have agreed a deal for the 24-year-old who has spent the past two seasons on loan in the Austrian Bundesliga.

Prelec was picked up by Sampdoria as a youth but left to join Austrian side WSG Tirol without playing any games for the Italian side.

Six goals in 13 games for Tirol saw Cagliari move for him in 2023 but after playing a dozen games for them in Serie A he had temporary stays back at Tirol and with Austria Vienna, scoring 14 goals in 63 appearances over the past two seasons.

Head coach Gary Rowett told the club website: "He is a quick and powerful presence up front, with a good goalscoring record in a highly competitive Austrian league.

"He brings a really imposing threat to the top end of our team and has fantastic experience for his age."