---
title: "Sunderland: Will Grigg reveals that Phil Parkinson blocked a potential January move to Oxford"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/sunderland-will-grigg-phil-parkinson-january-move-oxford/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Ben Crump"
section: "League One News"
published: "2020-06-26T07:20:11Z"
modified: "2020-06-26T07:20:11Z"
---

# Sunderland: Will Grigg reveals that Phil Parkinson blocked a potential January move to Oxford

**Sunderland striker Will Grigg has [touched](https://theathletic.co.uk/1890240/2020/06/25/will-grigg-sunderland-til-i-die-jack-ross-stewart-donald/) on his failed January deadline day move to League One rivals Oxford United.**

The 28-year-old moved to the Stadium of Light back in [January 2019](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47086441) in a move that was largely documented by Netflix series *Sunderland Til I Die*, with owner Stewart Donald [making numerous offers](https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/47086441) to bring him to the club.

Since leaving Wigan Athletic, Grigg has failed to make an impact the Wearside club, scoring just [one goal](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/will-grigg/profil/spieler/106676)and registering [one assist](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/will-grigg/profil/spieler/106676) during the 2019/20 campaign.

Black Cats manager Phil Parkinson will undergo several changes to his squad this summer and the future of the striker is now very much up for debate with a [recent report](https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/18516588.sunderland-will-look-sell-will-grigg-summer/) claiming that he will be made available in the transfer window.

![](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/THE-BREAKDOWN.png)

Grigg arrived on Wearside from Wigan in a deal worth [£4m,](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47086441) although the striker has now revealed that he missed out on a move to League One side [Oxford United](https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/sport/18199009.oxford-united-boss-declares-interest-sunderlands-will-grigg/#:~:text=KARL%20Robinson%20has%20revealed%20he,wants%20to%20pursue%20the%20possibility.) in last January’s transfer window – the U’s are now due to play Portsmouth in the play-offs, which Sunderland [missed out on altogether](https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/teams/sunderland/table).

Speaking to The Athletic in a [wide-ranging exclusive interview](https://theathletic.co.uk/1890240/2020/06/25/will-grigg-sunderland-til-i-die-jack-ross-stewart-donald/), Grigg said: *“The move was definitely close but the club decided it was not the best thing to do. It was a rival team and I was training really well, so the manager decided he did not want me to go to a rival team and do well.”*

![](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Verdict.png)

Grigg would probably have been better off moving to Oxford and will likely be considering his future now that the 2019/20 season is over.

The striker is at a peak age but he must ensure that he selects the right club moving forward, having had such a dismal time so far at the Stadium of Light.

***Do you think Grigg will have a better season next term or should Sunderland sell him? Let us know in the comments section below…***