The prospects of Shrewsbury Town striker James Constable returning to the club next season appear to be receding.

Oxford United, where the forward has spent the entire 2008-9 campaign on loan, claim they have agreed a deal for the permanent transfer with Shrewsbury and a three-year-deal with Constable.

It is understood that the Blue Square Premier Club have jumped the gun in making the announcement, although the two clubs are thought to have been in negotiations.

No permanent deal could be finalised until the end of the season because the transfer window has now closed.

Constable has scored 22 goals for Oxford in all competitions during his loan spell this term, and has recently gone public on his desire to move to the Kassam Stadium.

On the possible move to the play-off chasing club, Constable said: “I have enjoyed everything about my time at Oxford.

“The fans have been brilliant, the manager and coaches are spot on and we have had a tremendous end to the season.

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“I am loving my football and love playing for the club and I am more than happy to be here for the next few years.

“I am ambitious and want to play at the highest level and by signing for Oxford, I think I am joining a club that is going places.

“There are great plans and I am really looking forward to playing my part in that.”

Constable, aged 24, scored four goals in seven starts and seven substitute appearances for Town after arriving from Kidderminster for an undisclosed fee in January 2008.

The highlight of his brief Town career came with a two-goal salvo when Shrewsbury fought back from 3-0 down to salvage a 3-3 draw with MK Dons at the Prostar Stadium last February.

But he struggled to make an impact on Town boss Paul Simpson and was allowed to join Oxford for the entire season last summer.