Schu me the way to Amarillo - Summer 2025 Transfer Thread

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

This has got a few people burbling contentedly...
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(the poster has 256 followers)

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

"Bristol Rovers have agreed a deal with Bolton Wanderers to sign goalkeeper Luke Southwood, Bristol Live understands, with the 27-year-old set to come in as the Gas' new number one."
https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/foo ... n-10305888

[malcd1]

What would the work permit situation be anyway? I think this is an unlikely deal tbh. Sounds like fanciful reporting especially since we are committed to in person scouting, this guy hasn’t played much and feels like he’d be a random data pick if anything. Doubt we have had time to really look at these sorts of markets and work out options. That’s a year or two of work.

I guess if Iles has written it he must think there is something in it - fair do’s and if he can play LB and DM I could see the logic but I just don’t see the link to how we’d have picked him.

Far as I know we still have hope for Jacob.

Don’t forget the Swedish league is played in summer so is a quarter of the war through now.

Ceesay has played over 100 games in the Swedish top division and only turned 22 last month. It might not be an exceptional level in Sweden but it is not bad number of games played. It looks like he has played 10 from 13 games this season which started on 29th March and finishes on 9th November. We may have scouted him enough this current season to see he would be a good signing.

I guess - maybe. Still feels quite left field to me.

I certainly don’t disagree. Of course, it could be our new scouting system has started or he may even have been on Fergal’s radar previously.

I think this could be an interesting time in our history. Let’s hope it takes to that next level.

[truewhite15]

Just told my daughter that there's bad news, that it looks like Luke is leaving.

She looked up briefly from her tablet, said "oh", and returned to her game.

Crisis averted, then...

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Just told my daughter that there's bad news, that it looks like Luke is leaving.

She looked up briefly from her tablet, said "oh", and returned to her game.

Crisis averted, then...

She thinks she's got it bad. I'm running out of opportunities to do my Angel of the North "Look Southward" joke

Anyway, Ilesy update:
https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/2 ... vers-move/
"It now seems likely that Steven Schumacher will bring in some more goalkeeping cover, although the club also intend to take a good look at Luke Hutchinson in pre-season to see whether he is ready to act as understudy."
and
"Wanderers are remaining quiet on the level and status of their interest in [Ceesay], who is out of contract in December, but it is thought they will have to pay a six-figure cash fee to bring him to England."

[The_Gun]

Promising young winger/10 Dubem Eze loaned to Scunthorpe for the season.

https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/2 ... pe-united/

Scunny are back in the fifth tier after promotion last season from the National League North.

Have to say I was initially slightly disappointed Eze didn't get a better destination - he shifted up in spring from tier 6 to Halifax, chasing play-off promotion back to the league - but on reflection, maybe we think at Glanford Park he'll get more game-time. The BN is reporting it's his final season but we do have a year's extension option, and 2026/27 will be his final underage season, so we've got time yet.

Looks a suitable move for him, on the face of it. He only made a few sub appearances for Halifax last season, so in the first instance he needs to prove he’s good enough for that level. Maybe if things went very well he might get L2 interest in Jan.

Good luck to the lad, hopefully he can do a Conway and show he’s good enough to be a professional footballer.

[nicholaldo]

I'd be surprised, and somewhat alarmed, if we go into the season with Hutch as second choice.

[irie Cee Bee]

I'd be surprised, and somewhat alarmed, if we go into the season with Hutch as second choice.

Why is that? Is he no good? The few times I have seen him he looks decent.

[Worthy4England]

I'd be surprised, and somewhat alarmed, if we go into the season with Hutch as second choice.

Why is that? Is he no good? The few times I have seen him he looks decent.

It's a fair question. Not seen enough of him here, but if a 22 year old GK isn't somewhere close to L1 football then maybe he's not the one for us. If we improve the defending in front of him, it'll help, massively. If it's as poor as last year, then our number 1 probably going to have a few problems too.

[The_Gun]

I'd be surprised, and somewhat alarmed, if we go into the season with Hutch as second choice.

Didn't Marc Iles say that Schumacher is now looking to bring in experienced cover? I'm guessing a veteran in the mould of a Joel Coleman or a Matt Gilks, of course hopefully more like the latter rather than the former.

For example, Andy Lonergan and Mark Howard are currently free agents and might be willing to act as second/third choices as they transition into coaching.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Didn't Marc Iles say that Schumacher is now looking to bring in experienced cover?

He wrote:
"It now seems likely that Steven Schumacher will bring in some more goalkeeping cover, although the club also intend to take a good look at Luke Hutchinson in pre-season to see whether he is ready to act as understudy."

I'm guessing a veteran in the mould of a Joel Coleman or a Matt Gilks, of course hopefully more like the latter rather than the former.

For example, Andy Lonergan and Mark Howard are currently free agents and might be willing to act as second/third choices as they transition into coaching.

There are loads of 30+ freebie goalkeepers who may (or may not) fill the hole. Obviously depends on their attitude, wage, and maybe whether Owain Fon Williams wants a rookie coach around - although as his duties seem to be spread quite wide (bwfc.co.uk: "Fôn Williams will lead the Club’s goalkeeping department, overseeing the development of goalkeepers at all levels") he may want some sort of help, although I'm aware he already has academy goalkeeper coach Andy Fairman, who stepped up when Gilks left.

English goalkeepers who were employed until yesterday include...
• Andy Lonergan, as you say, who left Wigan
• Mark Howard, as you say, who left Wrexham
• Richard O'Donnell (Blackpool)
• David Button (Reading)
• Scott Carson (Man City! After four years!)
• Ben Hamer (Sheff Wed)
• Jed Steer (Posh)

As I say - no idea if any are interested, or still fit for first-team cover, or would take a small enough wage. But there's not nobody.

[Mar]

Some of the older players on that list would probably do a good job covering. I do wonder whether Owain Fon Williams would still be capable of stepping in should we need. Although he's 3 years since his last match so I don't think it'd be suitable.

[TonyDomingos]

"Wanderers are remaining quiet on the level and status of their interest in [Ceesay], who is out of contract in December, but it is thought they will have to pay a six-figure cash fee to bring him to England."

Tucked away in an article on midfield options, Iles mentions that Ceesay wasn't in the squad for Norrkoping's game last night. But, before we all get a bit giddy, he wasn't in the squad for their previous game at the end of May, so probably nothing in it.

Or maybe there is! (Desperately trying to keep this terrible transfer thread alive!)

[Prufrock]

It's only just July. Cool your jets.