January 2022 Transfer Thread

[Bertie Wooster]

Apparently we are after Kyle Dempsey at Gillingham (ex Fleetwood) and have submitted 2 bids for him.

[officer_dibble]

There was an article saying a bid had been accepted by Rochdale for him from Iles. Seems to have disappeared when I click the link...

https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/1 ... on-morley/

Still there. I wonder if Preston interest was falsified to up the price?

[brommers95]

Was thinking about Kyle Dempsey yesterday (not in a weird way) and thought he might be somebody we'd be interested in as his contract is up this summer.

I was surprised when he signed for Gillingham as I thought he was a lot better than playing in a direct Steve Evans side.

Only 26 so still relatively young but seems to be a real leader evidenced by the fact he's currently Gills captain.

Can play as a 10 or an 8. Works really hard on and off the ball and would add some 'bite' to the midfield.

Apparently Gillingham have knocked back bids for him:

“Since the transfer window has been opened managers have been asking about Kyle Dempsey and clubs have been bidding our chairman for him...our chairman has asked me for valuations which I have given him. None of the (offers) have come near the valuations.

https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/spo ... io-260315/

[BWFC_Insane]

Was thinking about Kyle Dempsey yesterday (not in a weird way) and thought he might be somebody we'd be interested in as his contract is up this summer.

I was surprised when he signed for Gillingham as I thought he was a lot better than playing in a direct Steve Evans side.

Only 26 so still relatively young but seems to be a real leader evidenced by the fact he's currently Gills captain.

Can play as a 10 or an 8. Works really hard on and off the ball and would add some 'bite' to the midfield.

Apparently Gillingham have knocked back bids for him:

“Since the transfer window has been opened managers have been asking about Kyle Dempsey and clubs have been bidding our chairman for him...our chairman has asked me for valuations which I have given him. None of the (offers) have come near the valuations.

https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/spo ... io-260315/

Always liked Dempsey. Caught the eye at Fleetwood during that season.

However there is one substantial problem and on this basis I’d not sign him. The lad is an industrious attacking midfield player yet doesn’t score goals. One in ten at best and often not even that. Loads of ability. But enough evidence to suggest we’d be adding another player who cannot find the back of the net in a role we desperately need a player to score in.

So it’s a reluctant no from me. I’d say his goal scoring is why he has never made it. In difference circumstances we could go for him. But we cannot afford to fill the side with lads who simply can’t score and won’t score the goals.

[brommers95]

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Trial for a very highly rated young goalkeeper.

https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/19 ... oalkeeper/

We’ve passed on the young Irish keeper. Evatt: “He’s been on trial, but it’s not something we’re going to take up.”

[Prufrock]

Good! I think we still *need* 2 CMs and in a choose to ideal world would also get a forward, GK and CB too.

And if I'm being greedy a LB.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Was thinking about Kyle Dempsey yesterday (not in a weird way) and thought he might be somebody we'd be interested in as his contract is up this summer.

I was surprised when he signed for Gillingham as I thought he was a lot better than playing in a direct Steve Evans side.

Only 26 so still relatively young but seems to be a real leader evidenced by the fact he's currently Gills captain.

Can play as a 10 or an 8. Works really hard on and off the ball and would add some 'bite' to the midfield.

Apparently Gillingham have knocked back bids for him:

“Since the transfer window has been opened managers have been asking about Kyle Dempsey and clubs have been bidding our chairman for him...our chairman has asked me for valuations which I have given him. None of the (offers) have come near the valuations.

https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/spo ... io-260315/

Steve Evans (whose quotes those are) was sacked by Gillingham over the weekend. Wonder if that makes a sale more or less likely. Gills fans still seem to utterly despise their chairman Scally.

[officer_dibble]

https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/spo ... ch-260351/

Noticed the above on Dempsey on the same news site. Doesn’t sound that committed to the cause to me - alternatively if he’s injury prone I’m not sure I would want him!

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

I also think it would be quite funny if Jake Beesley showed up here on Monday and not at Blackpool, given that he's another Evatt has been around as a youngster - this time at Chesterfield. Not a prediction, would just amuse me.

"The dreeeeeeam is over..."

TangerineTed says: "Why are we buying a fourth-division striker with half a good season ever?"

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Back in the old thread, I noticed this "next Dapo" on loan from West Ham to Huddersfield but not getting much game time. Brommers liked him too. Well, now he's been sent back. Uddersfield boss Carlos Corberan:
"First of all, I wish him all the best. He's a good lad and worked hard for me, but the loan was to help him develop because he needed something more than U23 football. But sometimes the first part of a loan is the most complicated step. I saw a more mature and capable player in the second part of the loan, but we couldn't guarantee him the minutes that he needs. I think he's more ready for senior football and now need minutes to show those skills in a real situation. I'm convinced he's a player with a lot of potential and a special talent for finishing and I wish him the best."

Mipo Odubeko - 19-year-old West Ham loanee forward, who has played in the past alongside Dapo. Was loaned to Huddersfield for the season but hasn't been playing, and rather upset Hammers fans by calling Jess Lingard the GOAT after his goal for Yernited *against* West Ham. Anyways, he came off the bench in the Terriers' first four games after the loan, but was then ignored for the next eight. After scoring a couple of bangers in a friendly during the latest international break - see below - he made it as far as the bench again yesterday but wasn't used. Possible Dapo could have a word and that the Hammers could see more benefit in him dropping a division.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

After various discussions on various threads, I had a look around the Championship for experienced (age 27+) centre-backs, currently unused/underused by their clubs, with contracts lapsing this year. And realistically, there were none. But extending the scope to those lapsing in 2023, I found one interesting fella:

GRANT HALL (Middlesbrough)
6ft 4in centre-back who was on Spurs’s books from age 20 to 23 then played 130 Champo games for QPR from 2015-20. He was then taken to Boro by Neil Warnock; in an interview was asked why Warnock had signed him and said “Leadership, That’s what Neil said to me, that he’s lacking a bit of leadership. "I think that is something I can offer. I was captain of QPR. That responsibility helped raise my game. I can be a leader on and off the pitch. I'm very comfortable on the ball. I don't mind putting my body on the line. I always give 110%. I'll always give my all." The interviewer said "Hall is a shouter, an organiser, a boss on the pitch, regardless of whether or not he wears the armband." He played well under Warnock – last April he was defined by WhoScored's (admittedly questionable) algorithm as Boro's best player, leading the way for clearances and blocks while also contributing up the other end (two goals, 11 efforts) – but has barely had a look-in under Chris Wilder, who has his own idea of centre-back play.

[Harry Genshaw]

Well if those 2 goals are anything to go by, I'd be delighted to see Mipo come to us. I've not seen skills like that since the Daniel Braaten video

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Among the quotes from Evatt's pre-match presser:

"We wanted to bring at the very least three more bodies into the building this month. We've agreed terms with one of our targets and he's in the building at the moment."

"We're right up there for chances created and expected goals; we just haven't really taken our chances in front of goal. Dion [Charles] will hopefully help us to do that and we'll have more bodies coming in to add to that too."

Doyler: "It was always his wish to finish his career in Ireland. I've had a personal relationship with him for a long time. We had honest conversations before his departure and we wish him and his family all the best."

Hutchinson: "Luke has done really well at [Atherton Colls]. We think he's ready to come in and compete for that number one jersey with Joel [Dixon]. Matt [Gilks] will go back to being the first team goalkeeping coach."

[Prufrock]

Obviously hope Hutchinson does well, but an 18yo with no league experience as back up to a not good enough worries me a lot. We're paying 5 and 6 figure sums for players so there is budget. Screams blind spot to me.

[officer_dibble]

I swear I saw a quote saying Evatt wanted to sign a keeper this window from earlier…am I going daft?

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

I swear I saw a quote saying Evatt wanted to sign a keeper this window from earlier…am I going daft?

Wasn't a quote, it was a Twitter supposition (regarding Academy coaching) thoroughly squashed by Evatt's press-conference quotes.

[Worthy4England]

I swear I saw a quote saying Evatt wanted to sign a keeper this window from earlier…am I going daft?

I think he mentioned defenders, midfielders and attackers - but didn't hear any mention of keeper...

[GhostoftheBok]

A real shame about Beesley. There was a good few weeks of forum nonsense in that one.

On Hutchinson, it sounds like we had a look at another (slightly older) option and decided we already have better. You can view that two ways, I suppose. One is that we took at a look at an Irish youth international and said "Hutchinson is better than this lad already", which is superb news. The other is that we wanted better, really, but we will go with Hutchinson now as the other lad wasn't up to it.

On Dempsey, that's the kind of signing I was expecting this January - as with Charles. Prime age, known to have a bit of an attitude, good off both feet and a bit of a terrier. The "right kind of leader" Evatt was on about before the window. I get Insane's issue about his goal record, but I'm a bit surprised everyone wouldn't drive down to Gillingham to get him. He played a bit more of an advanced role for them last season and scored 8. He'd have more licence to attack the box in our system, so you'd think he'd have a chance to grab a few. His work rate and bite makes so much more sense with having Morley deeper in midfield picking out runners than a more flighty 10.

[brommers95]

I swear I saw a quote saying Evatt wanted to sign a keeper this window from earlier…am I going daft?

You're not going mad Dibble, it's mentioned in this article (https://www.bwfc.co.uk/news/2022/januar ... e-captain/) from the official website about Jones becoming the new vice-captain following Doyle's departure:

Evatt is continuing to look to strengthen in other areas as Wanderers aim to stay active in the transfer market.

And among his targets the Whites’ boss is eyeing the possible arrival of a new keeper following a re-shuffle in the goalkeeping department.

Matt Gilks is to concentrate his efforts on a coaching position as Andy Fairman reverts to his previous role in the Academy, with teenage prospect Luke Hutchinson ending his loan spell with Atherton Collieries to challenge for a place in the senior set-up.

“Luke has done very well out on loan at Atherton and has also been involved in some England camps,” added Evatt.

“We felt the need to tweak the goalkeeping department and Matt will take over the role he initially started in last season and go back to coaching full-time.

“Luke will come back and compete with Joel and, also, we’ll be looking to strengthen that department in this window – as well as all other areas of the squad.”