Bristol City have added former Oxford United midfielder Mark Sykes to their ranks but Nigel Pearson is keen to do more business, albeit in a competitive marketplace in which this represents the calm before the storm.
Players are gradually returning from post-season holidays and assessing the options before them, with City fishing in similar pools to many of their Championship rivals as they play a waiting game.
With the exception of Cardiff City, who have made four very early moves, most of the Championship is exactly the same with plenty of speculation and rumour out there over the possible destinations of a number of players. Here is the latest in the second tier…
West Brom confident of Jed Wallace deal
Millwall forward Jed Wallace is one of the most sought-after free agents in the Championship this summer and West Brom are reportedly increasingly confident of landing the 28-year-old amid significant competition.
Wallace is set to leave the Den once his contract expires next month after five years in east London and although initial reports claimed he was bound for Turkish giants Besiktas it looks increasingly likely he’ll remain in England.
Football League World claim that the Baggies believe they’re at the front of the queue while the Express & Star have reported that Wallace’s former teammate at Millwall, Salford striker Matt Smith, is Steve Bruce’s son-in-law so no doubt will be putting in a good word to help convince the forward to move to the Hawthorns.
Spurs win Spence race
Tottenham Hotspur’s Champions League qualification has been followed by the news that owners Enic Sports are injecting £150m into the club to effectively spend on transfers this summer, one of which is likely to be Middlesbrough wing-back Djed Spence.
The 21-year-old has excelled on loan this season at Nottingham Forest and even if he managed to secure promotion this weekend in the play-off final against Huddersfield Town, the expectation is he’s bound for a Premier League heavyweight.
Football Insider report that Spurs have beaten north London rivals Arsenal to Spence with a £10m fee already agreed with Boro.
Ogbene open to Swansea switch
Rotherham United could lose one of their best players before next season starts with winger Chiedozie Ogbene confessing he’s open to the idea of signing for Swansea City.
The Republic of Ireland international was a key player for Paul Warne’s side in 2021/22, making 53 appearances across all competitions and is believed to be a key transfer target for Swans boss Russell Martin.
When asked by the Irish Examiner about interest from Swansea, Ogbene said: “Every player wants to be at a stable and established club – especially a big one like Swansea City. At this stage of my career, it’s really important to be playing games and at the highest level I can get to.”
Pressure is on Forest
West Ham will lodge a £15m bid for Nottingham Forest centre-back Joe Worrall, if they lose Saturday’s play-off final against Huddersfield Town, claim the Evening Standard.
West Ham boss Davies Moyes wants to bring some younger legs into his defence given both Craig Dawson and Angelo Ogbonna are in their 30s and Worrall has caught the eye of recruitment chief Rob Newman.
He has been assigned to scout the best domestic talent and should Forest be unsuccessful at Wembley it will keep Worrall’s price-tag below the £20m mark and make the towering 25-year-old defender an appealing option for top-flight clubs, with Fulham another interested party.
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