Swansea boss Brendan Rodgers has reacted quickly to the shock departure of goalkeeper Dorus De Vries with a raid on his former club, Watford. Following the Dutchman's free transfer move to Wolves on Wednesday, Rodgers has immediately submitted a £1.7m bid for England U21 stopper Scott Loach.
Loach first broke into the Hornets' first XI under Rodgers and is thought to be keen on a move to South Wales to boost his international prospects. A pal of Loach told us: "Scotty has looked at the goalkeeping resources for England and they're thin on the ground to say the least. He reckons playing in the Premier League for a struggling side will do him wonders; look at Joe Hart, he went to Birmingham and now he's the number one."
Watford's new manager Sean Dyche is understandably keen to keep Loach but understands that financial issues at Vicarage Road may well force his hand; indeed, Dyche's acceptance of the situation was key to him being given the job ahead of the likes of Paul Ince, Andy Hessenthaler and Iain Dowie. Should Loach make the move to the Premier League new boys, Watford will immediately be in the market for a keeper themselves, and the merry-go-round could see them turn to Stephen Bywater, who is out of favour at Derby and is unlikely to make a return to Cardiff City, where he spent the latter part of last season on loan.
Wednesday 22 June 2011
Saturday 18 June 2011
I Wanna Get Hessed For Success
Following the departure of boss Malky Mackay to Cardiff City (as exclusively revealed by The Insider a fortnight ago), Watford have made an early start in appointing his successor by approaching Gillingham manager Andy Hessenthaler. Hessenthaler was a popular player at Vicarage Road in the early 1990s and has been sounded out by chairman Graham Taylor about a move back to the Hertfordshire club. The pint-sized manager has emotional ties to the Gills but would find it difficult to turn down a move to the second tier, with the new ambitious owners pledging in an injection of funds to bolster the young squad.
The move for Hessenthaler comes after Taylor's original target, Brian Horton, turned down the chance to join the club as he is thought to be close to gaining a coaching role at an as yet unnamed Premier League club in the Midlands. A source close to Taylor told us: "Graham thinks that Andy has what it takes to develop these youngsters and make a real play-off push this season. He's a born winner and that's important to us."
Hessenthaler could make a move for young Norwich forward Cody McDonald should he take up the reigns at the Hornets. McDonald played under him last season at Priestfield and is not thought to have a long term future at Carrow Road.
The move for Hessenthaler comes after Taylor's original target, Brian Horton, turned down the chance to join the club as he is thought to be close to gaining a coaching role at an as yet unnamed Premier League club in the Midlands. A source close to Taylor told us: "Graham thinks that Andy has what it takes to develop these youngsters and make a real play-off push this season. He's a born winner and that's important to us."
Hessenthaler could make a move for young Norwich forward Cody McDonald should he take up the reigns at the Hornets. McDonald played under him last season at Priestfield and is not thought to have a long term future at Carrow Road.
Tuesday 14 June 2011
Bennett Blow Bursts Boro's Bubble
A turbulent summer is set to hit the Riverside Stadium in the coming weeks as England U21 star Joe Bennett is in advanced talks with Newcastle United over a £3.5m transfer. Boro's increasing financial troubles have meant that the sale of star players is necessary while they remain committed to paying the likes of Kris Boyd, who has little prospect of moving anywhere, £30,000 a week. Bennett starred for the Teessiders last season and this move has added further fuel to the growing rumours of Tony Mowbray's imminent departure to Birmingham City.
Mowbray is dismayed that he is being asked to sell a player who he nurtured last season after being ignored by Gordon Strachan and feels that the fee vastly undervalues Bennett. However, cashflow difficulties mean that Newcastle's willingness to pay the full fee up front has won the day and it is now down to the player to agree personal terms. Magpies boss Alan Pardew has earmarked Bennett as a replacement for Jose Enrique, who is homing in on a £12m move to Liverpool.
There is however brighter news for the Boro faithful as a potential crowd-pleasing replacement has been identified by the scouting staff. Former Boro favourite Franck Queudrue is available on a free transfer following current club RC Lens' relegation from the French top flight and he has had initial discussions with chairman Steve Gibson about a return to his former stomping ground. Meanwhile, Mowbray is expected to hold a crisis meeting at the club on Friday to discuss his future.
Mowbray is dismayed that he is being asked to sell a player who he nurtured last season after being ignored by Gordon Strachan and feels that the fee vastly undervalues Bennett. However, cashflow difficulties mean that Newcastle's willingness to pay the full fee up front has won the day and it is now down to the player to agree personal terms. Magpies boss Alan Pardew has earmarked Bennett as a replacement for Jose Enrique, who is homing in on a £12m move to Liverpool.
There is however brighter news for the Boro faithful as a potential crowd-pleasing replacement has been identified by the scouting staff. Former Boro favourite Franck Queudrue is available on a free transfer following current club RC Lens' relegation from the French top flight and he has had initial discussions with chairman Steve Gibson about a return to his former stomping ground. Meanwhile, Mowbray is expected to hold a crisis meeting at the club on Friday to discuss his future.
Monday 13 June 2011
The Graham-Horton Show
With rumours escalating that Watford boss Malky Mackay is set to swap the delights of Hertfordshire for South Wales and Cardiff City, the Hornets have acted quickly to sound out potential replacements. Chairman Graham Taylor believes that a steady hand on the tiller is vital as the club looks to stabilise itself financially after a rocky few years and has therefore turned to experience in the form of ex-Manchester City manager Brian Horton.
Horton was a key part of Hull City's charge to the Premier League in 2008 and is highly regarded within the game, and his knowledge of running a club on a shoestring is thought to be key to Taylor's choice. A pal of the ex-England supremo told us: "Brian's not a fashionable appointment, but we've had our fill of young bucks coming here and using the club as a stepping stone. We want someone who's going to stick with us and become a real Watford hero. His connections in the game at this level are second to none."
The Vicarage Road club are still hopeful that Mackay will stay, but the Scot believes that he has taken them as far as he can go and sees Cardiff as a place where he can really impose his vision on a football club. The tipping point appears to have been when the ex-Norwich centre-half was told that he would have no access to the proceeds of star striker Danny Graham's sale, which was contrary to promises made just a few short weeks ago.
Cardiff have now pinpointed Mackay as their number one target having failed to tempt Sean O'Driscoll away from Doncaster Rovers, and hope to finalise the appointment by the end of the week.
Horton was a key part of Hull City's charge to the Premier League in 2008 and is highly regarded within the game, and his knowledge of running a club on a shoestring is thought to be key to Taylor's choice. A pal of the ex-England supremo told us: "Brian's not a fashionable appointment, but we've had our fill of young bucks coming here and using the club as a stepping stone. We want someone who's going to stick with us and become a real Watford hero. His connections in the game at this level are second to none."
The Vicarage Road club are still hopeful that Mackay will stay, but the Scot believes that he has taken them as far as he can go and sees Cardiff as a place where he can really impose his vision on a football club. The tipping point appears to have been when the ex-Norwich centre-half was told that he would have no access to the proceeds of star striker Danny Graham's sale, which was contrary to promises made just a few short weeks ago.
Cardiff have now pinpointed Mackay as their number one target having failed to tempt Sean O'Driscoll away from Doncaster Rovers, and hope to finalise the appointment by the end of the week.
Tony Singing The Blues?
Birmingham City have reacted to the sudden resignation of boss Alex McLeish by lining up their first target to replace the Scot - a man who has also experienced the hotbed of Old Firm football. Acting chairman Peter Pannu has today been speaking to his counterpart Steve Gibson at Middlesbrough in an attempt to prise manager Tony Mowbray away from the Riverside. Mowbray has previously enjoyed success in the Birmingham area with West Bromwich Albion, with whom he won the Championship in 2008.
Mowbray only joined Boro last season and has impressed with his values of integrity and humility, as well as his expansive vision of football, which dragged the Teesiders away from a relegation battle. He is a hero in the area having famously captained the team in the late 1980s and early 1990s and though it would be a wrench for him to leave his beloved club, the financial constraints imposed upon him due to the lack of parachute payments in the following season have made him consider a move south.
Pannu has promised "Mogga" a warchest of up to £15m to bolster the Blues squad as they seek to make an immediate return. They have already signed Chris Burke and Marlon King, and are on the verge of sealing the signature of targetman Danny Koevermans from PSV Eindhoven. There has also been an undertaking from the City board that the likes of Ben Foster, Scott Dann and Roger Johnson will only depart if an astronomical offer comes in - a bid of £6m for Johnson from local rivals Wolves has already been flatly rejected.
The sway of European football could also tempt Mowbray as he failed to make an impact in this regard during his ill-fated spell at Celtic. Understandably, negotiations are at an early stage but the willingness of Mowbray to listen to what Birmingham have to say could point to an unlikely move.
Mowbray only joined Boro last season and has impressed with his values of integrity and humility, as well as his expansive vision of football, which dragged the Teesiders away from a relegation battle. He is a hero in the area having famously captained the team in the late 1980s and early 1990s and though it would be a wrench for him to leave his beloved club, the financial constraints imposed upon him due to the lack of parachute payments in the following season have made him consider a move south.
Pannu has promised "Mogga" a warchest of up to £15m to bolster the Blues squad as they seek to make an immediate return. They have already signed Chris Burke and Marlon King, and are on the verge of sealing the signature of targetman Danny Koevermans from PSV Eindhoven. There has also been an undertaking from the City board that the likes of Ben Foster, Scott Dann and Roger Johnson will only depart if an astronomical offer comes in - a bid of £6m for Johnson from local rivals Wolves has already been flatly rejected.
The sway of European football could also tempt Mowbray as he failed to make an impact in this regard during his ill-fated spell at Celtic. Understandably, negotiations are at an early stage but the willingness of Mowbray to listen to what Birmingham have to say could point to an unlikely move.
Fantastic Beye
QPR are on the verge of making their first signing since winning the Championship title with a free transfer swoop for out-of-favour Aston Villa right back Habib Beye. The Senegal international has barely featured for Villa since signing there two years ago and the managerless Midlanders are prepared to release him from the final year of his contract.
Hoops boss Neil Warnock has pinpointed the right back area as a key area to strengthen for the upcoming campaign; Pascal Chimbonda's short-lived spell in West London was not a success and Warnock does not see Bradley Orr as a regular starter in the Premier League. The veteran manager has moved for Beye after an approach to take Tottenham's Kyle Naughton on a season-long loan was rebuffed.
Beye will sign an initial one-year deal at Loftus Road, with a clause inserted guaranteeing him a further year if he makes more than 25 appearances next season.
Hoops boss Neil Warnock has pinpointed the right back area as a key area to strengthen for the upcoming campaign; Pascal Chimbonda's short-lived spell in West London was not a success and Warnock does not see Bradley Orr as a regular starter in the Premier League. The veteran manager has moved for Beye after an approach to take Tottenham's Kyle Naughton on a season-long loan was rebuffed.
Beye will sign an initial one-year deal at Loftus Road, with a clause inserted guaranteeing him a further year if he makes more than 25 appearances next season.
Mills and Toon?
Alan Pardew is set to raid his former club Reading for their inspirational captain, Matt Mills. The commanding centre-half is known to be keen on a move to the Premier League following the Royals' playoff heartbreak and Pardew believes that he would be an ideal partner for the rapidly improving Fabricio Coloccini. Sol Campbell has left the Magpies following the expiry of his contract, leaving them short of options at the back.
Mills is thought to be available for around £3.5m and a Toon source told us: "We've got plenty of players here who've stepped up from the Football League to the top flight and there's no reason why Matt wouldn't do the same. With a European push on the agenda for next season, it's the club to join at the moment, no doubt".
Premier League rivals Wolves and Stoke have previously been linked with the player, but the former Manchester City trainee is not keen on a move to the Midlands and has already been eyeing up properties in the North East.
Mills is thought to be available for around £3.5m and a Toon source told us: "We've got plenty of players here who've stepped up from the Football League to the top flight and there's no reason why Matt wouldn't do the same. With a European push on the agenda for next season, it's the club to join at the moment, no doubt".
Premier League rivals Wolves and Stoke have previously been linked with the player, but the former Manchester City trainee is not keen on a move to the Midlands and has already been eyeing up properties in the North East.
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