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Keane Looking for Two More Strikers
Keane Looking for Two More Strikers
Monday, 3rd Aug 2009 08:46

Boss Roy Keane has confirmed that he is looking to add two strikers to his squad before the transfer window ends on August 31st. The Blues' boss was spotted at Watford on Saturday, with Hornets' frontman Tamás Priskin understood to be the reason for his trip.

Keane told the club site: In terms of numbers we are covered defensively and we are OK in midfield.

"I'd like to add to our attacking positions, though. We've got some good young prospects, lads like Connor and Reggie, Lee Martin can play off the front, Jon Walters can do a job there and obviously Jon Stead.

"Hopefully, Pablo will be back in the group soon when he gets over the injury, but maybe we need another one or two strikers in. There is a lot of work to be done though before that happens, trust me."

Keane, however, suggests that one move may not be too far from being completed: "There is the possibility something can be done in the next 24 hours."

That man may not necessarily be a striker though, with Keane saying that a midfielder is also on his radar: "I might be close to signing another midfielder in the next few days."

While no midfielders have been strongly linked in recent weeks, Celta Vigo youngster Joselu is another striker understood to be on the Town manager's wish-list. The 19-year-old is likely to command a fee of around €2 million (£1.7 million).

Meanwhile, Keane says the fee Town will receive for striker Jordan Rhodes from Huddersfield will reflect the 19-year-old's success with the Terriers.

Rhodes joined Huddersfield last week for a fee which will ultimately be worth £850,000 with the larger part of that cash up front.

Keane says the bid was too good to snub for a player who was most likely to be a regular sub rather than a starter this season: "The offer that came in was acceptable. I'm under no illusion that, unfortunately, I have to let one or two players go to bring in one or two of my own players.

"I have already paid out to bring in Lee Martin and Damien Delaney and the club spent decent money last year, so you can't hold on to everybody.

"As much as I think Jordan has a good chance, that will be reflected in the fee and what will come in for him over the next few years.

"It was certainly a difficult decision without a shadow of a doubt, but that is part of my job."

Chief executive Simon Clegg says the Blues will continue to consider bids if they are made: "We need to look at offers when they come in and when we get realistic offers even for good players then on occasions we are going to have to let those players go.

"I have made it clear that I intend to run this club on very tight financial reins, although this was a football decision. Roy and I work very closely on all of these matters."

Elsewhere, former Blues boss Jim Magilton says his squad at QPR is better than the one he left at Portman Road: "There is more quality here without any shadow of a doubt. There’s more quality all over the park and more experience too.

"The application and attitude of the players has been first class from the moment I arrived.

"We're now hoping to get off to a good start and build from there. I feel we're ready for next week now - the players have set the standard."


Photo: Action Images



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WickedBlue added 14:39 - Aug 3
One thing to rememeber about the era of our youth policy when we produced younsters like Wark, Beattie, Butcher etc etc was it was a differant youth system than the one we are forced to use today. In those days we could sign youngsters from under the noses of teams like Man U. Example is Kevin Beattie , where Man U peeved about that. Of the three named under the rules today only Butcher could have signed for us, unless Wark and Beattie were let go by the acadamy they fall under. There are other examples where we could spread our net over the whole country to bring in youngsters we can not do that anymore. The big clubs made certain of that as they did when it made certian the Premier league was going to happen. All these rules only help to make the rich clubs richer and keep the smaller clubs where they are or poorer. We can not get the quality of youngsters like we use to which is why so few make it into the first team today. And we can not attract a lot of players as we are considered a small provincial CCC club. So you can go on blaming JM, JR, GB or whoever you want but in the end they can only work with what they have available and who is willing to come to this club. Yes we are up and coming, but it is going to be a lot harder job then people realize
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jesus added 17:01 - Aug 3
keane keeping things low key; magilton setting himself up, as usual
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Rozz added 17:22 - Aug 3
Spotted at watford? close to bringing in a new midfielder? Tommy smith? YES PLEASE.
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StavangerBlue added 17:43 - Aug 3
I agree WickedBlue about the new rules. RK vented his frustration about them at Sunderland and I suppose Town are in a similar situation. I'm not certain about the are but there is a radius to which Town can get youngsters. Great you say but RK pointed out at Sunderland not much use if you're on the coast. There are no upcoming youngsters in the North Sea!? Absolutely cracking situation if you're Man Utd, Arsenal etc.
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patboy added 17:45 - Aug 3
I see Dim is still spouting his usuall garbage,Im gonna put a tenner on him being sacked by xmas, hes just narked that he was replaced by someone with the class he will never have, he might be queens park rangers manager now but he really should be managing queen of the south!! worse manager we,ve ever had!
Theres only 1 Keano !!!
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samassiabou added 23:11 - Aug 3
"Keane looking for two new strikers" He SHOULD be looking for a new job. Hes clearly bitten off more than he could chew when he took the Ipswich post. If he doesnt even have the simple capacity to build a half decent championship team with all Marcus's millions, What the hell is he doing here?
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B1TFC added 23:38 - Aug 3
Fabian Wilnis as manager??? You Div!
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