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Blues Linked With New Watkins Move
Sunday, 27th Nov 2016 13:53

Town will reportedly renew their interest in Barnsley’s Marley Watkins during the January transfer window.

The Blues had a £1 million offer for the versatile 26-year-old turned down in August following Daryl Murphy’s departure for Newcastle, shortly after Watkins had scored and claimed an assist in Town’s 4-2 opening day win over the South Yorkshiremen at Portman Road.

According to the Sunday Mirror Town are set to revive their interest in Watkins, who scored his fifth goal of the season for the Tykes before being sent off in Friday’s 5-2 defeat to Nottingham Forest, when the transfer window opens.

Lewisham-born Watkins was brought up in Swansea and joined the youth set-up with the Welsh club.

Watkins, who is 6ft 1in tall, moved on before making a senior appearance and broke into first-team football with Cheltenham before joining Bath City, initially on loan, and then Hereford United in 2012.

A year later he moved on to Inverness Caledonian Thistle, where he scored the opening goal in the 2-1 2015 Scottish Cup final win against Falkirk, before signing for Barnsley in the summer of 2015.

Watkins, whose grandfather was famous Welsh poet Vernon Watkins, who was close friends with Dylan Thomas, is out of contract at Oakwell next summer. He has made 54 starts and six sub appearances for the Tykes, scoring 13 goals.

Primarily a right-sided midfielder for much of his career, Watkins can also operate on the left and as a centre forward, having played there for Barnsley earlier this season and previously at Caley Thistle.

Watkins has previously been named on standby for Wales but without making it into a squad.


Photo: Action Images



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theblueginger added 13:58 - Nov 27
Good. Aside from his slightly petulant stamp on Friday, he has looked good from what I've seen, scores a few, a decent crosser and hard-working. Given he is out of contract at the end of the season, entirely possible.

See if he can convince Hourihane to follow him while your at it.
4

ParisBlue added 14:04 - Nov 27
I do think that as well as a forward we need another central midfielder. Might not be a coincidence that Skuse was better with Douglas alongside him. An upgrade from Douglas would be useful (I assume that Douglas will be leaving in May) and Hourihane would fit that Bill. Can't see it though.

Would also love to see us tie up a deal for Lawrence.
4

DurhamTownFan added 14:46 - Nov 27
Didn't really look like much of a stamp on the highlights. Looks like he was going to stamp but then pulled out, but the ref gave him a red for the intention.

Would be nice to have more talent in
2

martin587 added 15:04 - Nov 27
No disrespect to the lad,but if we are to make progress in this league we need a real striker,not a utility player,it never works.I say spend the 3Mil on a better player.!!,or don't bother.
4

NoCanariesAllowed added 15:55 - Nov 27
"Watkins, whose grandfather was famous Welsh poet Vernon Watkins, who was close friends with Dylan Thomas..."

I don't know why, Phil, but that made me chuckle. Scouting meets Who Do You Think You Are. Next week: Berra, who is a direct descendent of William Wallace and whose great, great, great grand-auntie used to live three doors down from Robert Burns...

:)
9

Pip50 added 16:48 - Nov 27
What's the point of being "interested" in anyone with this man in charge. Focus on getting him gone!
-4

ShropshireBluenago09 added 17:01 - Nov 27
Yes Paris - him and Hourihane would be awesome, along with Lawrence.
3

jas0999 added 17:21 - Nov 27
We need to show some ambition and sign some good players permanently and not just freebies.
2

Seasider added 17:49 - Nov 27
Agree Jas;but I get the impression that Ipswich will be in for a replacement for Murph in Jan,and it wont be a loan or a freebie;but how much Marcus is prepared to shell out is open to question.
2

Kikapu added 20:25 - Nov 27
jas0999 How much did Murphy cost?
1

Wickets added 20:46 - Nov 27
How much did Murthy cost? Quite a lot in loan fees!!
1

norfolkbluey added 22:30 - Nov 27
WHO THE HECK IS MURTHY? AGREE WITH JAS. SOMEONE LIKE ANICHEBE PLEASE MARCUS!
0

BrettenhamBlue added 03:51 - Nov 28
And 16 years ago to the day we nearly brought in one of the worlds best strikers....

http://www.twtd.co.uk/ipswich-town-news/790/town-went-back-for-verheyen/onthisda
1

Toronto_Tractor added 05:07 - Nov 28
'Show some ambition' is a remarkably original comment.... Ironically, I agree with this statement, its just getting so so tedious. Buying players is great if it improves the team. Has everyone forgotten our history in showing ambition? It ended in tears. The modern day football fan seems to obsess over the fee of the player. Maybe they've succumbed to the Romance of Jim White on deadline day. Lets hope we do improve the squad in Jan, keep our better players, ship out the deadwood and maybe there will be fees attached to new arrivals. The more we as town fans despair at being financially frail in transfer tussles, the more likely we are to forget about whats really important.... Uh... Supporting the team thats out there in front of us?
3

pegasus added 07:43 - Nov 28
Played for Inverness Caledonian Thistle? Has terry Butcher had a quiet word with someone, somewhere?
2

Surco72 added 13:27 - Nov 28
£1miilion for a player who hadn't played at this level until this season seems high , would rather see Rhodes back here on loan for rest of season
0

rugbytomc added 18:12 - Nov 28
I'd love it if we spent £8m on nakhi wells from Huddersfield and if we don't go up then could prob sell him on for the same in the summer or in a year and a half. Burnley did it with Andre gray-goals get you up
0


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