Town are reportedly set to renew their interest in Barnsley winger Marley Watkins with Bristol City also said to be keen.

According to The Sun, the Blues and Robins are set for a £1.5 million fight for the 26-year-old, who can also play up front.

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

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. He has made 55 starts and nine 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, whose grandfather was famous Welsh poet Vernon Watkins, a close friend of Dylan Thomas, has previously been named on standby for Wales but without making it into a squad.

With his Barnsley contract up in the summer Watkins seems likely to move on for less than the £1.5 million reported if he is unwilling to agree new terms at Oakwell.

Photo: Action Images

Dissboyitfc added 11:02 - Jan 7 Cant see him wanting to come here
2

muccletonjoe added 11:10 - Jan 7 Yawn
3

Cloddyseedbed added 11:13 - Jan 7 Ok it's getting boring now.
3

cornishblu added 11:14 - Jan 7 Micks claim to be linked to Dele Ali and Marcus Rashford has been verified ....he has been photographed doing the conga with them at at the league AGM
0

Jimmy86 added 11:21 - Jan 7 Would much rather us go for Winnall from Barnsley instead. He's been banging in the goals. It's all getting rather boring and predictable yet again. We seemingly only ever get players no other teams are in for. If there are ever any other clubs interested in players we are supposedly in for that then immediately rules us out as we won't seemingly compete in any bidding war. If we then get players no other team has shown interest then there's a good chance that they aren't good enough... All we get is excuses as to why we haven't signed players yet, doesn't seem to effect other teams tho. Just all hot air and spin

3

jas0999 added 11:35 - Jan 7 Very unlikely with that fee. Rotherham would probably spend that sort of money. Bristol Ciity yes. Us - no.
2

GiveusaWave added 11:55 - Jan 7 Fee does seem excessive for us. Bristol City can certainly outbid us.
0

Jack27 added 12:11 - Jan 7 Mick did say that he has given a list of players to Evans and "some will cost a few quid - let's see what happens." The way I interpreted that is MM is sick and tired of getting blamed for transfer activity (or lack of) so he set the marker down early - if nothing happens it's Marcus Evans not me.
3

Jimmy86 added 12:22 - Jan 7 Don't know about anyone else, but I don't think Watkins is anywhere near worth 1.5 million. If we're willing to spend that on Watkins, why not push the boat out for Ward?! Watkins is hardly prolific, what have they seen in him to spend that much on him??
5

Mark added 13:37 - Jan 7 I can't remember the last time we were linked with a player with other clubs also interested when we actually went on to sign that player.
3

Warkys_Tash added 13:53 - Jan 7 Jimmy86, agree but often the fees touted are not really what is paid. Let's be realistic McCarthy has already said we won't be paying £1-2M for anyone. He isn't worth that either. We got Murph, McG & Sears all for £200k. Two of those in Jan, so maybe there will be another gem. McCarthys record in the transfer market, wether it's perm or loan has been more successful than not.

1

dirtydingusmagee added 13:59 - Jan 7 can also play up front, that's good, but can he play at full back ?warm bench? sell pies? MM likes players to be versatile .
1

dirtydingusmagee added 14:06 - Jan 7 for Evans to spend out 0ne and half million it would have to be rupees or sea shells I think .
2

tractorboybig added 14:40 - Jan 7 off to Bristol city then. At least they are going down trying to play football,
1

potter84 added 17:24 - Jan 7 I'd love to see town go out and buy one that got away Connor Hourihane I think he's developed and proved at this level he can cut it, would be a massive improvement on what we have in the centre of the park atm. Would also take ward as yet again he's on the score sheet again today.
1

planetblue_2011 added 21:41 - Jan 7 Why would he come here we are sh!te!
2

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls