Crewe resist Blackburn bid for Pickering
CREWE Alexandra manager David Artell has confirmed the club have rejected a bid from Blackburn Rovers for full-back Harry Pickering.
The Alex are loathe to lose the 22-year-old, who has been standing in as captain of late, and felt Rovers’ bid fell short of their valuation.
“I can tell you that we have had a bid for Harry from Blackburn but we have turned that down,” said Artell.
“We don’t sell our players – clubs buy them. We don’t go around trying to sell our players.
“Clubs come in for them and we know what they are worth. We know their value. We discuss it and we go from there.
“I’ve spoken to Harry and he knows the situation.
“There are three weeks left of the window and there is a possibility he might not be here. There is also the possibility that he will be here and then we will look at it again in the summer.
“In the meantime, he can play some good football, with his mates, and try to get us playing at a higher level.
“Harry agrees with that and he is a top lad and a terrific professional. We have his best interest at heart and we have worked on that for over 10 years. That doesn’t change because we have had one bid.”
AFC Wimbledon have completed the loan signing of goalkeeper Sam Walker from Reading on a deal until the end of the season.
The experienced stopper has made more than 250 appearances in the League and, at 6ft 6ins, is the commanding figure the League One club wanted.
Dons have not won in the division since December 2 and sit one place and a point above the bottom four.
Boss Glyn Hodges said: “At this time last year we brought in Joe Day, who added his experience and settled things down.
“He was great for us and, hopefully, Sam can have the same effect and maybe improve us.”
Wigan Athletic have signed fullback Tendayi Darikwa from Nottingham Forest on a short-term deal until the end of the season.
The 29-year-old Zimbabwe international suffered an injury-hit 2019-20 campaign and has been restricted to under-23 games so far this term.
Plymouth Argyle have sold defender Niall Canavan to Bradford City on an 18-month deal, for an undisclosed fee.
The 29-year-old centre-half has scored once in 15 appearances for Argyle this season, out of a total of five in 92 in two and a half seasons at Home Park, and is a former Bradford apprentice.
Leeds-born Canavan made his League bow with Scunthorpe United, playing 173 games before featuring 50 times for Rochdale.