Club record Hill deal good for Cod Army
FLEETWOOD Town have collected a club record fee by selling highlyrated teenage defender James Hill to Bournemouth.
The 19-year-old joins the Cherries on a four-and-a-half-year deal for a reported £1m fee.
Hill made his debut for Fleetwood when he was 16, has played for England Under-20s and was called up for the Under-21s in November.
Chairman Andy Pilley believes the switch is right for all involved.
“I don’t see this as a blow at all, it’s something we always planned for,” he said. “We always have pathways and look towards the future and the plan always was for James to leave at this stage.
“The timing was just right for us. He’s been looking like a Rolls-royce for us in League One, Bournemouth are top of the Championship for a reason and we are pleased for him to be joining a fantastic club who will improve him.”
Bournemouth chief executive Neill Blake added: “He is a player who is a great fit for the club and I’m sure will prove to be a huge asset for us.
“Unsurprisingly, there was a lot of interest in James and the fact he has chosen to come here speaks volumes for this club and the direction the team is moving in under Scott Parker.”
Parker’s side are top of the Championship, three points clear of second-placed Blackburn Rovers. ■■Former Burton Albion loanee Ryan Broom is set to be recalled from his loan spell with Plymouth Argyle so that his parent club, Peterborough United, can sell him this month.
After spending the second half of last season on loan with the Brewers, Broom joined the Pilgrims on a temporary basis in the summer transfer window.
The 25-year-old midfielder has been an influential player for Plymouth, helping his side produce a host of impressive performances and push into the top six.
As well as scoring three goals, Broom has chipped in with five assists in the 24 League games he has played this season.
Peterborough director of football Barry Fry says there has been plenty of interest in a permanent deal for the midfielder.
“There are four or five clubs chasing Ryan and we have a clause in his loan deal which enables us to recall him to sell him which is what will likely happen,” said Fry.
“A Scottish Premier League club want him. I have spoken to Ryan about that and he’s definitely interested. Plymouth want him but they have not made a bid as yet.”
Broom was signed by Peterborough from Cheltenham Town for an undisclosed fee in August 2020.
■■Wigan Athletic could be about to make an official approach for Sheffield United’s Regan Slater, according to the Sheffield Star.
Midfielder Slater, 21, is also wanted by Hull City after helping them win the League One title last season under Grant Mccann. ■■Dan Nlundulu and Archie Mair have both been recalled from their loan spells with Lincoln City.
Nlundulu and Mair both joined on season-long loan deals last summer, from Southampton and Norwich City respectively.
But the Imps have announced the pair are heading back to their parent clubs.
Nlundulu featured 16 times in League One this season, scoring once, but Mair failed to make a single appearance in any competition for the club.
Lincoln manager Michael Appleton has already moved to make up for the loss of striker Nlundulu by signing former Derby County youngster Morgan Whittaker on loan from Swansea City until the end of the season.