Football City midfielder Morrell set for shock move to Luton
BRISTOL City midfielder Joe Morrell is on the verge of a move to fellow Championship side Luton Town.
The 23-year-old is having a medical at Kenilworth Road and it is expected a switch to be announced officially in the next 24 hours.
The Robins have been looking to offload a midfielder or two for some time and the Wales international is set to depart BS3 for more first-team opportunities elsewhere, with a permanent sale close to being agreed.
Nathan Jones has been trailing the player for two months - and we asked head coach Dean Holden at the pre-Barnsley press conference yesterday afternoon if City supporters should keep an eye out for something to happen imminently.
“There’s been interest,” he explained. “As I’ve said before, we’re looking to trim down the squad before the deadline on Friday.
“There is interest in two or three of our players. But there’s nothing official yet. So as soon as that comes through then we’ll let you know.”
Wales international Morrell moves on with his chances of firstteam football at Ashton Gate diminished by the emergence of Tyreeq Bakinson.
One Robins academy graduate replaces another, and while City fans may regret not seeing Morrell given a chance in BS3 there will be some understanding that there are too many midfield players at the club.
City have been weighing up moves for several of their players in recent weeks, but CEO Mark Ashton is now close to finalising a move that will see Morrell head to Bedfordshire.
However, there could be good news on the horizon regarding another midfielder: Holden says that all is going well regarding discussions over the long-term future of Liam Walsh. Nothing has yet
been agreed but things are moving in the right direction.
“There’s no update on the contract talks. Mark’s in touch with Walshy and his agent. Those talks have been going well from what I’ve been told,” said Holden.
“In terms of his injury he’s coming along nicely. He’s been out for a period of time which is unfortunate for him and for us, because he’s a
big part of the way we want to play. But we need to get that injury right - and hopefully he won’t be too far away.
“They stopped League One and he came back from Coventry and those lads that came back from loan were self-isolating and training at home in case they needed to come into our bubble, or whatever we called it then.
“We decided to bring three or four of the lads back in at that time. Joe Morrell was another one - and Hakeeb Adelakun and Sammie Szmodics. And unfortunately at that time - I’m not sure if it was preor post-Blackburn he picked up a little quad strain. It’s just been a bit of a niggly one to be honest. But we’re hoping now we’ve got light at the end of the tunnel with that.”