Old boys helped me decide on Dale switch
NEW arrival Ryan Delaney said former Rochdale stars Jamie Allen and Matty Lund played a key role in persuading him to come to the Crown Oil Arena.
Keith Hill staved off interest from several interested parties to land the 21-year-old Burton Albion player this week.
And positive words from midfield duo Allen and Lund helped swing Delaney’s decision.
“Jamie Allen and Matty Lund had fantastic things to say about the club,” he revealed.
“They couldn’t thank the club and the people here enough for where they’ve gone, progressing to the Championship. Hopefully I can progress the same way as those lads.
“I wanted to come to a club that would help me progress even further and I feel that, at this point in my career, Rochdale is going to be a good club to help me to do that.”
Delaney was a mainstay in the Cork City side which enjoyed great success in the League of Ireland last season, while on loan from Burton.
“At Cork we won the league and cup double, which hadn’t been done for many years,” said Delaney. “The last year has been very good for me and I enjoyed getting out, playing football and getting regular games. I feel as though I’ve improved a lot over the last year, so hopefully I can keep on progressing and get out of the fight we’re facing at the minute.
“I’ve been speaking to the gaffer and he said he likes me as a player, so I have that bit of confidence behind me that he has faith in me and I want to replay him now when I get my chance.
“He’s looking for me to keep progressing and developing as I have done in the last year and I want to repay him for taking a chance on me.
“I’m always up for giving my best for the team. We’re facing a big fight but I’m sure we’ll all be up for it.” CITY are desperate to avoid a repeat of their collapsed summer move for Alexis Sanchez – telling Arsenal they want the Chilean before Arsene Wenger secures a replacement.
Pep Guardiola’s hopes of completing a £60m deal fell through on transfer deadline day when Monaco winger Thomas Lemar rejected a move to the Emirates. It left City empty-handed after Guardiola spent the summer looking to strengthen his attack – targeting Sanchez and Kylian Mbappe, who opted for a move to Paris SaintGermain instead.
City’s manager is adamant he doesn’t want a repeat of that situation this month, having informed the club’s hierarchy that he sees Sanchez as vital to his side’s Champions League challenge.
Arsenal are holding out for £35m for the 29-year-old, who is out of contract at the end of the season. That is around £15m more than City had anticipated paying.
Arsene Wenger attempted to include Raheem Sterling as a makeweight in the summer. And while there is no way City would countenance the departure of their joint leading scorer, they have made it clear that no player will be involved, insisting on a cash only deal.
The size of that fee is the main stumbling block, as well as Wenger’s determination to ensure he is not left light up front in the second half of the season. He looks likely to miss out on Lemar for a second time, with the Monaco winger believed to prefer a move to Liverpool.
Bordeaux’s Brazilian Malcom – who has been linked with United in recent weeks – is another possible target. While Arsenal are prepared to cash in this month, Wenger does not want to jeopardise his bid for a top four finish, or his attempts to win the Europa League by losing one of his prize assets without finding a replacement. City are convinced Sanchez has his heart set on a move to the Etihad and reunion with Guardiola, who he worked with at Barcelona. He is said to be desperate to leave Arsenal sooner rather than later and improve his chances of silverware in a year when Chile have failed to qualify for the World Cup. He is even prepared to take a financial hit – knowing he could expect a huge signing on bonus as a free agent in the summer. City’s hierarchy had been happy to wait until then after being angered by Arsenal’s handling of their bid during the last window. The opportunity to pick him up for nothing 12 months after offering £60m was seen as a potential coup. James Robson