Hatters open for transfer business
DESPITE a weekend without onfield action for League Two leaders Stockport County, the January transfer window began to heat up for The Hatters.
Boss Dave Challinor had insisted his side would require at least four new signings through the door during the window, with County’s injury crisis lurching from bad to worse this week.
Lengthy lay-offs are now also expected for defenders Ethan Pye and
Kyle Knoyle, with the duo set to join an extensive absentee list for Challinor’s side.
With the Hatters ranks continually depleting, talk grew throughout last week that the league leaders would opt to recall duo Joe Lewis and Connor Lemonheigh Evans from their loan spells at AFC Wimbledon, where the pair have impressed since joining temporarily in the summer.
Both were set to return to Edgeley Park this week, before The Hatters were left surprised by a substantial bid from The Dons to take Lewis to the club on a permanent deal.
That bid, which looks set to become a club record fee for Wimbledon, was accepted by County earlier this week, with Lewis now instead looking likely to remain with Johnnie Jackson’s outfit.
Midfielder Evans, however, will still return to Edgeley Park and is likely to feature for Challinor’s side in the coming weeks.
Meanwhile, influential midfielder Odin Bailey saw his loan spell with The Hatters run its course over the weekend, with the club confirming Bailey’s return to parent club Salford City.
Salford, who have just appointed Karl Robinson as their new manager, are understood to hold an option to extend Bailey’s Ammies deal by a further year, but are believed to be willing to sell amid ongoing negotiations between the two clubs.
As the Express went to print on Tuesday evening, reports emerged that a County bid for the former Birmingham City prospect had been accepted, with The Hatters looking primed to land a popular figure around the club.
After a 0-2 defeat to title rivals Mansfield Town on New Year’s Day at Edgeley Park, County were able to enjoy a weekend without action after a gruelling period for Challinor’s men.
That free weekend meant The Stags were in a position to go top virtue of their game in hand at home against promotionchasing Crewe Alexandra on Saturday - but a welcomed boost came for County, courtesy of Newcastle
United loanee Joe White’s winner for The Alex in a 0-1 win at Field Mill.
Ironically, after indirectly keeping County top of the table, White himself – a creative 21-year-old midfielder – is now strongly linked with a move to Edgeley Park for the rest of the campaign, with Premier League Newcastle believed to be contemplating sending White to The Hatters at the conclusion of his Crewe loan deal on the 14th January.
Whilst transfer business continues at pace, County will return to the pitch this coming Saturday for the visit of Walsall to Edgeley Park (13th January).