Steve Davies
TRANSFER RUMOUR: Is Paul Jewell about to call time on Steve Davies summer hunt?
By Dave Gooderham
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
10:14 PM
PAUL Jewell is close to conceding defeat in his hopes of adding Steve Davies to his strike-force in time for the start of the new season.
While a deal could still be struck before the end of the summer transfer window on August 31, we understand the Blues boss is set to look elsewhere for now as Derby County continue to play hardball over their top scorer.
Town’s hunt for the 24-year-old has turned into something of a saga with Jewell unwilling to pay, what he perceives to be, over-the-odds and Rams boss Nigel Clough standing firm despite Davies having only a year left on his contract and publicly saying goodbye to Derby fans earlier this summer.
Just 10 days before the Championship curtain-raiser against Blackburn Rovers, Jewell is doing everything he can to add one or two new faces to his squad – and a striker remains a priority.
But that might not be Davies with sources close to both clubs suggesting Town’s interest has cooled over the last few days – as divisional rivals Brighton and Bristol City reportedly show interest.
The Rams frontman was initially expected to play his first friendly of the summer last night against non-league Belper Town.
But he remained a spectator and he is again set to miss the Rams’ home game against Sunderland tonight.
But rather than be a sign of him edging closer to a move to Portman Road, something the player was interested in, Davies is instead not being rushed into match action having missed all of the pre-season friendlies thus far.
Instead, the striker, who has been training with the Rams’ first team this week, should play some part in Saturday’s final pre-season game against Chesterfield.
Clough now faces a tough decision. Keep Davies for the forthcoming season and lose him for nothing at the end of it or hope that a club meets his asking price for the forward – something Jewell appears unwilling to do.
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6 comments
Just pay what they want and get a decent player stop being so tight there aint anyone else available at the moment either.
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Jay ITFC Godbold
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.
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whymarkmariner
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
With a week and a day before the first league game, it would appear that we are once more going to be relying on a panic buy, or no buy. We definitely need to strengthen up front, as currently we are going to be very, very short in the event of injuries.
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Kevin Bailey
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Last season ended at the end of April - over three MONTHS on, I find it remarkable that PJ is still faffing about. Where was the Plan B, and why wasn't it implemented sooner? We still have a weak squad - with PJ only adding three fit players to date - one of which is a Spurs player - only here on loan. This really is yet more inept management from a very poor manager. West Ham aside, this has been another poor pre-season. Unless things improve, it really does look like another season of mid-table - but with PJ, that's all we can realistically hope for.
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Jason
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
While the sticking point here seems to be the respective clubs valuations there is also no clear indication that Davies wants to come to Ipswich. Certainly various other players have chosen to go elsewhere in this close season.Personally I would prefer to see Murray given a real chance - together with Hyam Carson & other youngsters. This might not have an immediate effect & may indeed result in a transitional season - but I do believe it would lay the foundations for a brighter future & return to the true values of ITFC. I don't believe we are in a position to buy a team to challenge the top but by returning to our real traditions we could be laying solid foundations for the future. I am not a supporter of Jewell but applaud his decision to bring Klug back to the club & feel we should follow this through by blooding young hungry players who actually want to play for the Ipswich.
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Old Timer
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Weirdly I actually wavered around a month ago. I wondered if Jewell had actually started to use some of that elusive 'experience' that was stuffed down our throats when he joined us that portentous day 20 months ago. Chambers & Hewitt, I felt, were decent enough signings. Even Scott Loach. But still the jibber floods from him like nothing has changed and, with 6 days till our first competitive game, there are only 5 clubs in the Championship that have got so few players in over the summer so far- Blackpool, Brighton, Bristol City, Charlton and Wolves. Had we of started the summer with a decent sized squad I wouldn't be concerned, but we desperately needed at least 7-8 players- whilst, who actually thinks any of the aforementioned clubs will finish below us apart from perhaps Bristol City? Sure, the transfer window is open till the end of August, but haven't we heard how getting players in late affects the cohesion of the side for the last several seasons? To those that still have faith in Jewell, I salute you. You clearly have more hope than is left in Pandora's box. The rest of us (the ones that inhabit reality) have escaped Plato's cave and see that the puppet master really has little clue as to what he is doing. Damn, I hope I'm wrong, but after over 35 years of supporting Ipswich I have never felt so despondent about the state of the club....
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I am Spartacus
Wednesday, August 8, 2012