With League One clubs focusing on their second league matches of the 2023-24 season this coming weekend, there has been somewhat of a lack of transfer news going into the weekend’s action.
However, there are some done deals and speculation to look at for certain outfits – let’s take a look at the latest confirmed transfers and rumours in the third tier of English football…
With Reading going into the summer with just Dean Bouzanis as an established senior stopper, the Royals have now taken steps to address the problem position.
Experienced goalie David Button arrived this week after he mutually terminated his contract at West Brom, and now they have sorted out the future of academy graduate Coniah Boyce-Clarke.
The 20-year-old’s contract expired in the summer and he was on a week-to-week deal at the Select Car Leasing Stadium, but he has now penned a two-year deal after featuring in the club’s 4-0 EFL Cup trouncing of Millwall.
Boyce-Clarke has played just twice competitively for the Royals but he is a full Jamaica international and big things are expected in the future.
Bristol City have landed a massive windfall by selling Alex Scott to Bournemouth for an initial £20 million, rising to a possible £25 million, and they plan to re-invest a bit of that into Nigel Pearson’s squad.
One player on their radar, whilst not a direct replacement for Scott, is Bolton Wanderers midfielder George Thomason, according to the Bristol Post.
The 22-year-old was snapped up by the Trotters a few years from Lancashire-based non-league side Longridge Town and despite not being a regular starter for Ian Evatt, his talents are clearly appreciated at Ashton Gate.
Royals stopper joins fellow League One side
Reading have not only secured one goalkeeper deal today in the form of Boyce-Clarke, but they’ve also extended the contract of another young stopper in Jokull Andresson.
The Iceland international hasn’t appeared for the Royals’ first-team yet, and that will continue to be the case as he has been sent to Carlisle United on loan for the 2023-24 season.
Andresson has played for Exeter, Morecambe and Stevenage on loan and significantly bolsters Paul Simpson’s goalkeeping department.
Lincoln land Sky Blues man
Lincoln City have had an impressive summer transfer window, and they have added to that with the loan signing of Coventry’s Jack Burroughs.
A right wing-back, 22-year-old Burroughs played 12 times in the Championship for the Sky Blues last season but is now set to have a chance with the Imps.
Burroughs was somewhat surplus to requirements at Cov this season with the signings of Milan van Ewijk and versatile Tatsuhiro Sakamoto, as well as Josh Eccles also being able to play on the right as well, but he will get regular first-team football at Sincil Bank.
Eagles midfielder set to soar at Wycombe
Following an impressive half-season at Shrewsbury Town last season, Crystal Palace midfielder Killian Phillips is set to be on the move again.
According to Football Insider, the 21-year-old Irishman will extend his contract at the Eagles before heading on loan to Wycombe Wanderers.
Phillips scored three times in League One for the Shrews last season and will be expected to make a similar impact with the Chairboys.
That’s according to a report from The Irish Mirror, who say that the 21-year-old could be targeted as an alternative to Derby County’s Eiran Cashin.
Brighton frustrated in Cashin pursuit
Having come through the youth ranks at Derby, Cashin has emerged as a key player for the Rams in recent seasons, something that appears to have caught the attention of those further up the football pyramid.
Earlier this summer, it was reported that Brighton had seen three bids for the signing of Cashin rejected by Derby, with the League One club apparently demanding at least £3million for his services.
As a result, it seems as though Brighton may now have turned their attention to another potential target, in the form of Negru.
Negru joined Oxford back at the start of the current calendar year, joining from Shelbourne FC in his native Ireland
The defender had made just a handful of first-team appearances for the Irish club before moving to the Kassam Stadium, but is now starting to make a name for himself in Liam Manning’s Oxford side.
In total, Negru has made six appearances in all competitions for the U’s. That includes starts in the three wins from four league games the club have played at the start of this season, helping them to fourth place in the early League One standings.
Now it seems as though that impressive form from the 21-year-old – who is also elgible to represent Moldova through his parents – is starting to attract attention from further up the football pyramid.
What is the situation with Brighton’s interest in Negru?
According to this latest update, Brighton are now monitoring the early season form of Negru at Oxford.
It is thought that the Premier League side have sent scouts to watch the 21-year-old, with early feedback on his performances said to have been positive.
As a result, it has now been suggested that the Seagulls will make a move for Negru, if they fail with their attempts to secure the services of Cashin from Derby before the window closes at the end of this month.
