Home
WANDERERS are close to securing Darren Pratley to a new contract at the Macron Stadium.
The Bolton News understands a deal has finally been struck between the club and the midfielder and will be completed officially in the next couple of weeks.
It ends an anxious wait for Neil Lennon, who was keen to avoid losing the 30-year-old former Swansea City man on a free transfer, particularly after seeing Adam Bogdan turn down the chance to stay as his number one keeper and move to Liverpool.
Pratley had the option of pursuing talks with recently-relegated QPR and also spoke briefly with Ipswich Town – although that move never came as close as some reports suggested.
Dougie Freedman was not in the running to take the midfielder to Nottingham Forest, however, despite a flurry of rumours which circulated yesterday.
The length of the contract on offer to Pratley is unknown at the moment but indications suggest he has taken a slight pay-cut to remain with the Whites next season.
Wanderers have made no official comment but after weeks of uncertainty over whether the club had the requisite finances in place to hold on to some of their top stars, news that Pratley will sign on the dotted line will come as a welcome boost.
One of last season’s surprise stories, Pratley’s absence was felt when he tore a hamstring muscle in the new year and missed the last few months.
With Pratley, Wanderers won 10 and drew seven of 24 games he started; without him they won five and drew five of 28.
He finished the campaign with five goals in 27 appearances – his best-ever return for the club – and was voted runner-up by the BWSA at their player-of-the-year awards.
Meanwhile, Leeds United are the latest in a string of Championship clubs linked with last season’s top-scorer Adam Le Fondre.
The striker is keen to leave Cardiff City this summer but is currently out of Wanderers’ financial reach.
MK Dons, Charlton and Ipswich have all been mentioned as potential suitors for the 28-year-old goal-poacher, with the Bluebirds keen to recoup some of the £3million they paid Reading for him 12 months ago.
Wanderers may well revive their interest if Cardiff allow him out on loan, with Lennon in the market for a regular goalscorer.
http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/wanderers/13322720.Wanderers_close_to_tying_up_key_man_on_new_contract/
The Bolton News understands a deal has finally been struck between the club and the midfielder and will be completed officially in the next couple of weeks.
It ends an anxious wait for Neil Lennon, who was keen to avoid losing the 30-year-old former Swansea City man on a free transfer, particularly after seeing Adam Bogdan turn down the chance to stay as his number one keeper and move to Liverpool.
Pratley had the option of pursuing talks with recently-relegated QPR and also spoke briefly with Ipswich Town – although that move never came as close as some reports suggested.
Dougie Freedman was not in the running to take the midfielder to Nottingham Forest, however, despite a flurry of rumours which circulated yesterday.
The length of the contract on offer to Pratley is unknown at the moment but indications suggest he has taken a slight pay-cut to remain with the Whites next season.
Wanderers have made no official comment but after weeks of uncertainty over whether the club had the requisite finances in place to hold on to some of their top stars, news that Pratley will sign on the dotted line will come as a welcome boost.
One of last season’s surprise stories, Pratley’s absence was felt when he tore a hamstring muscle in the new year and missed the last few months.
With Pratley, Wanderers won 10 and drew seven of 24 games he started; without him they won five and drew five of 28.
He finished the campaign with five goals in 27 appearances – his best-ever return for the club – and was voted runner-up by the BWSA at their player-of-the-year awards.
Meanwhile, Leeds United are the latest in a string of Championship clubs linked with last season’s top-scorer Adam Le Fondre.
The striker is keen to leave Cardiff City this summer but is currently out of Wanderers’ financial reach.
MK Dons, Charlton and Ipswich have all been mentioned as potential suitors for the 28-year-old goal-poacher, with the Bluebirds keen to recoup some of the £3million they paid Reading for him 12 months ago.
Wanderers may well revive their interest if Cardiff allow him out on loan, with Lennon in the market for a regular goalscorer.
http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/wanderers/13322720.Wanderers_close_to_tying_up_key_man_on_new_contract/