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Barnsley Reject £1m Town Bid Claim
Tuesday, 30th Aug 2016 23:18

Town are reported to have had a £1 million bid for Barnsley forward Marley Watkins turned down.

According to Sky Sports News, the Tykes have rejected the Blues’ offer for the 25-year-old, who came on as a sub and scored and claimed an assist in Town’s 4-2 opening day win over the South Yorkshiremen at Portman Road.

Lewisham-born Watkins was brought up in Swansea and joined the youth set-up at his hometown club.

Watkins, who is 6ft 1in tall, moved on before making a senior appearance and broke into first-team football with Cheltenham before joining Bath City, initially on loan, and then Hereford United in 2012.

A year later he moved on to Inverness Caledonian Thistle, where he scored the opening goal in the 2-1 2015 Scottish Cup final win against Falkirk, before signing for Barnsley in the summer of 2015.

Watkins, whose grandfather was famous Welsh poet Vernon Watkins, who was close friends with Dylan Thomas, has another year left on his contract at Oakwell, where he has made 44 starts and four sub appearances, scoring nine goals.

Primarily a right-sided midfielder for much of his career, Watkins can also operate as a centre forward - where he is currently playing for Barnsley and where he previously impressed for Caley Thistle - and may well be viewed as someone who can play in that role with the Blues looking for a replacement for Daryl Murphy, who moved onto Newcastle at the weekend.

Watkins has previously been named on standby for Wales but without making it into a squad.

Town target Lukas Jutkiewicz's proposed move to Birmingham from Burnley, as reported earlier this evening, is believed to be a loan deal.


Photo: Action Images



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Wacko added 23:23 - Aug 30
Bloody Ipswich always signing Welsh players
2

NeedhamBlue added 23:24 - Aug 30
5 ft 8 Phil? Isn't he 6 ft 1? Could've sworn he seemed taller than that at Portman Road! I mean he managed to out jump our defence! ;)
1

bedsitfc added 23:24 - Aug 30
Don't know anything about him but am happy we are trying to spend
-1

Michael11 added 23:25 - Aug 30
This one came out of the blue! My F5 refresh button will be completely worn out by this time tomorrow. Nice to see us making bids for promising young players. Keep it up!
6

PhilTWTD added 23:29 - Aug 30
NeedhamBlue

Have to admit, I thought he was taller than that. Soccerbase says 5ft 8in, Barnsley's official side says 5ft 10in tall but he says he's 6ft 1in tall in this piece so I'll amend to that: http://www.southwales-eveningpost.co.uk/swansea-city-youth-product-marley-watkin
1

GerkensBeard added 23:29 - Aug 30
Now this man would be a direct replacement for Murphy. Like comments above I'm certain he's 6ft 1 plus. And a powerful no. 9 with pace. Not sure his finishing is that great but a lot or potential
2

NeedhamBlue added 23:31 - Aug 30
@PhilTWTD

Maybe he's just had a load of growth spurts! Cheers Phil
2

TractorBoy666 added 23:33 - Aug 30
Normally these kind of stories don't come out until moments after we sign them so I'm very surprised by this! Was getting worried that we wouldn't spend anything on deadline day but this shows we are prepared to do so which is needed after the loss of Murphy. Barnsley fans seem to rate him too from what I've read.
2

WorcesterBlue added 23:35 - Aug 30
Certainly better than the Burnley links. Would still most like to see an up and down creative midfielder with a tackle in him (Dack?) and recognise thus will cost money. But most of our problems stem from a slow, negative central midfield (Skuse, Douglas) so could make all the difference imo...
1

12th_Man added 23:37 - Aug 30
Anyone else beginning to think that we won't be getting any more signings
-5

ElderGrizzly added 23:37 - Aug 30
Phil - you're believing a man who has added 3 inches? 🙄
Midfielder or Forward? Barnsley website says midfield?
0

PhilTWTD added 23:42 - Aug 30
MarcusEvansReborn

Had a read around initially thought he was an alternative wideman (either in addition to Lawrence or another that was being looked at), but as at Portman Road seems to be impressing as a central striker, where he previously played when at Inverness Caledonian Thistle. Makes more sense now his true height has been established!
2

bluearmy78 added 23:43 - Aug 30
If true will Mick go in with an improved offer??
3

rgp1 added 23:44 - Aug 30
For 1 million we could probably purchase his grandfather. Clearly we gave Barnsley the impression it's comic relief day!
-2

StuartBrett8 added 23:46 - Aug 30
Exciting stuff, hoping we have a busy day tomorrow :)
2

ElderGrizzly added 23:47 - Aug 30
Phil - agree, if 6ft1 (same as Best) it appears he would be an extra central striker. Right age and assume right grounding from the journey he has had to get there.
It'll end with us signing him or him signing a new contract tomorrow!
1

ElderGrizzly added 23:49 - Aug 30
Makes some sense with them bringing in Armstrong now too, so could be something in it
2

dubblue added 23:50 - Aug 30
So is there a plan B, an increased offer or another player. and .... how much of the £3m has Mick got to spend?
1

PhilTWTD added 23:56 - Aug 30
MarcusEvansReborn

Doubt he'd a sign a contract whatever as Barnsley could end up in League One next year. Think he'd probably bide his time if he doesn't move on now. Does sound like there's a deal to be done.
2

hadleighboyblue added 00:00 - Aug 31
This sort of target is much more exciting than others like the Burnley link . A young ambitious striker that will increase his value with us , rather than someone past his best .

Our problem is that clubs know we have money to spend , but I still hope we manage to get a striker who is going to be good for a number of years , not a loan or an aged or injury prone player who hasn't played much lately .
2

ScottCandage added 00:40 - Aug 31
Could it be that after this bid was rejected, we went in for Tom Lawrence on loan and moved on from Watkins?
1

lightingblue added 03:00 - Aug 31
TWTDPhil- Is there any chance somebody has a tape measure. We could go up there and measure how tall the bloke actually is. It looks as though they have problems in working out how tall somebody is up north and in Wales. No wonder the buildings are small up north. Did we sell Newcastle as a 21 year old 5 foot 4 forward at the weekend, with plenty of skill and score loads of goals. LOL. We have a pattern emerging here
0

DurhamTownFan added 07:42 - Aug 31
Nice to see us trying to spend something. When was the last time we spent 1m on a player? I think if we are going to pay that much, then it has to be on a younger player like this.
2

obj124 added 07:47 - Aug 31
This would be a brilliant signing, young, tried hard, good work rate and know where the back of the net is. Just looking around at certain websites Barnsley and Inverness fans really rate him. Hopefully this come through and then the other 2 million is spent elsewhere. Suddenly everything is starting to look up! COYB!!!!
2

obj124 added 07:47 - Aug 31
Tries hard not tried hard
0


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