Matt Bloomfield expects a busy end to the transfer window and is “confident” “optimistic” and “excited” that Luton will fulfil CEO Gary Sweet’s promise to be “aggressive” in the market, with ten days left of the January window.
The manager again wouldn’t be drawn or reports that the Hatters have made a second bid for his old Wycombe striker Richard Kone, after a first was turned down, but so far that the club are yet to bring in any signings since the boss was appointed on January 14.
In between the departure of Edwards and the arrival of Bloomfield, Town did sign Isiah Jones from Middlesbrough for a fee understood to be in the region of £5million, though officially declared as “undisclosed”.
And prior to that, Luton signed Christ Makosso from Belgian second division side Molenbeek, though that was with a view to the developing for the future.
But with Luton mired in the Championship relegation zone and with many of their relegation rivals adding new recruits – while the likes of one-time striker target Tom Cannon joining promotion hopefuls Sheffield United permanently – there has been frustration online among some supporters that Luton haven’t yet had any success in the transfer market, ten days on from Sweet’s bold statement of intent.
Asked if that has been a source of frustration for the club, Bloomfield said: “No. I think the market, in my opinion, has been quite slow. But I think in the last week you’ll see that picking up, that’s usually the way in January.
“Everyone’s kind of jostling for position and waiting for the right option and then, come the end of the window, things drop.
“It usually takes one to move. The knock-on effect is there’s usually quite a lot of movement after it. I think, in the summer, you can be really pre-planned. In January, you have to be pre-planned, but also reactive at times because the time you have obviously is quite short.
“So we have to be active and reactive to what’s right for us as a football club. Gary obviously stated that we want to be ‘aggressive’, which is amazing and, like I say, we’re a team and we approach that all together and then, we’ll do what’s right for the football club.
“But there’s so many different factors that go into these deals and we have to make sure that everything’s right because, as a club, we have to make sure that the club’s at the heart of everything we do.”
Asked if remains confident that Luton can fulfil that still be “aggressive” in the remaining days of the transfer window, Bloomfield said: “Yeah. Always confident, always optimistic, always excited.
“I think we’ll do what we need to do. I absolutely believe that there’s a lot of hard work going on. I’m excited for the way the team is building, and a couple of changes will help us.
“But the group, the way they’ve gone about their work, considering it’s not been a successful season for the guys so far, the way they’ve approached their work, I’ve been really, really pleased.
“It’s easy to sit here after only a week in the building saying ‘everything’s great’. I’m not trying to be overly optimistic. We understand where we are. Absolutely. And we understand we need to get results. But there’s a way I want to go about my work, and I believe that’s a successful way and the right way.”
Asked about if Luton’s planned transfer business will involve incomings or outgoings, Bloomfield said: “There will be [both]. Not right now. Nothing before the weekend, but there will be movement.
“The club are working hard. They’ve been working hard since before I got here and since. There will be a couple of comings and goings, I’m sure.
“They’re working hard behind the scenes to bring a couple in. I do think the fresh energy will be good for the group.
“We’re really pleased with the way the group are working, but if we can get stronger, we absolutely want to and we’ll need to do that.
“So, Yeah, there’s a lot of work going on behind the scenes. There’s so many things to marry up, as you know, with any kind of transfer, and if everything aligns and hopefully we’ll be able to do a little bit business.”
Asked about if Luton’s planned transfer business will involve players the recruitment team have already identified, or ones that he’s suggested, the manager said:
“A bit both, I think is right. The club obviously you’ve got an incredible recruitment team working behind the scenes, who’ve done a lot of good work over the years, and that’s going to happen and continue, moving forward.
“But, also, it’s been fantastic to be included in that process and my voice be listened to as well. So, anything that’s good is a team effort. It’s no individuals. It’s about the group aligning and working together.
“So far, I’ve been really encouraged by the conversations we’ve had and the work that’s been implemented and about how this football club, I’ve said it a number of times, but it’s a special place. Everyone’s working together towards a greater good.”
There’s currently one space available in Luton’s squad, and asked if Town have to sell or loan out any of their current players before they can recruit new men, Bloomfield said: “No. I think the club are looking to recruit, and there’s a lot that can happen.
“As we know, in the last ten days of a of a transfer window, whether that be interested in our players, players coming in, I expect there to be a lot of phone calls and a lot of a lot of movement, and a lot of possible movement.
“And some of those come through, some of those don’t. So, yeah, that will all play out as what fits the football club and what’s right for us.”
Be the first to comment