Matt Bloomfield says it’s “important” that Luton get their transfer deals over the line with CEO Gary Sweet confirming some “sizeable bids” have been tabled prior to reports of a third offer for Wycombe striker Richard Kone.
There have also been reports of a loan move for Willem Geubbels from St. Gallen in the Swiss Super League, claiming last week that the forward was in advanced talks with the Hatters.
But having already said earlier this month that the Hatters plan to be “aggressive” in the January window, the chief executive confirmed in his programme column for Saturday’s Millwall defeat that the club have made progress with offers.
Sweet wrote: “We go into this weekend with sizeable bids on the table for new players to strengthen us going forward, not just this season but beyond.”
Last night reports emerged that Town have tabled a bid in the region of £6million for Wycombe’s top scorer, Kone, having seen two already rejected.
Manager Bloomfield arrived at Kenilworth Road a fortnight ago from Wanderers and wouldn’t be drawn on raiding his former club when unveiled as Hatters boss. The 40-year-old has also twice refused to talk about Kone, out of “respect” for the club where he spent half of his life.
Luton lost 1-0 at home to Millwall on Saturday, which has since left Luton three points from safety in the Championship drop zone, and immediately drew focus to Sweet’s programme notes, which did also caveat that whether the current bids turn into completed deals “remains to be seen”.
Asked how important is it that the “sizeable bids” succeed before Town’s next match away to Sheffield Wednesday at the weekend, manager Bloomfield said: “I think it’s important, yeah.
“Gary and the guys are working really, really hard and we’re working together. I think that’s really important to say. We’re working as a group. It’s vital that we continue to do so.
“The right deals for this football club will happen. But we have to be sensible. We have to be clear in what we’re trying to do and go about our work.
“As I’ve said before, January is something you can be pre-planned for, but there’s so many moving parts in January because it’s such a short window that you have to be reactive as well as proactive.
“So, we’ve got to make sure we do the same and make sure we do the right business.”
Reports of a third bid for Kone – who a year ago was playing in step five of the football pyramid in Essex, but has since bagged 21 goals in 57 Wycombe appearances – came after Wanderers interim boss Sam Grace tried to allay Chairboys fears that the forward could leave.
“He’s a committed player,” Grace told the Bucks Free Press after Kone started on the bench against Northampton on Saturday.
“Dan Rice, the director of football, is in charge of all of that [transfers] and I think it’s important to say that Rich is committed as well. You want players that want to play for your club, and Richard wants Wycombe to get promoted. He wants to play for Wycombe in the Championship.
“If he was unhappy, he wouldn’t have been on the bench so I don’t think he’s unsettled. The way he played when we came on doesn’t look like an unsettled player. He’s sharp, he wants to learn and he’s ready to come on when asked.”
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