Who's Likely To Pull On A White Shirt Next Season?
By Quayle
June 5 2005
In a new column for the close season, we look at 3 possible transfers each week, this week its the turn for the strikers. In the first edition we will look and analyse the careers and potential for 3 strikers, we think can fit the bill, but then we will grade the rumour, how true can they be?
In the close season so many striker's have been linked with Tranmere, so Total Tranmere look at the five strikers that we think are realistic and further more do a great job at Rovers. We will have a look at their availability, their career stats, and to see how likely this transfer is, and mark that out of 10.
Striking Target No.1 : Luke Beckett
Availability/ Realistic? : This player has so frequently been linked and then not linked with us, its hard to catch up with him. But he is more than available, his current club, Sheffield United, have put him on the transfer list, making him a top priority for a lot of League One clubs. This is were it doesn't help us. Oldham have said they are in talks with the 28 year old, and that its likely they'll sign for him.
Potential For Rovers : The potential is definitely their with this lad. His record in League One is amazing. But what happends if we get promoted, do we keep hold of him hoping he will bring his League One status to the Championship. Thats what Sheff Utd hoped, and of course that didn't work out. But I would say he is one of the best at this level, hes a true poacher, something Rovers have a vacancy for.
Career Stats :
|
Clubs |
Fee |
League Apps |
League Goals |
Cup Apps |
Cup Goals |
Other Apps |
Other Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Oldham |
Loan |
9(0) |
6 |
0(0) |
0 |
0(0) |
0 |
|
Huddersfield |
Loan |
7(0) |
6 |
0(0) |
0 |
0(0) |
0 |
|
Sheff Utd |
£50,000 |
1(4) |
0 |
0(0) |
0 |
0(0) |
0 |
|
Stockport |
£100,000 |
79(5) |
45 |
6(0) |
2 |
1(0) |
0 |
|
Chesterfield |
£75,000 |
58(4) |
22 |
7(0) |
4 |
5(0) |
0 |
|
Chester |
Free |
70(4) |
25 |
10(0) |
8 |
1(0) |
0 |
|
Barnsley |
Trainee |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Likelihood : We've been linked with him for so long now, so surely something must happen soon. I think if he's going to sign for another club, he would want to sign for someone who's interested in him and pushing greatly for promotion, that means we surely fit the bill. I rate this rumour 8/10
Striking Target No. 2 : Phil Jevons
Availability/ Realistic? : Only recently linkd with us, but it seems the Liverpool born lad has everything going for him. Finished last season League Two top goalscorer, with a fantastic sum of 27 league goals. This rumour could be quite likely, as he is from Liverpool and all his family are from this area, so this could easily help in a transfer, but he has just finished on a high with Yeovil, so this might prove a stumbling block.
Potential For Rovers : Again the player has masses of potential, more so to prove himself to the likes of Everton, who released him without really giving him a proper sniff at first team football. The 25 year old has a great eye for the net, and again is more of a poacher type than anything else at Tranmere so far.
Career Stats :
|
Clubs |
Fee |
League |
English Cups |
Other | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Apps |
Goals |
Apps |
Goals |
Apps |
Goals | ||
|
Yeovil |
Free |
45(1) |
27 |
6(0) |
2 |
0(0) |
0 |
|
Hull City |
Loan |
13(11) |
3 |
2(0) |
0 |
0(0) |
0 |
|
Grimsby |
£250,000 |
46(17) |
18 |
7(0) |
3 |
0(0) |
0 |
|
Everton |
Trainee |
2(6) |
0 |
1(0) |
0 |
0(0) |
0 |
Likelihood : As I've said previously the fact he's a local lad, helps our case a lot. But whether he's the right man is another questions, and yet again does he want to leave Yeovil? I rate this rumour 6/10
Striking Target No.3 : Marlon King
Availability/ Realistic? : He is another player currently transfer listed by his club. But this has nothing to do with his ability on the field. Due to the fact Nottingham Forest got relegated the club went into a mass transfer listing seesion, King being one of the many victims of it.
Potential For Rovers : Unlike Jevons and Beckett, King isn't a poacher, he's more of a stylised striker and plays a lot like Iain Hume, perhaps this will mean Brian Little won't look into him as that's not what he's after. But this by no means doesnt mean he cant find the net. At his time with Gillingham his goal ratio was just under one every two games, making him prolific. But this record has slowed down in time at Forest, with exactly one goal every five games. Hopefully he will want to come to League One, but not in a red shirt of Forest but in the white of Tranmere.
Career Stats :
|
Clubs |
Fee |
League |
English Cups |
Other | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Apps |
Goals |
Apps |
Goals |
Apps |
Goals | ||
|
Leeds |
Loan |
4(5) |
0 |
0(0) |
0 |
0(0) |
0 |
|
Nottm Forest |
£950,000 |
40(10) |
10 |
6(1) |
5 |
0(0) |
0 |
|
Gillingham |
£225,000 |
82(19) |
40 |
11(4) |
7 |
0(0) |
0 |
|
Barnet |
Trainee |
36(17) |
14 |
0(3) |
0 |
2(2) |
0 |
Likelihood : He either plays in League One with Forest, and looks certain to be kept out, or he plays for another team and hopes he finds promotion. This rumour can go either way, and is unlikely compared to the previous ones. But he does play for the Jamaican national side, which surely can help us have a quartet of Reggae Boyz. I rate this rumour 3/10
Tranmere have been linked with all kind of wierd and wonderful players, but who do you really want, let us know and why, email me at quayle@totaltranmere.co.uk, and your player could feature in next weeks article.
Talk about the selections on the Total Tranmere Message Board.