Summer 2023 Transfer Rumours

Stockton will have plenty of options. Worth remembering Ipswich and Plymouth had 6 figure bids rejected for Stockton last summer. Then went and scored 11 in 30 starts this season. Reckon Wigan and Blackpool might be an option if they are having to do rebuilds.

 

Rumour that Stoke want Harry Lewis. He's from roughly that part of the world, all Stokes goalkeepers are either out of contract or on loan.

I'm sure there might be a few clubs who want him, hopefully he wants another season as a starter here before making the next career jump, as I can't imagine he starts at that level at this point.

 

I would of thought he is quite capable of playing at that level

 

Reading the forums etc, it seems a lot more than just an ability issue as to why he'd not played much recently.

Strange that a manager would report an injury when the player claims he's fully fit.

 

I think that's a little harsh. He was rated, lost his place due to injury and was then out of contract in 6 months. He was allowed to move to play regularly again.

 

I do agree that he'll probably stay up north but if Charlton or another London club are "breaking the bank" for him then he could possibly have his head turned.

He won't have been on an incredible amount at Morcambe given their finances so an offer that guarantees family security and possibly a bit more may well be difficult to turn down.

 

It depends if they want to play out from the back.

 

This is the reason we must get promoted this year. The khazi league is getting harder by the season

 

Well hopefully the lad stays, i would just say Tyriek Wright to him. If he does want to move on then we need to be starting at the £2million + add ons point.

 

Capable, sure. But i think even the most die hard city fan will admit there are concerns with Lewis' ability to control his area or even communicate under pressure. Playing out whilst the opposition press too has been a visible concern for him. I think all these things go/get better with experience, he'll start knowing what's his and what's not, what to shout for and what to leave to your defenders.

With him just having 1 season under his belt, another to develop and play every week will be better for his career than moving up without that guarantee of time.

 

Not a chance Andy. If we got a quarter of that, not only is it a realistic value, this club would snap their hands off.

 

Not in a million years will the fee be anywhere close to that, reckon more £250K-£500k is your ball park to best case scenario. Looking through more modern keeper transfer fees, Daniel Bentley was bought for £2m in 2019 by Bristol City from Brentford, after he'd had 2 seasons in L2 with Southend with a promotion and a L2 team of the season honour, then 1 year in L1 before moving to Brentford and being their number 1 for 3 seasons. That's what £2m commanded in the champ market.

Jason Steele went for £600K in 2019 to Sunderland from Blackburn after being a Champ goalie for most the last 6 seasons. Someone like Andy Fisher might be the best case for a Lewis comparison. He left Blackburn aged 22 in the summer of 2020 and went to MK Dons, had his first proper run in the team as a number 1 in L1 and was a success. Then had 6 more months at MK before leaving to become Swansea number one in January 2022 for £400K. Aynsley Pears is probably the next season comparison, he had a successful loan at Gateshead in 18/19, then Middlesbrough gave him the starting job in 19/20 but he wasn't ready. Blackburn signed him in the summer of 2020 for £380K and after some in and out spells it looks like he is now their number 1 going forward.

 

Kids from our academy have left for initial fees in the region of £250,000, it has made a healthy profit this past year.
We may not get anywhere near the £2 million, i would be asking that to make the point, we do not want him to leave and if he does , we get good reward for it. He had sat in Southampton's reserves and very few were interested in him, if any.
Good keepers are hard to come by and we have had some average to poor other the years, really good keepers are even harder to find. Harry is not there yet, his distribution and command of the area need work, but this is his first full season anywhere and i think he will only improve.
Pickford left Sunderland to Everton in 2017 as a promising youngster for £25 million. Was he 25 better than Lewis, whilst playing for us.

 

More to do with his injury record than his ability if you read their forum

 

Is there anything he can do that would increase pace? More aerobic exercise and or diet?

 

Because of his injury problems I believe he only joins in training for the preparation for the game. Not ideal but he does bring a lot to the table

 

Daniel Batty released by Fleetwood, I mentioned a few weeks ago that someone at work was like a friend of a friend and said we had already talked to him once he knew he was going. Officially released yesterday. DM/CM who came through Hull academy, had over 50 games in the championship for them but never held down a spot. Was started for them until Scott Brown came in and he hasn't been back near the starting 11 since.

Danny Mayor released by Plymouth today too. He would struggle with the champ but a very creative 10/LW for L1 level still at his age. Did very well at Bury, done pretty well at Plymouth, the fans seem to love him but aren't surprised he hasn't been given the chance at Champ level. Fitness has been an issue over the last couple of seasons. Rumour was a few weeks ago he wants to play back up north to be around family, from Manchester area so expect us and the usual teams within an hour to be linked. Think we wanted him the Bowyer summer but he picked Plymouth instead.

Plymouth also released Conor Grant who is another their lot are sorry to see go but a lot in L1/L2 will be interested in. Broke into the team when they got promoted to L1, played either CM or the left of midfield, sometimes left wing back and got 4 goals & 12 assists from 34 starts. Season after got 7 goals and 6 assists from 37 starts. This year he was just injured a lot. Injured pre season then came back for a few sub appearances and tore this thigh, was out for 4 more months, came back and scored on his return and got injury in training the next day, came back for the end of the season. Looks to have mainly played left wing back the last few years but has some great numbers. Hopefully this was just a one off injury year, but he'll have plenty of suitors. Another northern lad who moved down there.

 

Well no good having a good player if he is on the treatment table all the time.

 

Regardless, still a worry a below average league one side like Exeter didnt rate him enough and let him go.

I am happy with him as a L2 defender. He really lacks pace and I think IF we go up he will need upgrading. Capable squad member but he inst the only one we need to improve on.

 

For me that's what he's learning from his first full season in proper football. Adding in that with the large number of highly competitive games he's played we're now seeing a bit of fatigue I think. He'll learn a lot from this season and be better next season for it.