Transfer tittle tattle

By: Tim | January 17th, 2009

Jonsson for Forest? Ah the January transfer window, or, as Billy Davies aptly described it, silly season. Yep, it’s that time of year again, when rumours fly around quicker than Ronaldo can write off a Ferrari, and the press scrape the bottom of the barrel harder than ever. Take this scurrilous rumour for example.

I wouldn’t describe sport.co.uk as part of the press to be honest, but Billy Davies has had to deny that both McGugan and Earnshaw are due to leave the club: ‘Any rumour or speculation about any player leaving this club is utter nonsense as far as I’m concerned’. I’m inclined to believe him, although if we don’t survive and establish ourselves in this league it will be increasingly harder to keep hold of McGugan.

Sky Sports recently scouted him, they rated his potential value at £15 million and claimed that ‘should Forest fail to match his ambitions, he could follow in the footsteps of former Reds academy graduates Jermaine Jenas, Andy Reid and Michael Dawson in securing a move to the top-flight’. Lewis also made it in to the Independent recently, in a feature about the 20 best players outside the Premier League. The article didn’t go in to as much depth on his qualities, but their estimation of his current value was slightly more realistic at £1.5 million. Former Scotland boss Craig Brown noted that he’s ‘talented, skilful and strongly-built’, the very fact that he made it on to the list is testament to his quality.

Rumour has it that Dave Jones is eyeing McGugan as a possible replacement for Joe Ledley, should they ever sell him. I’d be disappointed if we ever sold him to Championship opposition, especially Derby, but realistically I don’t think we ever would – he’s easily got the potential to play in the Premiership. In the short-term though, I don’t think McGugan will be going anywhere, as Davies pointed out we just haven’t got the right size squad to cope with any losses.

In terms of transfers in, then, the only rumour with any real meat on it is that we’re going to make a bid for Hearts’ defensive utility player Eggert Jonsson. Apparently Davies went to personally watch Jonsson play in the Edinburgh derby last Sunday, he’s an Icelandic international who is capable of playing anywhere along the back, and in midfield too. Jonsson would be an interesting addition to the squad, although Davies did say that he wanted to add some experience, at 20 years old I don’t think he really qualifies for that.

Other rumours include possible bids for Ipswich defender Alex Bruce, and Motherwell striker Chris Porter. Although a handful of other clubs have been linked to both players, simply because it’s that time of year, Alex Bruce does fit the bill in terms of what Davies has been hinting at i.e. he wants a defender with experience. Having said that, Davies has also said that he won’t rush in, and that he doesn’t like to do business in the January transfer window, so these rumours might just stay at that.

In the short term we need to clock up some more points anyway, and Davies’s home debut against Plymouth today is an ideal game to do that. Replicating our away form at home would be great for Davies, according to Earnshaw it will be key to our survival. We’ve got Wilson back for this game, and Tyson is expected to be fit as well; a win would set us up nicely for Friday’s big game at Pride Park too.