Scunthorpe Utd: Le Fondre will not come cheap
SCUNTHORPE United will have to dig deep if they want to land League Two hot-shot Adam Le Fondre from Rotherham.
He is understood to be one of the two strikers Iron manager Alan Knill has been tracking all summer as he seeks to add some much-needed scoring power to his squad.
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TARGET: Rotherham striker Adam Le Fondre.
The South Yorkshire club have now confirmed receiving a bid for the 24-year-old striker – though have not named the interested party.
"There has (been an offer) but nowhere near our valuation of the player," said manager Andy Scott.
"We don't feel it's a club that he would have been happy going to as well. "He's aware of everything that's going on and his application is first class."
Le Fondre has been watched in Rotherham's last two friendlies by Phil Parkinson, a friend and former of Knill.
He saw him in their 3-1 victory at Grimsby last Saturday and again in the 2-1 defeat by Sheffield Wednesday on Tuesday when Le Fondre got on the score-sheet in the closing minutes.
But although Le Fondre could walk out of Rotherham next summer as a free agent, a source close to the club insisted he would not be sold on the cheap.
"Rotherham sold Ryan Taylor to Bristol City earlier this summer for £350,000 with add-ons which could take the deal towards £1-million," said the source.
"For Le Fondre, who has scored 50 goals in the past couple of seasons, I doubt if Rotherham could think of letting him go for anything less."
One thing that Le Fondre lacks, that Knill is likely to be looking for up front, is pace.
Neither does he come into the normal Scunthorpe mould of a young striker they can buy and develop – like Billy Sharp, Martin Paterson andGary Hooper.
But his knack of putting the ball in the back of the net might make him a tempting target for Knill, if he could get him at the right price.
The United boss said he would take time to take stock of his current squad before swooping into the transfer market again.
But with the new season now just over a fortnight away, he is running out of time to do anything for the start of the League One campaign.
His team looked toothless up front in the shock 1-0 defeat at Halifax last Saturday in the nearest they have come yet to a meaningful friendly.
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That might though have reinforced the view he needs someone else up front.
As for Rotherham, they hope to hang on to Le Fondre, who is also being linked with Barnsley.
"It's going to take a hell of an offer to let him go from this football club," insisted Millers' manager Scott.
"He'll be here (for the start of the season) and hopefully he'll be here for the whole season and beyond."
Scott has been impressed by Le Fondre's attitude during pre-season.
"He's been absolutely magnificent.
"He looked a different player. His attitude has been spot on, he's been one of the best in terms of running and has been grafting hard, not having to be dragged along.
"When he reported back he was slimmer and his body fat index is down two per cent. I can't praise him enough."







4 Comments
by Scunnyfan
Thursday, July 21 2011, 6:55PM
“ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ WON'T HAPPEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
by fadetoblack
Thursday, July 21 2011, 4:29PM
“more blah blah blah as if scunny utd are going to spend money stop feeding us bull we all know we are getting freebies and loans”
by EpworthBrewer
Thursday, July 21 2011, 11:08AM
“And there was me thinking Godden and Dagnall were the new Flounders and Daws.More like Flanders and Swan.
I hope Steve Wharton doesn't take this story too seriously, he might have another heart attack.”
by PStoff
Thursday, July 21 2011, 10:31AM
“Le Fondre Won't Come Here is a better headline. The club are having a Conor Sammon moment here aren't they trying to convince the masses that their is some ambition at the club.
Just ask yourself how much we have paid in transfer fees for new players this summer and I will bet you it is the same as it will be when the transfer window closes in a few weeks time.”