Town Make Williams Bid

Riviera · Post by **Riviera** » Tue Dec 27, 2005 8:12 am

Town are reported to have made a cash bid to sign on-loan midfielder Gavin Williams from West Ham. Welsh international Williams joined the Blues on in November and has started every game since making his move to Portman Road.

The offer doesn't come as a surprise with Joe Royle saying earlier in the month that talks were under way: "West Ham have given us a price guide, but we'll have to wait and see. There would need to be a change in finance for us to do so."

That change is likely to have been the home FA Cup draw with Premiership Portsmouth. The Blues budget for no income via the cups - a draw away at a lower division side is worth virtually nothing - with last year's Bolton cup game partially making up the Ã‚Â£250,000 paid to Brighton for Darren Currie.

The 25-year-old cost the Hammers Ã‚Â£250,000 from Yeovil this time last December and Alan Pardew's club will hope to recoup a significant part of that fee from Town. It is likely Williams, who has another three years left on his Hammers deal, will have to take a pay cut to move to the Blues.

Joe Royle is also continuing to look for strikers with Sam Parkin, Adam Proudlock and Billy Clarke all sidelined with injuries: "We are looking at trialists from all over the globe but that is all we have. We are hoping that Adam Proudlock will be fit in a week or so but that is where we are."

Royle has also revealed that he made a loan bid for Arsenal winger or striker Quincy Owusu-Abeyie earlier in the season but the Gunners were unwilling to allow the Dutchman to leave.

Col-Blue · Post by **Col-Blue** » Tue Dec 27, 2005 8:15 am

And they keep saying we have no money what is going on here

Fully · Post by **Fully** » Tue Dec 27, 2005 12:36 pm

we knew we had money left over earlier in the season from the sale of Benty and Davis...that was spent primarily on wages for new loanees. It is likely therefore we have a bit left over, and with the extra funding on top from the Cup match with portsmouth ( article) then we can afford to make a bid

hallamblue · Post by **hallamblue** » Tue Dec 27, 2005 12:54 pm

quite the reverse actaully ...Town have stated that they DO have money in the kitty for players ...but only a limited amount .

So my guess is they have been biding their time until the half way stage in the season, to see how the land lies and then go for specific targets .

I also think that the number of loans that have failed to go through , is primarily cos Town have asked for more than a little help with the Premiership wages the various players have been on.