Warburton to return to Griffin Park for players?
With Mark Warburton unveiled as Rangers manager and David Weir as his assistant, the pressure is now on them to build Rangers a team for promotion to the Scottish Premier League.
His natural first port of call would be back to Griffin Park. The question is whether or not he will raid the coffers of his old club?
It’s no secret (and please Rangers fans don’t take this as a disrespect) that any one of the Brentford starting 11 and most of the bench would make it into Glasgow Rangers’ starting 11 (my how times have changed). So it’s more of a case of who if any of our players would fancy the move North of the border.
Rumours are afoot that Warburton will be looking to sign Alfie Mawson. The Brentford academy player shone when sent on loan to Wycombe last season – earning their player of the season and being nominated for football league player of the year.
He surprisingly refused to sign a new contract with Brentford, as revealed exclusively on the Beesotted podcast in late April, and was expected to join Wycombe. However, with Warburton’s move to Rangers and the prospect of only having to pay compensation for the player (out of contract but developed by Brentford from youth), a move North of the border is highly likely.
Warburton is rumoured to have already pre-signed 4 or 5 players. Another Bees player who could be of interest to Benham is Northern Ireland international Stuart Dallas. He had an amazing season with Brentford scoring the goal of the season against Fulham and his future with The Bees looks very bright.
But with FFP looming, if Rangers were to come in with a proper offer of £2mill or so (and after the Rosler/Forshaw debacle we don’t believe Warburton would disrespect his former employer with a paltry offer) Brentford may find it hard to turn down.
Other players that Warburton might fancy? Jonathon Douglas would have been a prime target if Warburton ended up anywhere but Rangers.
Toumani Diagouraga has been a revelation at Griffin Park last season and Dijkhuizen picked him out as being a player he was impressed with. But if Rangers stump up the cash (apparently they have cash now), there could be a move up North for our man Toums.
All Rangers fans would love to see Lewis McCleod return to Ibrox. He has yet to pull on a Brentford shirt after an injury-plagued season at Griffin Park. But it is highly unlikely the Bees will let the young prospect go at this stage.
Tommy Smith is another possibility. Released by Brentford at the end of the season, don’t be surprised if ‘Uncle Tommy’ becomes the perfect addition to Warburton’s squad to get them out of the Scottish Championship.
Brentford looking to sign Danish international defender Andreas Bjelland
Brentford are reportedly looking to sign FC Twente central defender Andreas Bjelland. The Danish international has been capped 21 times and can play in central defence and also full back.
Bjelland plays in the same team as midfielder Kamohalo Mokotjo who Brentford are also looking to sign. Mokotjo is likely to January due to the South African having to go through Dutch naturalisation before any UK transfer activity.
What is interesting about these two moves – it gives us an idea how much of an influence Dijkhuizen seems to be having on player recruitment. The Dutch manager’s previous team Excelsior twice beat FC Twente last season and he would undoubtedly have the full lowdown of both of these players – recommending them to the Directors of Football.
The indication that the club is looking to incorporate a healthy balance between stats scouting and traditional scouting will make some fans feel more comfortable about the season ahead.
£8m price tag slapped on Andre Gray
Rumours are afoot that Andre Gray is off to QPR for £4m. The fact is – there have actually been no offers for Gray. And with the valuation of the young striker being closer to £8m, that will rule out most of the clubs in The Championship.
Naturally when a striker scores 16 goals in his first season in The Championship after making the jump from The Conference, heads will be turned. But it’s looking more and more likely Andre will be kicking off in red and white stripes (assuming our 1st game is at home) come August 8th. Yippee!
Big Nick Proschwitz to Coventry?
Coventry manager Tony Mowbray has apparently shown keen interest in signing big Nick Proschwitz. Brentford sent the striker on loan to Coventry last season where he didn’t exactly set the world alight – scoring 1 goal in 9 appearance. Coventry fans voted in an end of season online poll by a unanimous 90% to dump him but Mowbray has apparently seen enough in training to feel that he has a lot more to give.
Brentford released big Nick at the end of the season. Good luck to the lad I say. If he finds a club that suits his style of football, I wouldn’t be surprised if he doesn’t recreate his Paderborn form of 15 plus goals a season lower down the leagues.
Brentford fixtures out this week
Brentford have been drawn at home to Oxford in the League Cup. The match will most likely be played on Tuesday 11th August.
Meanwhile, fans are starting to get didgy as the Championship football fixtures will be announced at 9am tomorrow (Weds 17th June). Will it be QPR or Fulham in the first few weeks of the season? Lets hope not. Nice to get the season warmed up before we get involved in any West London rivalry malarkey.
Around the championship
Manchester City have reportedly signed Fulham’s Patrick Roberts. The England U19 player – who only made 19 appearances for Fulham last season but is reportedly worth £10m (where does that put some of our Brentford player valuations then?) – is soon to make the step ‘up’ within the next few days. Whether or not he will ever be seen in a City shirt is another question.
Jamie Mackie is set to make the move from Nottingham Forest back to his former club QPR. The £25k/week striker, who was on loan at Reading last season, scored 5 goals in 32 games for The Royals. Good to see the West London Rangers (as opposed to the Scottish Rangers who we have been talking about a lot recently) using their parachute money wisely.
Billy Grant
@billythebee99
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Well, lets hope Stuart stays. And if not – hell no £2M quid is not enough! I know we probably got him for a pack of cigarettes back in the day but he is a terrific, versatile Championship level player (with an upside still) and a full international now. Anything BELOW what Forshaw went for would be indeed an insult for us and the player too. In one of the podcast you mentioned Moses. He is probably unwisely (in my opinion at least) valued higher than Stu and as much as I like him – hardly irreplaceable so if someone wants to splash on him -let him have it. I dont think Toums is going anywhere given Rasmus fondness of ‘non stat all starts’. I fear Harlee is one of the players that we may sell especially that he always seemed to be someone Warbs wouldnt play if he had better options. Dont know why but thats the impression I had. Was it for the fact the guy is too outspoken or what..? And I say ‘fear’ for a reason as I value Dean higher than Tarky (even though Tarky IS the shizzle) as an all rounder especially. Tarky cant pass to save his life for starters… We may lose Jota – and again it wouldn’t be a tragedy as long as Stu stays. Juge will probably stay because nobody seems to be rating him highly enough and for that ignorance Im glad. Let everyone think hes too small or whatever they think, I dont care 😉
Here mate, MW wont be taking any Bees players. Newco dont have a pot to pish in. Dont worry..They are skint and Ashley will squeeze the nuts out em for refusing to pay back his 5M loan. Ashley runs newco and will drip feed them pennies to keep the lights on till his 7 yr retail contract runs out or most likely pull the plug as he has security over so many assets and all IP, badges, emblem,etc, the lot.. You wont be making a penny from newco.Its tainted money anyway..
The bitterness reeks so much I can almost smell the fear at the appointment of MW.
To the real Bees fans and not this bitter yahoo, as a Luton and Rangers fan how I’d love it if Andre Gray would move to Ibrox…….as Luton get a sell on clause of 20% on any profit if he goes. However I’m realistic enough to know the days of Rangers (& Sceptic for that matter) paying millions for a player are long over and if Gray stays at Griffin Park good luck to both him and you Bees………….looking forward to our friendly Luton v Brentford on July 28th.
How I’d love it if you could arrange a friendly v Rangers……….our fans unlike some, would not sing offending songs about Lee Rigby……..unlike some did at your place in 2013!
A Dijk and a Bellend at the same club………pure Beesotted fodder I feel