How much will Sam Nombe fetch in the transfer market if he does the business for Rotherham United?

ROTHERHAM United could have a £10-million player on their hands if record signing Sam Nombe proves to be a hit in the Championship, believes manager Matt Taylor.

The Millers smashed the previous highest amount they'd paid for a new arrival when they agreed a figure of just over £1m with Exeter City this week to bring the League One hot-shot to AESSEAL New York Stadium.

The 24-year-old, who hit the target 17 times in the third tier last term, will be worth around ten times that amount if he continues to score at a similar rate in the division above, reckons Taylor.

"We know what happens if you sell a centre-forward of that age to a Championship-level club," he said. "You are talking £5m to 10m. That's judging by the fees elsewhere; that's the market.

"We know that could well happen if we get it right. We must have to be patient to start with as it's a huge step-up for Sam."

Rotherham's business model is to buy young players, develop them, sell them for a profit and then repeat the process.

The amount they have paid for Nombe is more than double their previous biggest outlay - the £400,000-plus price of taking midfielder Christ Tiehi from Slovan Liberec two weeks ago - and Taylor says spending heavily will lead to greater rewards in the future.

"We must have these ambitions," the boss said. "We have to invest big at the start for a bigger outcome further down the line."

Nombe, a strong, fast, direct player, was rated one of the most-feared strikers in League One and Taylor, who took the attacker to Exeter from MK Dons when he was in charge at St James Park, is backing him to prosper in the second tier.

"He has got a game which should suit Rotherham United," the manager said. "He is a battering ram, bulldozer, who won't give any peace to the opposition backline, whoever that is.

"He is incredibly raw and frustrating. at times. But he will be one who is infectious for the rest of the group and our fans as well."

The new boy could make his debut in this afternoon's home clash with Norwich City, the final match before the international break.