Rotherham United's stance on a possible Denzel Hall sale
ROTHERHAM United are ready to consider offers for fit-again Denzel Hall but the Dutchman won't be allowed to leave AESSEAL New York Stadium on the cheap.
The 25-year-old, signed from Dutch side Herenveen last summer, was attracting interest from Championship side Preston North End until a hamstring tear suffered in the January transfer window ruled him out for three months.
He returned to make five appearances at the end of last term and is now taking a full part in pre-season training.
The Millers, preparing for a League Two campaign following relegation, want a seven-figure fee for Hall who showcased his talent in 26 outings before being sidelined.
“He's a good player,” said head coach Alex Bruce. “Listen, everyone's got a price. If the right price comes in, we will look at it, assess the situation and take it from there.”
His capture was good business by Rotherham who, since his arrival on a three-year deal, have had to pay only a small amount to Herenveen based on the player's number of matches.
It may be that he has to prove he is back to his best form with the Millers before clubs decide to make a move for him.
Preston were ready to pay a substantial fee and Rotherham believe they can still get more than a £1 million for him.
Hall, who can operate as a right-back or wing-back, has caught the eye of Bruce during sessions at Roundwood in the head coach's first week in the job.
Bruce, who had a long playing career as a centre-half, has taken the New York hot-seat after a coaching at fourth-tier Salford City for two and a half years.
The 41-year-old is keen to impose his style on the Millers and is eyeing several signings in the next fortnight to swell the threadbare squad that he inherited.
“The more bodies we get in the building, the more I'll be able to work on things in terms of how we're going to play in shapes and systems,” he said. “The here and the now is finding the right individuals who can come and help.”
When asked if he was an ‘arm around the shoulder’ type of boss or if he took a tougher stance, he replied: “A little bit of both. I think you have to have a blend. You've got to be approachable but you've also got to set your marker down of what you expect. I'll try to do that over the next few weeks.”
Meanwhile, striker Sam Nombe, the club's top scorer for the past two seasons, remains a wanted man.
A number of sides are keen on acquiring a forward in the last 12 months of his contract and MK Dons may be back with an improvement on their offer of around £500,000.