The latest on Sam Nombe and a potential sale ... plus words of caution on Rotherham United recruitment
ROTHERHAM United are refusing to waver in negotiations as they bid to get the best possible fee for their top scorer of the past two seasons.
Sam Nombe is a wanted man this summer and MK Dons are leading the chase for the striker who cost the Millers more than £1 million three years ago.
Rotherham, in League Two after relegation, are ready to sell their record signing now that he has entered the final 12 months of his contract and have been in discussions with MK for several weeks.
However, their demands have yet to be met and, for now, Nombe remains at AESSEAL New York Stadium.
“The situation is still ongoing," head coach Alex Bruce told the Advertiser after yesterday's 1-1 friendly draw at Matlock Town.
“Any sale has to be the right price. It's as simple as that. He's our main centre-forward and he has been for the last couple of years. If somebody else wants him, it's going to have to be for the right money.”
The Advertiser understands that MK, newly promoted to League One, have had more than one bid rejected as the Millers seek to recoup as much of their own outlay as possible on the 27-year-old.
A summer departure is still expected to happen and the attacker has been left out of the opening three pre-season matches to guard against an injury scuppering a move. Meanwhile, Bruce has tried to temper fans' expectations as Rotherham look to add to the four new arrivals since the squad reported back for training in late June.
The head coach acknowledges that the Millers are down on numbers and are in desperate need of more bodies as next month's opening day approaches but says he won't be pressured into rushed recruitment.
“I have to get one message clear - I won't be signing anyone just for signing them's sake,” he said. “I want to look at the person and make that they are keen to come on board and show some enthusiasm for what we need to do, which is rebuild this place.
“I don't want to just sign players willy-nilly, I want to make sure they're the right type, the right characters. I need a bit of patience with that.
“There are things ongoing - ins and outs. Over the next week to10 days, it's about making sure the ones that come in are going to benefit the group.
“I'm not interested in older players who are coming for their last payday and they're just on Easy Street. If that's the case, then they won't be for us.
“I want people who have still got a bit of fire in the belly and want to come on board and have an impact.”
Rotherham have two 30-something free agents - 33-year-old striker Kyle Vassell and 35-year-old centre-half Tom Lees - training with them along with a number of younger trialists.