Reds boss Mark Robins could be set for a double striker swoop in the next few days as he attempts to get his squad for the 2010-2011 season together early.
The Daily Mirror yesterday reported that Barnsley and Preston are set to battle it out for Rotherham United’s 29 goal striker Adam Le Fondre- who scored The Millers goal in their 1-0 win at Aldershot in the League Two Play-Off Semi-Finals yesterday. The Mirror is quoted as saying there is a £1m price tag on the 23 year olds head which could scare off chasing clubs- especially Preston who were this week served a winding-up petition by HM Revenue and Customs.
The Reds have been linked with Le Fondre ever since Robins arrived from the Don Valley Stadium as manager in September. At that point Le Fondre had bagged five goals in seven matches and has continued his hot streak to guide Rotherham to within touching distance of a return to League One.
The other name believed to be on Robins’ radar is ex Chelsea youngster Ben Sahar. Robins has just returned from a scouting trip in Europe where it is rumoured he has been checking on 20 year old Israeli striker Sahar who is currently at Espanyol.
Sahar was a youth player at Hapoel Tel Aviv before earning himself a big break at Chelsea in 2006 when he was just 16. He made five substitute appearances for the Blues in the 2006-2007 season and was never on the losing side. In the following two seasons he couldn’t get a look in at Stamford Bridge however and went out on loan to Queens Park Rangers, Sheffield Wednesday (where he was most prolific, scoring three times in 12 appearances, and appearing for the Owls in their 0-0 draw at Oakwell in March 2008), Portsmouth and De Graafschap.
He finally left West London in 2009 to try his luck in Spain, but the ambitious young lad is keen to prove he can be a hit in England again.