Barnsley have received a major boost in their quest to sign Tom Bradshaw after the forward today handed in a transfer request at Walsall.
The 23 year old was the Saddlers top scorer last season scoring 20 times in 50 games (and 40 in 87 appearances in two years) as Walsall finished in third position and were beaten in the play-offs by The Reds.
He scored in Walsall’s 3-1 home defeat to Barnsley in March and has attracted bids from both them and Rotherham. Rotherham originally offered £250,000 with Barnsley trumping that by £100,000. Both of these bids were rebuffed by the West Midlands outfit with sources claiming they were looking for closer to £1m for a player who has just one year left on his contract.
Walsall may now have to cave in however with Bradshaw publicly stating he wants out, citing the need for Championship football as his reason. A statement on Walsall’s website today read:
Tom Bradshaw has today submitted a written transfer request outlining his desire to leave Walsall Football Club.
The 23 year-old signed an improved two-year contract last summer and the club have attempted to renegotiate a further enhanced contract in order to keep Tom at the Banks’s Stadium beyond next season.
However, Tom has made his desire to leave abundantly clear rejecting any offer of a new contract, which expires in June 2017, stating that he seeks Championship football in order to enhance his International career.
Whilst the Club is disappointed with Tom’s stance given that it has played an instrumental part in his development, which has culminated in him achieving full Welsh honours during his time here, the Club have reluctantly accepted his request but have reiterated to Tom and his representatives that no player will leave Walsall FC unless the Club’s valuation is met.
The Club will be making no further comment.