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Bishop and Smallwood Linked
Friday, 28th May 2021 09:33

Accrington centre-forward Colby Bishop and Hull City skipper Richie Smallwood are the latest players to be linked with the Blues.

According to the EADT, Bishop is among the strikers Town boss Paul Cook is eyeing this summer.

Town have already been linked with plenty of frontmen this summer including Jordan Rhodes, who has rejoined his old club Huddersfield after leaving Sheffield Wednesday, Martyn Waghorn, who we understand was among the players considered by the Blues but seems likely to either stay with Derby or move to another Championship club, and Jermain Defoe, who as we reported on Tuesday was discussed but with his wages putting him out of the running.

As reported earlier in the month, Oldham’s Conor McAleny is another player in whom Cook has shown interest.

Yesterday, Sunderland’s Charlie Wyke was linked by a number of sources, however, we understand the 28-year-old is not on Cook's list of potential recruits.

Bishop, 24, came through the youth system at hometown club Notts County and spent time on loan at Gloucester City while with the Magpies.

Having made only two senior starts and two sub appearances, 5ft 11in tall Bishop left and move on to Worcester City, Boston and Leamington before returning to league football with Accrington in 2019.

Bishop has netted 12 times in each of his two seasons in League One with Stanley, including two against Town in their 2-0 victory over the Blues at the Wham Stadium in 2019/20, one from the penalty spot.

Huddersfield are also reported to be among a number of Championship and other League One sides keen on Bishop this summer. He is contracted to Accrington for another season with the club having an option for a further year.

Central midfielder Smallwood started his career with hometown club Middlesbrough before moving on to Rotherham, Scunthorpe (loan), Blackburn Rovers and then Hull City last summer.

Having been named skipper at the KCOM Stadium, the former England U18 cap helped the Tigers to the League One title and promotion to the Championship during 2020/21, although he missed the end of the campaign with a knee injury.

The Redcar-born 30-year-old has another year left on his Hull contract with the Tigers having an option for a further season, but is said not to be averse to a move to the Blues.

Elsewhere, the Sunderland Echo reports that Sunderland youngster Josh Hawkes, among a number of Black Cats players linked with the Blues yesterday, will be given the opportunity to force his way into the first-team reckoning at the Stadium of Light in pre-season.

Sporting director Kristjaan Speakman told the Sunderland club podcast last month: “Josh's performances with goals and assists [in the U23s] have been really, really good.

“He's right up there in both charts. A player at his age now, he needs to be able to come into the first-team environment. He's trained an awful lot with the first team.

“He's not quite managed to squeeze himself onto the starting XI, which speaks probably more about the quality in the team than to say Josh has fallen short.

“Myself and [manager] Lee [Johnson] are watching almost all the games, Josh has performed really really well and he'll be in the first-team squad for pre-season.”


Photos: Matchday Images/Reuters



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OwainG1992 added 09:38 - May 28
Rumour rumour rumours.
Roll on the window being open and some actual deals being done.
3

WeWereZombies added 09:50 - May 28
So if we move one Bishop on then we have to get another one in? Our ageing and privileged squad has finally gone full on House of Lords...
1

90z added 10:07 - May 28
Being linked with everyone & anyone lately!
1

BaddowBlue1 added 10:17 - May 28
Nice to have so many links, obviously we have money so every agent is doing their best to try and a slice of the pie. For once we are not hearing "we've got to get someone out before getting someone in" as they have already gone or will be shipped out in the summer. Wonder if we will have a 'big name' signing to get the ball rolling once the window is open.
1

Pencilpete added 10:27 - May 28
So we arnt interested in Wyke a 30 goal striker available on a free but we are interested in paying probably a couple of million for Bishop a 12 goal striker ???
4

Len_Brennan added 10:37 - May 28
I'm pleased to see Colby Bishop linked with us, and I hope we keep Teddy too. An episcopacy would surely be able to summon up good fortune.
3

ronnyd added 10:41 - May 28
Two Bishops! We'll be Gods own football club.
3

chepstowblue added 11:40 - May 28
Can we not start a pre season predictor league?! We get given a list of Town targets and then guess the club where they will actually end up !!
2

Taricco_Fan added 12:13 - May 28
Bishop is exactly the kind of player we should be looking at. Good age, full of potential, will see us as a genuine opportunity to progress his career. Better than bringing in a championship has-been looking for one last payday.
3

1psw1ch added 12:15 - May 28
for crying out loud this will be another Paul Hurst scenario,, getting in mickey mouse players from lower leagues,,, its time to dig deep and spend decent money on decent players,,, should of broke the bank to get Rhodes back,,, anyway let's see what happens,,, coyb
-2

ringwoodblue added 13:04 - May 28
Knowing our luck if we did buy Bishop, he'll turn out to be another Jackson.
0

Spanishblueblood added 13:31 - May 28
1psw1ch,
As much as I feel your pain, what top players from the championship are gonna drop down to league 1? We can only realistically go after top league 1 and 2 players or average championship players. I do think we also need to look abroad though, when was the last time we brought in someone from Spain, Holland or Germany?
9

Nobbysnuts added 13:31 - May 28
Yawn yawn yawn yawn
0

Gcon added 14:02 - May 28
Is there a player out there we are not linked with?
0

Karlosfandangal added 14:13 - May 28
Sorry guys but the way I read some of the posts is that Cook is looking for players of Championship level who could perform in the Championship

So trying to win promotion with a team ready for the Championship.

Not get the club up and then have another rebuild
1

ChestnutSe added 14:16 - May 28
Spanish blue blood - I don't think we can just bring in players from Spain, Holland or Germany. Brexit means they have to get a work permit and not sure what the criteria is but it used to be that you had to have so many international caps to qualify. But we can look at Scottish (for now), Welsh and Irish players.
0

DaGremloid added 14:41 - May 28
Yeah, getting sick of these 'links' now. Do these have to reported? I'd rather no new articles than a load of cobblers speculating on who might be coming.
3

gorfuc added 15:00 - May 28
Can someone explain pls:

I understand our new owners have money but as far as I'm aware we can only spend a % of our revenue (which I wouldn't of thought is very high at the moment) on transfers/wages, so my question is, what difference does it make how much money they bring to the table?
0

multiplescoregasms added 15:25 - May 28
Going back to the Charlie Wyke rumour, I was reading the Sunderland fans forum and it's clear to see they really don't rate him at all, saying he has a poor touch and he only scores when its basically put on a plate for him.. Some are even blaming him for them losing to Lincoln, which is pretty harsh for a guy that got 30 odd goals this year. Still, we will find out soon enough where all these rumours end up.
0

SheptonMalletBlue added 15:51 - May 28
I'm glad to see that nobody is bashing Bishop!
0

1psw1ch added 15:52 - May 28
@spainishblueblood,,
I take your point on championship players dropping to league 1 but unless it's the cream of league 1 players we're back to square 1,,,100% agree on foreign players also,,, would love another reuser or counago in the team,,, 2 legends for me anyway,,, reuser goal in the playoff final is my favourite town goal,,,, just saying
1

Paddy39 added 16:06 - May 28
Charlie Austin will be our target man for next season he's been released by QPR.
2

Help added 16:58 - May 28
Still dont see any of these happening
0

gosblue added 17:32 - May 28
Connor wickham released by Palace. I'm surprised we've not been linked yet.
1

Monkey_Blue added 18:19 - May 28
These are all the same level of players we were looking at before with the fact we can pay a fee if they are in contract. I would rather us keep the squad we have and use the spare budget to sign two or three top under 25 league one players. I'd also sign that lad Nydam, hear he's available on a free. It doesn't matter how much you can pay in fees if we have a wage cap.
1


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