Cheltenham Town striker Will Goodwin has been linked with a January move, with multiple League One clubs vying for the youngster’s signature, according to Gloucestershire Live.
Despite the club only scoring 19 goals this season, Cheltenham have a hot prospect on their hands in the form of Will Goodwin. The 21-year-old has scored six as well as assisting a further two in just 16 League One appearances for the Robins this season.
Having not scored in any of their first eleven matches and picking up just one point in the process, it looked like it could be a very long season for Cheltenham fans. There has however been a significant resurgence in the past couple of months, which on the whole can be attributed to Darrell Clarke’s arrival at the club in late September.
Cheltenham now sit in 22nd place in the table, yet do have at least one game in hand over all the teams around them bar 21st-placed Reading. With ten points from their last five matches, Clarke’s side currently have one of the form sides in the division and the survival fight is well and truly on. Now just three points off of Exeter City in 20th they could well climb out of the relegation zone if they beat fellow strugglers Carlisle United on Saturday.
Clarke’s arrival is not the only reasoning behind the club’s recent change in fortunes, with Goodwin enjoying some great form in front of goal in recent weeks. The youngster is the club’s joint-top scorer despite making just 16 appearances this season. As a result, he is now being monitored by multiple League One clubs who want his services.
Both Oxford United and Charlton Athletic are interested in the 21-year-old, which could help their respective bids for the play-offs. Although Oxford’s chances are far greater than that of Charlton’s, who have performed poorly in recent weeks, both teams have far higher ambitions than that of Cheltenham.
If Goodwin wants to guarantee himself a position in the third tier, or potentially even higher next season, then he may well opt for a move this January. With Transfermarkt valuing the youngster at €275,000 (£236,00), the Robins may choose to cash in now and use that money to improve other areas of the team.
Writer’s View
Darrell Clarke has done an incredible job during his time with the club and Cheltenham have a serious chance of making it out of the relegation zone in the coming weeks. Goodwin deserves plenty of credit for his contributions this season and he has been one of the club’s standout players.
It would come as a huge blow if he was to leave in January, but the club should get some good money for him which could be utilised to improve for the future.
Senior Editor
