Norwich City and Sheffield United have learnt the price they need to pay to sign Botan Ameen this window.
Both Championship sides have been rumoured to be interested in the Swindon Town youngster, who emerged as a standout talent for the League Two club in the second half of last season. He played 17 times for The Robins, scoring once and providing two assists with just 475 minutes of football played in the fourth tier.
Swindon Set Fee
According to The Pink ‘Un, Swindon have told any prospective buyers that they must pay £1.5 million to sign the 18-year-old, with City planning to use him in their development squad rather than the first team. League Two has been a key target area for the Norfolk side to bolster their youth setup, with Fleetwood Town midfielder Reece Wilkes poised to join the club.
Swindon’s position is somewhat compromised by Ameen rejecting a professional contract at The County Ground, but will remain at the club next season with one year left on his scholarship deal. Manager Ian Holloway has previously discussed letting Ameen leave, telling the media:
“He has never caused me one day’s problem. I don’t think he ever will. Is he disappointed? Possibly. But I am disappointed in the offers that have been given because I know how good he is going to be.
“It’s not my fault that there was an extra year in the deal that I am going to hold him to, until someone pays me what I think he is good enough to do.
“I will encourage him to be as good as he wants to be and eventually he might get what he wants. Hopefully he has a chance next summer, if I can’t convince him to re-sign for us then it will go to a tribunal. But hopefully we will be a League One side and he can play his part in that.”
Writers’ View
Swindon may be overplaying their hand here if they were searching for a price for Ameen, but Ian Holloway seems set that he will be a regular player for Swindon Town next season to try and convince him to stay, so a £1.5 million fee is likely to disway Norwich City or Sheffield United from poaching him. Even if they do not sign him this time around, the Championship clubs wouldn’t object to a new player gaining a full season of senior football experience before joining their clubs which may come as a bonus should this situation restart in 2026.
