Wycombe Wanderers are set to lower their asking price for Richard Kone as the transfer battle around his future continues to rumble.
After his League One Player of the Season campaign for the Chairboys, the forward’s services have been coveted by multiple Championship clubs over the summer, including Swansea City and Preston North End. The 22-year-old was absent from their opening day defeat away at Bradford City, with boss Mike Dodds stating that it was due to the transfer speculation surrounding him after five offers and a new Wycombe contract were received in the past week.
Cut-Price Deal Available
Now, with no resolution to Kone’s future coming as Wanderers face their home opener against Stockport County, it has been revealed that Wycombe will accept lower offers to sell their star forward. According to Sky Sports News’ Ron Walker, the Buckinghamshire side will accept offers from £3 million or above, including add-ons, lower than their initial asking price of £5 million.
Both Preston and Swansea have tabled offers at or above this new price, with the BBC reporting that Paul Heckingbottom’s side offered £3 million at the end of July, while WalesOnline revealed that the Jacks lodged a £4.5 million bid just a day later. Both sides may return to the table to sign the Ivorian international, but will face competition from an as-yet-unnamed promotion-chasing side in the Championship.
Kone’s second season at Adams Park was wildly successful, with 21 goals and five assists to his name, winning an awards double by the end of the season, finishing joint-third in the Golden Boot race in the process.
Writers’ View
With Richard Kone’s stock still high with Championship sides, this latest move to get a sale done for the striker will help end this current situation. Whilst a potential start against Stockport could be on the cards with Mike Dodds stating that a less-than-ideal return from injury also played a role in his absence against Bradford, it is more than likely he will be gone from the club by Saturday. £3 million will be great money for the club to have to invest in a proven striker to replace Kone and pair with Daniel Udoh, who got off the mark against The Bantams last weekend alongside any other squad concerns the Chairboys might have.
