Iron manager Nick Daws has issued a transfer update as we enter into June.
Daws secured his first summer signing just over a week ago in the shape of Southampton striker Olufela Olomola and described the progress of further additions as “an ongoing process”. He spoke to iFollow Iron on additions, the loan market, potential outgoings and contact options.
ON POTENTIAL INCOMINGS
ND: It’s an ongoing process. I recently went to watch a player in one of his final games for his club. We are in negotiations with players, agents and representatives, but it is early. It will be a process that will materialise and develop throughout the summer. From my point of view, ideally I would like my squad in place by June 27th when we come back in, but being a realist I also know that that’s not likely. We’ve got the foundations of a fantastic squad, we want to add to it, we want to strengthen it and we want to give ourselves the best possible chance of starting the season well.
ON THE LOAN MARKET…
ND: We’ve had successful ventures into the loan market with Ivan Toney, Cam McGeehan, Ryan Yates and Marnick Vermijl, so those are also players - as we did with Ivan last year - that we will probably look at in terms of their future at their own clubs. Do they want to come back to Scunthorpe United? I think we’ve created a really good impression, so if I was them I’d be thinking the first point of call is to come back here. They’re in the forefront of our mind as well, but as has already been proven to me there are a million representatives and agents. We’ll get there but when we do remains to be seen.
ON RYAN YATES…
Daws spoke about the midfielder’s potential to return on loan to the club after Nottingham Forest manager Aitor Karanka indicated that a further loan spell away from the City Ground could be likely.
ND: Ryan was incredible over that period of time. He scored against Peterborough and hit the ground running. I describe him as a sponge really and what I mean by that is he is seeking information and seeking ways to improve and better himself every minute of the day. He’s really easy to work with. He’s so coachable, it’s incredible. Ryan is a player of exceptional potential and if we can get him back here, I’d be delighted.
ON THE POSITIONS HE IS LOOKING AT…
ND: I think the clues are in the areas of the players that we’ve released. We’ve released six, lost four loan players and there’s the injury to Matt Gilks. It’s quite simple. Defensively, we remain in a strong position. Central midfield is an area we definitely need to strengthen and we only retained Lee Novak and Kyle Wootton in terms of central strikers. ‘Fela (Olomola) has come in, so he compliments that. I think the central spine of the team is where we’ll be looking to do our recruitment. If a player becomes available that is going to improve our team, I know from recent history that as a club that is what we will look to do.
ON THE LIKELIHOOD OF PLAYERS GOING ELSEWHERE…
ND: That’s always an ongoing process as well. We are Scunthorpe United, so if an offer comes on the table for one of our players that is too good to turn down, I’m sure it’ll be considered. As a manager, that’s what you understand and expect. You could be at Manchester City and Pep Guardiola might get a bid for Kevin de Bruyne for £200m and I would’ve thought they would consider it. But if the offer is £50m, it’s not going to happen. I’m quite comfortable with that situation. I know we’ve got good players and if we do lose anybody, I know that we will go out and recruit someone that will replace them.
ON HAKEEB ADELAKUN…
ND: (There’s no update) as it stands. We spoke when I had meetings with the players that were out of contract and I expressed my wishes to continue to work with Hakeeb. I think I can improve him even more than he’s improved over the last few seasons. There’s a lot more to come from him - he’s a lot more mature, he’s a lot stronger and his decision making is better. He’s a boy with incredible talent, as everybody knows. He still is under 24, so if he doesn’t accept that offer and goes elsewhere there are things in place to make sure we get benefit from his development.
ON THE THREE OPTIONS TAKEN…
Options were exercised on Conor Townsend, Duane Holmes and Lewis Butroid, as per the Iron’s retained list. The United boss confirmed the club are looking to extend those deals beyond the summer of 2019.
ND: Our objective is to improve their deals because they are investments for us as well, but as a minimum we’ve got them under contract for another 12 months. How quickly any negotiations are concluded depend on the player. They know the wishes of, not only myself, but the chairman in securing their futures long term.