TRANSFER WINDOW CENTRE: King Billy becomes a Saint
Rovers' Billy Sharp celebrates his second goal. Picture: Andrew Roe
BILLY Sharp has left Doncaster Rovers and completed a move to Championship promotion chasers Southampton.
Sharp has agreed a three-and-a-half year deal at St Mary's where he is re-united with his former boss Nigel Adkins.
The 25-year-old rejected the chance to join the Saints last summer but the lure of possible Premier League football next season proved too much on this occasion.
As yet the fee is undisclosed but it is likely to be significantly less than the £3million Southampton were willing to pay only a few months ago.
Rovers fans will be devastated this evening at the departure of a player that the town has taken to its heart but it was always a case of when, and not if, Sharp would move on from Doncaster.
His pre-deadline cay move may now allow Dean Saunders tie up a deal for El Hadji Diouf, whose contract expires on January 31.
BILLY Sharp is having a medical at Southampton after allegedly agreeing terms on a move to the promotion-chasers, the Free Press understands.
Rovers boss Dean Saunders confirmed Sharp was having a medical at St Mary’s today while sources on the South Coast suggested the 25-year-old agreed terms before travelling this morning.
The Saints made a renewed bid for the striker over the weekend and agreed a fee with Rovers, expected to be around £1.85m in accordance with a clause in Sharp’s contract.
This will be the second time Sharp has met with Southampton officials over a potential move.
He turned down the chance to renew acquaintances with former Scunthorpe United boss Nigel Adkins in the summer.
It was suggested earlier that newly flush Reading were set to join the race for the hitman.
The Royals snapped up Blackburn striker Jason Roberts last week - and have eight strikers on their books - but boss Brian McDermott has not ruled out a late move for the 25-year-old.
Russian investor Anton Zingarevich has handed McDermott a cash injection ahead of his planned takeover of the club next month.
Sharp is his top target and Reading’s boss is hopeful of adding to his squad before Tuesday’s 11pm deadline.
* ON loan Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper David Button has agreed to extend his stay at the Keepmoat for another month,
The 22-year-old arrived in Doncaster on New Year’s Day and has impressed in his four appearances so far.
Button has said on record he would like to stay with Rovers until the end of the season.
* ROVERS have been linked with the signing of Fabien Robert, brother of former Newcastle United midfielder Laurent.
The 23-year-old winger is currently playing for Ligue 1 side Lorient and reports in France have suggested he could be set to join Rovers on loan until the end of the season.
Friday, January 27
THE futures of Billy Sharp and El Hadji Diouf have been thrown into more doubt after money-men Dick Watson and Terry Bramall resigned from the Doncaster Rovers board.
Watson, who has stepped down for health reasons, had previously vowed to help finance a deal for Sharp to remain at Rovers.
The departure of Watson and Bramall also places a huge question mark over a proposed contract for Diouf, which the board had been drawing up over the last few weeks.
Diouf’s contract expires on January 31 and Ryan will now be hoping that the Senegalese star agrees to a modest pay packet to stay and help Rovers battle against the drop.
Leicester City’s offer for Sharp, meanwhile, remains the only concrete bid the club has received for the 25-year-old - but that could change over the next week with clubs eyeing potential last minute deals.
Sunday, January 22
SOUTHAMPTON are poised to renew their interest in Billy Sharp, according to reports.
The Saints have failed to land Celtic striker Gary Hooper and Huddersfield hot shot Jordan Rhodes and, accoring to the Mirror, will now turn their attention back to Sharp.
Sharp has a close bond with Southampton boss Nigel Adkins after the pair spent time together at Scunthorpe.
Financing the deal will not be a problem for the Saints, who had a £4million bid rejected for former Iron forward Hooper.
The stumbling block could be whether Sharp, who turned down a move to the Saints in the summer, wants to move to the south coast in search of possible Premier League football.
Wednesday, January 18
DEAN Saunders has admitted he could face a struggle to hold onto El Hadji Diouf.
Diouf verbally agreed an 18-month contract extension with Rovers last month.
But the Free Press understands the proposed deal was based on the assumption Billy Sharp would leave the club this month - thus freeing up funds to offer Diouf an improved contract.
Saunders said: “In an ideal world I’d love to keep both of them - but I’m not confident.
“There are lots of clubs interested in Diouf.
“Hopefully I can persuade the board to come up with some sort of deal which suits everyone.”
Sunday, January 15
DEAN Saunders is confident Billy Sharp will remain at Doncaster Rovers until the end of the season, after revealing the striker has rejected the chance to join Leicester City.
Sharp was given a fantastic reception from fans at the Keepmoat Stadium yesterday as Rovers drew 0-0 with high-flying Cardiff City - with supporters fearing it could be the last they see of their hero.
But after the game Saunders said: "As far as I'm concerned Billy will be staying with us until the end of season.
"That's a great boost for everybody at the club.
"If he can win us six or seven games between now and the end of the season it'll be worth millions to the club.
"And if he does that he'll get Premier League clubs looking at him.
"We've tried everything to make him stay," he added.
"He's indicated to me that he is not going to Leicester - but there's always the chance somebody else might come knocking."
Thursday, January 12
BILLY Sharp trained as normal with Doncaster today and looks set to return to the starting line-up against Cardiff City this weekend.
According to reports in the East Midlands, Sharp was scheduled to have a medical at Leicester City today - but those stories proved to be unfounded.
A club source told the Free Press they expect the 25-year-old to be in the Rovers team on Saturday.
Dean Shiels, meanwhile, has signed for Kilmarnock after Rovers terminated his contract at the Keepmoat Stadium.
Wednesday, January 11
BILLY Sharp is mulling over an offer to sign a new two and a half year deal at Doncaster Rovers.
Sharp met with Dean Saunders and Willie McKay yesterday afternoon.
They outlined their plans for Rovers to Sharp and made it clear they want the 25-year-old to spearhead the club’s survival mission.
Sharp had a day off today - along with the rest of the playing staff - to consider his options, but he is unlikely to rush into any decision about his future.
Tuesday, January 10
DONCASTER Rovers will today offer Billy Sharp the biggest contract in their history in an attempt to hold onto their star striker.
It was reported overnight that John Ryan and Dick Watson have agreed to stump up the funds for a new deal for Sharp - and this was confirmed on the club’s Twitter feed today.
Any new contract offer could also wipe out the release clause which Leicester City triggered at the weekend with their second bid for the 25-year-old.
Sharp and his agent are still in contact with Leicester - but the prospect of a new deal at Doncaster now throws a huge curveball into the equation.
Boss Dean Saunders said: “To keep Billy would be a massive shot in the arm for this club.
“We are hopeful Billy wants to stay and help us.”
Monday, January 9
LEICESTER City are reportedly ready to make Billy Sharp the highest paid player in the Championship.
The Foxes will offer Sharp a three-and-a-half year deal worth £28,000 a week and including a £200,000 signing-on fee, according to the Mirror.
Sharp is expected to discuss personal terms with City later this week.
Saturday, January 7
DONCASTER Rovers have accepted a bid from Leicester City for star striker Billy Sharp.
Sharp has been given permission to discuss personal terms with the Foxes after their latest bid activated a clause in his contract.
The 25-year-old was a spectator at the Keepmoat Stadium today, where he watched Doncaster lose 2-0 to League One Notts County in the FA Cup.
His absence from the squad has intensified speculation that a deal with Leicester is imminent.
But Sharp has yet to discuss terms with Leicester - who may still be gazumped in the race for his signature.
Rovers have turned down bids of £3m and £2.3m in the past from Southampton and Ipswich respectively for Sharp.
The Free Press understands that the fee that has been agreed between Rovers and Leicester falls short of both of those figures.
Sharp initially said he would only leave Rovers for a Premier League team - but said after the defeat at Watford he did not want to be playing “relegation football”.
John Ryan told the Free Press last week that Doncaster would struggle to hold onto their man if a Championship side with genuine promotion credentials came in with a suitable offer.
Friday, January 6
MUSTAPHA Dumbuya became the first player to leave the club on loan this week - and several more could be set to follow him through the Keepmoat Stadium exit door.
Dumbuya has become a peripheral figure under Dean Saunders and will relish the opportunity to get some games under his belt at Championship rivals Crystal Palace, who he has joined for one month.
Saunders is also thought to be keen to loan out Mark Wilson, while defender Richard Naylor has been told his contract will not be renewed.
Willie McKay has told Kilmarnock that Dean Shiels is wanted back at Doncaster when his loan deal ends on January 16.
Shiels’ contract expires in the summer - and Rovers are hoping to cash in on the forward before he can leave for nothing.
Several clubs are thought to be interested in Shiels, who has scored six times during his spell at Rugby Park.
Herita Ilunga returned to West Ham United this week but Saunders is hoping he can secure the left back’s services for the rest of the season.
The left back position is something of a concern for Rovers, with George Friend and Pascal Chimbonda both currently sidelined.
Rovers are also set to extend Giles Barnes’ contract until the end of the season.
The midfielder had been interesting Burnley.
TWITTER: @djoftherovers (Danny Johnson) heard rovers were lining up crawley strik
er tubbs if sharp leaves but with Jr not giving ds any of the cash cnt see that.
Thursday, January 5
LEICESTER City are poised to increase their offer for Billy Sharp.
The Foxes had a bid rejected at the weekend but the Free Press understands that Nigel Pearson will return with an improved offer.
Free Press Sport will keep you bang up-to-date with all the very latest news, views and gossip during what is certain to be a busy month for Rovers.
Keep checking our Transfer Window Centre for daily updates.
Have you heard a transfer rumour? Who would you like to see Rovers sign?
Let us know by joining in the transfer window fun here at www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk.
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