No Town Deadline-Day Kone Interest
Monday, 2nd Feb 2026 09:46

Town have no interest in bringing in QPR striker Richard Kone ahead of the transfer window closing at 7pm this evening, while Sammie Szmodics’s departure still hangs in the balance.

The 22-year-old Ivorian has been linked with the Blues this morning but has already played for two clubs this season, Wycombe Wanderers in addition to Rangers, so wouldn’t be able to feature for a third this term.

Another frontman has been on the Blues’ wishlist throughout January with an offer made to Patrick Bamford before the Sheffield United man opted to stay at Bramall Lane, then interest in Callum Wilson, who remains at West Ham. Leeds United’s Joel Piroe and Nashville SC’s Sam Surridge are also understood to have been on the list of potential recruits during this window.

However, as it stands no incoming signing appears on the cards, although things can change very quickly on deadline day should the right player become available.

While the addition of a striker seems likely to be the only potential incoming business, Szmodics’s exit would be the most high profile departure.

Derby and Wrexham both made offers for the Irish international last week but neither acceptable. The Rams are believed to willing to pay £3 million and the Red Dragons, who we understand are also looking at an alternative forward addition, £5 million.

Town are believed to be targeting £6 million and manager Kieran McKenna said on Friday that if no one offers a suitable fee, then the 30-year-old will remain at the club.

Elsewhere, it’s possible one or two U21s players may move out on loan, while the Blues could add further to John McGreal and Chris Casement’s squad.

Already, deals to bring in Chelsea forward Frankie Runham on loan with a view to a permanent switch and Stevenage’s Ryan Doherty are set to be rubber-stamped before tonight’s deadline.

Photo: Matchday Images

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darkhorse28 added 11:23 - Feb 2

So there are consequences then to wasting so much money on Philips, Greaves. Sammie, Johnson, Ogbenne, McAteer, Akpom, Azon, and paying out manager our entire TV revenue.

Some fans seem to think it’s a computer game and just doesn’t matter, all the bad decisions add up to a massive impact.

And letting Bamford use us when he’s never leaving Yorkshire, everyone outside football knew that, that’s awful decision making, really poor.

Lightningboy added 11:26 - Feb 2 There just seems to be a lack of "strikers" about in general - mainly down to this brainwashed obsession of playing one up front these days.
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FelixBlue4 added 11:29 - Feb 2

What worries me is if the club can’t attract a forward whilst we are chasing promotion and have a bit of money to spend we have to ask why not. We always hear good things about KMac and when player sign about how good the club is and wanting a new challenge so what is going wrong. There must be a reason why bit part bench players don’t want to come here to kick their career on. We are the perfect club for the Leeds lad to come to even if on loan to put himself in the window, it’s almost like they are scared.

Tedray added 11:34 - Feb 2 I agree oliveR16 Not to buy a striker is not an option on the evidence seen so far no addition in the forward department could lead to the complete failure of our season. If the chosen ones cannot be obtained lets take a chance on Jebbison or someone of that nature. Surely after a whole month ITFC must have some serous targets.........the countdown has begun
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Gforce added 11:42 - Feb 2 Don't panic captain Mannering ,still 7 hours to go !
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fifeblue added 12:50 - Feb 2 I cannot see the point of letting Szmodics go for any price. With the right support he can score goals, lots of them.
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JeremiahBrown added 13:21 - Feb 2 Don't forget that Ashton and McKenna will probably be leaving about 4pm today for Portsmouth, so if either of them are needed to get a new striker in, then we don't have much time.
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JeremiahBrown added 13:22 - Feb 2 What about Z. Vipotnik from Swansea?
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Stato added 13:35 - Feb 2 We have an obligation to buy Azon for £15m if we get promoted and this lad isn't making any impression at championship level so that looks like another £15m wasted. Surely we should be bailing out on that loan and sending him back to Como
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Stato added 13:40 - Feb 2 And likewise Akpom will cost us £7m if we get promoted so as with azon maybe we should bail on that deal today. Obviously only bail if suitable replacements can be found
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Bluedocker added 14:22 - Feb 2 I personally think he's taking a massive gamble on getting promoted on what players we've got... which will leave room with loan players and out of contract at end of season to buy a premier league quality which was our downfall last season...
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yorkieblue62 added 14:46 - Feb 2

All this talk about bringing in a high quality striker but hard to see where they are. Dont think Armstrong is any better than Szmodics and he , just like Akpom at my local club Boro scored goals when he was provided with chances in a system that suited them. In recent years Town dont seem to have played in a way that gives out and out strikers much of a chance. Boro not playing with a target man at the moment and not adversely affecting them. Need to see if Mehmeti starts contributing in the next few games, if so I think we might be alright.

Magic8 added 14:59 - Feb 2

If we sign a striker he has to be the real deal....and if he js he will be priced over the top cos its the Januay windiow and every team is looking for that striker....a d whoever we get we will.be stuck with him as we already have the allotted 5 loans in the club.so he has to be right...not just a striker..but the right striker.
What happens if he doesn't score...what do the moaners say then..
I'm confident that the team at PR know what they are doing..more so than us observers.

blues1 added 15:39 - Feb 2

Blueoutlook. Jaden and Clarke haven't scored 49 goals between them have they? Actually scored less than half that number. So clearly scoring goals isnt a problem. Also, it wouldnt matter what cf we have in the team. They won't score many goals bcse we dont score most of our goals by putting balls into the box, which is what a cf needs to score. One of the only times we have done that, against Oxford, Akpom scored. Do we need some1 better at holding the ball up? Well yes, id agree with that. But you tell me where we'd find one of those? Aren't many about. And those who are, arent likely to be available to buy. Piroe would have been ideal, but he won't drop to thr championship, so nothing the club can do about it? Maybe if ur so good at signing players, you should offer your services to the club. Btw, im not saying i wouldn't like another striker to come in. Just isn't as desperate a need as some make out.

blues1 added 15:47 - Feb 2

Jas0999. We brought in 2 strikers in the summer, so we did replace Delap. The fact they haven't worked 100% as yet, is no fault of the club. Signings dont always work straight awa and sometimes not at all. Any signing is a risk. Could sigb Haaland( yes, just beibg hypothetical), and he may not score many goals in our team.
Still think, if Akpom was given a run of games up front he'd score goals. But for thst to happen, we'd have to create chances forxhim in the box. And thst isnt the way we play. Don't score many goals from balls being put across the box, which any cf would require.

blueboy1981 added 16:18 - Feb 2 All in all folks, be honest - it’s become a shambles in terms of promotion attempt, and even if we did, zero chance of surviving yet again in the Premiership. We’d be literally slaughtered - player quantity galore, but nowhere near the required QUALITY !!
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bluesnightorg added 16:49 - Feb 2 Blueboy, we would not be literally slaughtered. That means we would all be killed. You are overreacting, as usual. Oh, and we are fourth. That is not a shambolic attempt at promotion.
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armchaircritic59 added 19:39 - Feb 2

blueboy1981, I wont go into the " slaughtering " bit, but I will say this. Weeks ago when Coventry were riding high, I posted that they were nowhere near as good as the table was implying, and if the side they had right then was playing in the PL, it would get a tonking on a regular basis. I got the expected downvotes, I wonder If I'd get them now.

Now to the actual point, I agree with you about survival in the PL if we had the squad we have now. Several failed at that level last season, have any improved and if so, by how much? With maybe 2/3 exceptions it would need yet another general clearout, as far as I'm concerned. Mind you we have to get there first, and as I sit typing this at 7.36pm, I'd say that is far from a given. Word of warning too, the Championship next season is shaping up already to be a lot more difficult, probably 6/7 teams with parachute payments if we don't do what I believe is imperative, get promoted.

austractor added 22:27 - Feb 2 You take Akpom and Smods (previously prolific chanpionship scorers) and then design a system that yields 3 goals between them by this stage of the season, that is impressive.
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