KEVIN DOYLE WOULD have hoped that QPR manager Harry Redknapp would rescue him from Wolves, but that doesn’t appear likely to happen at the moment, despite the striker spending part of last season on loan at Loftus Road during the club’s ultimately successful promotion bid.
Wolves boss Kenny Jackett recently told reporters that there had been “no contact” from the Premier League club in relation to Doyle, who last year also saw a proposed transfer window move to Celtic fall through at the last minute.
While Jackett has not completely ruled out the prospect of Doyle returning to the Wolves first team, a move would appear to be preferable for both parties, as Doyle surely needs to be playing first-team football at the very least to have any chance of featuring in Ireland’s upcoming European Championship qualifiers.
2. Shane Duffy
One of the more contentious selections on this list, Duffy has featured for Everton in pre-season and enhanced his reputation while playing with Yeovil in the Championship this summer.
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He has indicated in interviews that he is keen to stay and fight for his place at Everton, but at 22, Duffy is at the point in his career where he needs to be playing regular first-team football.
He did not look out of place in his admittedly brief cameo for Ireland during the summer, but realistically, with John Stones, Phil Jagielka, Sylvain Distin and Antolín Alcaraz all seemingly ahead of him in the pecking order, it appears highly unlikely that he’ll be getting much competitive game time with Everton at senior level any time soon, and so should probably look for it elsewhere.
3. Wes Hoolahan
Chris Radburn
Chris Radburn
(Wes Hoolahan experienced a disappointing season last year as Norwich were relegated)
The midfielder has been a significant part of Norwich’s pre-season preparations, indicating that the club are happy to keep hold of the 32-year-old star if possible.
However, if the former Shels man continues to impress in the coming weeks as he did against Bastia, and in Ireland’s summer friendlies, he may make a swifter-than-expected return to the Premier League, particularly with Roy Keane now assistant boss at Villa.
4. Ian Lawlor
At 19, Lawlor can probably afford to spend a few more years at least attempting to break into the City team.
Nevertheless, having made some progress last year, earning a place in Man City’s Champions League squad, in addition to being called up to the Ireland squad for their end-of-season friendlies, the Dubliner will be eager to sustain his progress over the next 12 months.
Man City’s signing of experienced Argentinian stopper Willy Caballero earlier this summer suggests that the club don’t yet have sufficient faith in Lawlor even to allow him to serve as Joe Hart’s deputy. Consequently, given the strides he made last season, now would seem like the appropriate time to go out on loan and attempt a Thibaut Courtois-esque impact elsewhere.
5. Stephen Ward
Ostracised at Wolves along with Doyle, as one of Ireland’s few options at left-back, Martin O’Neill will surely keep his fingers crossed that Ward does ultimately find a new club.
Ward’s prospects do at least appear better than that of his Irish teammate, with Brighton actually getting in touch with his parent club over the summer, though the arrival of new manager Sami Hyppia means there remains uncertainty as to whether or not the club will retain the player’s services after he enjoyed a successful loan spell with them last year.
5 Irish footballers who need to move clubs before the summer transfer window closes
Updated at 13.48
1. Kevin Doyle
KEVIN DOYLE WOULD have hoped that QPR manager Harry Redknapp would rescue him from Wolves, but that doesn’t appear likely to happen at the moment, despite the striker spending part of last season on loan at Loftus Road during the club’s ultimately successful promotion bid.
Wolves boss Kenny Jackett recently told reporters that there had been “no contact” from the Premier League club in relation to Doyle, who last year also saw a proposed transfer window move to Celtic fall through at the last minute.
The player is currently not in the manager’s pre-season plans, and has consequently been forced to train with the so-called bomb squad.
While Jackett has not completely ruled out the prospect of Doyle returning to the Wolves first team, a move would appear to be preferable for both parties, as Doyle surely needs to be playing first-team football at the very least to have any chance of featuring in Ireland’s upcoming European Championship qualifiers.
2. Shane Duffy
One of the more contentious selections on this list, Duffy has featured for Everton in pre-season and enhanced his reputation while playing with Yeovil in the Championship this summer.
He has indicated in interviews that he is keen to stay and fight for his place at Everton, but at 22, Duffy is at the point in his career where he needs to be playing regular first-team football.
He did not look out of place in his admittedly brief cameo for Ireland during the summer, but realistically, with John Stones, Phil Jagielka, Sylvain Distin and Antolín Alcaraz all seemingly ahead of him in the pecking order, it appears highly unlikely that he’ll be getting much competitive game time with Everton at senior level any time soon, and so should probably look for it elsewhere.
3. Wes Hoolahan
(Wes Hoolahan experienced a disappointing season last year as Norwich were relegated)
Hoolahan has been linked with moves to Aston Villa and Premier League new boys Leicester City in recent days, having been denied a move to the former during last January’s transfer window, after Norwich refused to sell him to a rival.
The midfielder has been a significant part of Norwich’s pre-season preparations, indicating that the club are happy to keep hold of the 32-year-old star if possible.
However, if the former Shels man continues to impress in the coming weeks as he did against Bastia, and in Ireland’s summer friendlies, he may make a swifter-than-expected return to the Premier League, particularly with Roy Keane now assistant boss at Villa.
4. Ian Lawlor
At 19, Lawlor can probably afford to spend a few more years at least attempting to break into the City team.
Nevertheless, having made some progress last year, earning a place in Man City’s Champions League squad, in addition to being called up to the Ireland squad for their end-of-season friendlies, the Dubliner will be eager to sustain his progress over the next 12 months.
Man City’s signing of experienced Argentinian stopper Willy Caballero earlier this summer suggests that the club don’t yet have sufficient faith in Lawlor even to allow him to serve as Joe Hart’s deputy. Consequently, given the strides he made last season, now would seem like the appropriate time to go out on loan and attempt a Thibaut Courtois-esque impact elsewhere.
5. Stephen Ward
Ostracised at Wolves along with Doyle, as one of Ireland’s few options at left-back, Martin O’Neill will surely keep his fingers crossed that Ward does ultimately find a new club.
Ward’s prospects do at least appear better than that of his Irish teammate, with Brighton actually getting in touch with his parent club over the summer, though the arrival of new manager Sami Hyppia means there remains uncertainty as to whether or not the club will retain the player’s services after he enjoyed a successful loan spell with them last year.
And if it ultimately doesn’t work out, Ward at least has one other potential option, with Middlesbrough also believed to be interested in the 28-year-old.
Which Irish player would you like to see move clubs this summer?
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exit plan Ian Lawlor Irish footballers Kevin Doyle need to move clubs Shane Duffy Stephen Ward Summer transfer window Wes Hoolahan