Wycombe Wanderers head coach Mike Dodds has provided another update on Richard Kone’s future at the club.
The 21-year-old Ivorian, who scored 21 goals in 52 games in all competitions last season, in what was his first full year in professional football, has been heavily linked with a move away from Adams Park this summer.
Sides such as Celtic, Leicester City and Swansea City have shown interest, but it seems Queens Park Rangers have won the race to secure his services.
It was reported on August 11, just two days after he featured for the Chairboys in their 2-1 home loss to Stockport County, that a bid of £5 million had been accepted for the ex-Athletic Newham forward.
He is expected to complete his transfer to West London in due course, and Dodds, who did not select Kone for the matchday squad to face Leyton Orient in the League Cup on August 12, which Wycombe won 1-0, has provided an update.
Speaking at full-time, he said: “Regardless of what is going on with Rich, I was never going to involve him tonight [away at Leyton Orient] and the same with Dan Udoh, as I didn’t want to risk them for the game at the weekend.
“I know there have been some negotiations, whether that has been finalised or not, I don’t know.
“One thing I don’t want to do is set any rumours off because I don’t have a huge amount of clarity on what the direction is.
“I want to be honest with the fans and not pull the wool over their eyes, and not say this or that’s happening, it then doesn’t happen, and I am getting lambasted on Twitter.
“At this moment, I don’t know, but over the next 24/48 hours, we’ll be able to give you an update.”
The fee of around £5 million will be the highest Wycombe will receive for a player in their history, smashing the previous record of approximately £1.3 million for Anis Mehmeti from Bristol City in January 2023.
So far this summer, Wanderers have signed 12 new players, which includes forward Bradley Fink from FC Basel.
They have also managed to acquire the services of attacking players in Armando Junior Quitirna and James Tilley, respectively.
When asked if Wanderers will sign a new forward between now and the Transfer Deadline Day, Dodds said: “I think we have to be careful with it because the narrative is usually if a player leaves, you have to replace him.
“I like Dan Udoh, as he is a very good striker at this level.
“We have got Bradley Fink, who is very close to returning to full fitness, so we have options in that area of the pitch.
We also have a 16-year-old boy in Cam Stones here who we want to develop and improve and give him opportunities.
“There are loads of question marks, and currently, I don’t know what the situation is with Rich, so I don’t want to say yay or nay, but we are always looking to improve the squad, and we will not block the pathway for academy players. “
