Ipswich Town targets Toto Nsiala and Jon Nolan have been banished from Shrewsbury Town training and will not play for the club this weekend after handing in transfer requests.
The Blues have had offers for both players turned down, with Shrewsbury thought to want in the region of £1million for each player, prompting the pair to request moves away. It is understood the offer for Nsiala was in the region of £650,000.
Blues manager Paul Hurst, who was in charge at Shrewsbury last season, would not be drawn on the interest in the pair at his press conference today but admitted he remains a fan of his two former players.
“I don’t really want to comment on other clubs’ players, some are right and some are wrong, but they are two players where it’s no secret I spoke highly of last season and they are good players,” he said.
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Asked if he feels the duo are ready to step up to the Championship, he replied: “Yeah, I think they would be.”
Shrewsbury manager John Askey revealed neither defender Nsiala or creative midfielder Nolan were training with the club today and that they will not be available for games unless the situation changes.
“No they’re not here and won’t play unless things change dramatically, I can’t see it,” he said.
“It’s a shame but it gives other people opportunity.
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“Yes it’s unsettling for everybody. But when things like this happen you have to move on and move on pretty quickly.”
“When you’ve got players who’ve done well then these sort of things tend to happen. It’s the timing of it that you can do without.
“You’ve got to deal with it. Accept it goes on and have irons in the fire ready for if anybody leaves.
“That’s obviously something I’ve been thinking about.
“Until a football club comes in for them then they’re your players. It gets to late in the day and you expect them to be here as Shrewsbury Town players.
“We had the offer and they put the request in. You’ve got to move on quickly as a manager.”
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