SHEFFIELD Wednesday have made a £250,000 bid for Stockport striker Luke Beckett - with chairman Dave Allen willing to fund the deal with a loan from his own pocket.
It was widely believed that the Owls were restricted to free-transfer signings because of their money shortage.
But Allen hinted during the run-up to the new season that he may loosen his personal purse strings if it was for the right player who could give the club's promotion chances a big boost.
And he has been as good as his word.
When rumours of a bid for Beckett were put to the Owls chief today, he admitted: "We have made an offer of a quarter of a million pounds to Stockport's board for Luke Beckett. I think that in today's market, it is a generous offer.
"I personally am prepared to fund that deal until the club's finances are in a better position and I can be repaid."
Wednesday are awaiting an official response to their offer, which was made before the season started.
Earlier in the summer Stockport boss Carlton Palmer put a £1 million price tag on Beckett. But Wednesday's bid has both tested the water and perhaps placed temptation in County's path.
Behind the offer lies manager Chris Turner's well-known admiration for a centre forward who scored 27 goals in Division Two last season plus two in the cups.
If the Owls do not get the 26-year-old former Chesterfield star then they are prepared to look elsewhere as they seek extra firepower to boost their promotion bid.
But Turner will also look for growing contributions from Lloyd Owusu, Grant Holt and the in-form Shefki Kuqi.
Allen already has £2 million tied up in the Owls, in shares and cash to the bank. The transfer funding is a further sign of his commitment to the club.
He took over the chairmanship from Geoff Hulley in June and is determined to help to turn the club's fortunes around, both financially and on the pitch.
http://www.sheffieldtoday.net/ViewArticle.aspx?SectionID=59&ArticleID=577559
It was widely believed that the Owls were restricted to free-transfer signings because of their money shortage.
But Allen hinted during the run-up to the new season that he may loosen his personal purse strings if it was for the right player who could give the club's promotion chances a big boost.
And he has been as good as his word.
When rumours of a bid for Beckett were put to the Owls chief today, he admitted: "We have made an offer of a quarter of a million pounds to Stockport's board for Luke Beckett. I think that in today's market, it is a generous offer.
"I personally am prepared to fund that deal until the club's finances are in a better position and I can be repaid."
Wednesday are awaiting an official response to their offer, which was made before the season started.
Earlier in the summer Stockport boss Carlton Palmer put a £1 million price tag on Beckett. But Wednesday's bid has both tested the water and perhaps placed temptation in County's path.
Behind the offer lies manager Chris Turner's well-known admiration for a centre forward who scored 27 goals in Division Two last season plus two in the cups.
If the Owls do not get the 26-year-old former Chesterfield star then they are prepared to look elsewhere as they seek extra firepower to boost their promotion bid.
But Turner will also look for growing contributions from Lloyd Owusu, Grant Holt and the in-form Shefki Kuqi.
Allen already has £2 million tied up in the Owls, in shares and cash to the bank. The transfer funding is a further sign of his commitment to the club.
He took over the chairmanship from Geoff Hulley in June and is determined to help to turn the club's fortunes around, both financially and on the pitch.
http://www.sheffieldtoday.net/ViewArticle.aspx?SectionID=59&ArticleID=577559
