AFC Wimbledon have submitted a bid in their hopes of re-signing James Tilley permanently after his mid-season loan move to Plough Lane.
The Dons lost the 28-year-old’s services upon their promotion to League One last summer, with Wycombe Wanderers picking him up as a free agent as a result.
Wycombe Cut Losses
Tilley’s time at Adams Park was a failure, however, with just 13 appearances to his name before the Chairboys allowed him to leave on loan back to Wimbledon, being a regular face in the second half of the season despite a month-long injury.
Reports from Sky Sports News’ Mark McAdam and Amar Mehta have revealed that Johnnie Jackson’s side have now submitted a bid for the right-sided midfielder, who has one-year left on his deal in Buckinghamshire.
Interest in Tilley has been long-standing, with news in late April stating that the Dons were keen on making his loan move permanent after Michael Duff decided to allow him to walk this summer.
Joining from Crawley Town in 2023, he has played 115 times total in South West London, scoring 19 times and aiding them to their promotion back to League One through the playoffs.
Duff has already begun his reshaping of the Wycombe squad this summer, with Fred Onyedinma also expected to leave amid interest from Reading in a move, while he has picked up Plymouth Argyle’s Conor Hazard on a free transfer.
Wanderers Win Out
As much as James Tilley’s time at Wycombe Wanderers can’t be characterised as anything but a disappointment, Michael Duff has still got his side the best out of this transfer after all.
His predecessor in Mike Dodds managed to poach the 28-year-old on a free transfer, and will surely get a decent fee out of his sale as AFC Wimbledon, the very side he left to join Wycombe, look set to bring him back.
Wimbledon, though, won’t be displeased with this deal as they bring back one of their former stars on a permanent basis and will play a large part in next season’s aims of improving upon a 19th-placed finish in League One.
