Joe Taylor could leave Huddersfield Town before the transfer window shuts, with Belgian outfit KAA Gent now interested in the 23-year-old.
The striker has emerged as a star under Martin Drury and Jon Stead since his return to Kirklees, and opened his League One account for the season with a brace to snatch a win over newly promoted Cambridge United.
Gent Links Emerge Amid Dean Rumour
However, a late-window swoop for the Welsh forward could come, with Football Insider’s Pete O’Rourke revealing that Belgian Pro League side KAA Gent are now targeting his services.
It comes as rumours continue to persist around Max Dean’s future in Flanders, with Bolton Wanderers closing in on a deal for the former MK Dons man, according to Alan Nixon earlier this month.
Gent are not alone in showing interest in Taylor, with O’Rourke also noting that some Championship sides are also keen in a deal ahead of the Tuesday night deadline.
Bristol City had been an interested party in signing the ex-Luton Town prospect; however, the Robins would later pivot to signing two other League One strikers in the form of Dom Ballard and Lorent Tolaj.
Drury has tried to shoot down interest in his number nine, telling the Yorkshire Post earlier this week that he was confident in retaining his services beyond the deadline.
“When you have good players, I don’t think you can ever sit and say I’m confident that they’re not going to go anywhere, particularly in a transfer window.
“So I’d been naive to sit here and say I’m confident of it. But my understanding is – and the clarity I have – is that every single person at the club wants Joe Taylor at this club.
“And the people that make decisions from a financial point of view and from a business model point of view all want Joe Taylor at this club.
“So I would say Joe Taylor’s going to be with us and I’m excited to work with him and I’m sure that we’re going to work together in a way that he’s going to score loads of goals for us and be a real positive impact on us.”
Taylor had a successful loan spell at Wigan Athletic during the latter half of last season, scoring 11 times in 21 appearances to become the top scorer for the Lancashire club across the whole campaign.
Nagle Ambition Put To Test
After finally getting their season on track with a decisive comeback win over Cambridge United, Huddersfield Town will feel encouraged that they can finally kick on with Joe Taylor as their talisman.
However, as soon as he is finally turning good for the Terriers, it seems that he could immediately be on his way with Gent and other clubs from the Championship now circling for his signature.
After a solid season, especially at Wigan Athletic, it does seem like the 23-year-old is ready to take the step up and try and lead the line for a second-tier club for any club willing to take the risk.
For a club that wants to be Championship mainstays in the future under the current vision of owner Kevin Nagle, they now face a major decision as to whether to cash in and depend on Bojan Radulovic or keep Taylor to help with their promotion push.
If the right offer comes in, then a decision may have to be made, but with Martin Drury revealing the unity of the recruitment team in their desire to retain their star forward, it seems unlikely that Joe Taylor will be anywhere else except Huddersfield come Wednesday.
