Leyton Orient Boss Delivers Dom Ballard Exit Update

Leyton Orient head coach Richie Wellens has revealed the club have plans to replace Dom Ballard should the attacker depart Brisbane Road in the coming weeks,

The 21-year-old has been the subject of increasing interest from Championship outfit Bristol City since the opening of the transfer window. The Robins are said to have had a number of bids rejected, with the last thought to have been around the £4 million mark.

Orient have made it clear that they will not let the League One Player and Young Player of the Season leave for a figure below their valuation. That is said to be £5 million, with Leicester City also said to be keen.

Wellens Warns Clubs That Ballard Valuation Won’t Budge

Ballard joined Orient last summer from Southampton and immediately hit the ground running. His 23 goals last season played a major role in the O’s survival and has elevated him to one of the hottest young English prospects in the EFL.

The attacker came off the bench to level the scores in a 1-1 friendly draw against Southend United yesterday. Afterwards, Wellens was asked how important his star man remains at the club this season. Speaking to BBC Sounds, he said:

“I never hold players back, like I didn’t with Ethan Galbraith. It’s a fine line for me. One, to not hold Dom back and let him forward his career and make the step up to the Championship.

“Financially, there’s obviously a vast difference in what he can earn elsewhere, but we have to be strong and we have to hold a valuation to what we believe the EFL League One Player of the Season and top goalscorer in League One (is worth).”

Continuing, Wellens pointed out some of the other deals that have been completed elsewhere, which has helped the club drive their valuation:

“Above all, he’s English. English players are more. Will Lankshear has just gone for £10 million to Middlesbrough.

“So, for me, the price of a young goalscorer whose career is only going to go one way, which is a massive upwards curve, the club have to (stand by their valuation).”

Orient Can’t Let This Drag On

With the beginning of the season fast approaching, it is imperative that Orient know where they stand before a ball is kicked. As such, Wellens is wary of letting the saga drag out until the end of the transfer window:

“The only thing that I am worried about is we’ve got plans if Dom goes and we’ve got signings that we can make. If we leave it and we lose them signings and then it happens late, it might leave us in a situation where it’ll leave us short.”

That is indeed the danger. Ballard was always going to attract attention this summer and it’s no surprise to learn that replacements have been identified. However, it is possible that those potential targets could move on before the Londoners have a chance to act.

This is now essentially a stick or twist scenario. There’s little chance of the club lowering their valuation, and nor should they. They could gamble and bring in players now, banking on the seemingly inevitable transfer. Whether they have the money to do that at the moment is another question entirely.