The possibility that Bristol Rovers would be Richie Towell's next destination was a big surprise to anyone with even a passing interest in the League of Ireland. Granted, the money may even be better in League 2, but he has to be capable of playing at a higher level than that.
Sure enough, the Bristol rumours went away and in came the likelihood that a move to Premier League hopefuls Brighton was just around the corner. An Irish manager and a team battling for promotion to the highest level, that was much more like it for the best player in the country.
And it just so happens that on the day he's been speaking about his prospective move, he's also getting a mention in Marca, the Madrid based newspaper so loathed and loved by football fans the world over depending on what kind of transfer news they're spouting.
Richie Towell of Dundalk gets a mention in @marca today pic.twitter.com/J8Gd09aY1r
— Dermot Corrigan (@dermotmcorrigan) November 25, 2015
Towell's goalscoring exploits this season have put him among some impressive company when it comes to Europe's top scorers (the total on the right is the final points value of goals after standard of league is accounted for) and when you consider he's a midfielder, it makes it even more impressive.
That form duly ensured he picked up his fifth player of the month award to round off the season and while collecting that award today, he addressed the rumours of where he would be playing his football in the coming months.
Towell confirmed that clubs from the likes of Poland and Turkey had registered their interest in signing him. And while the lure of the (relatively) exotic may be strong, he's said that the Championship is his most likely destination. However, that's not to say the exact club is nailed on just yet.
Nothing is done yet. It’s all up in the air at the moment and it’s just a waiting game. I was hoping something would have been sorted last week. There are a good few clubs in for me but I have to weigh up what is best for me and my family. Hopefully something will be sorted by the end of the week.
'A good few clubs' would suggest that Brighton is far from done and dusted so we'll watch this space to see whether he can get the move that will see the Irish management team sit up and take notice.
[RTÉ]
