DESPITE BRINGING IN Ryan Manning on a temporary deal from Queens Park Rangers last week, Rotherham United are still hoping to secure the services of another Irish midfielder before the loan window closes on 31 August.
The Championship club have been attempting to reach an agreement with Brighton & Hove Albion all summer for the return of Richie Towell.
While on loan at Rotherham last season, Towell scored six times in 46 games as they achieved promotion back to the second tier of English football via the play-offs.
The 27-year-old Dubliner, who has made just five appearances for Brighton since joining from Dundalk in January 2016, hasn’t featured in the matchday squad for either of his club’s two Premier League games so far this season.
“I love Richie and I have always said that,” Rotherham boss Paul Warne told the Yorkshire Post. “If I could bring him back to the club and it was possible and Brighton will allow him out, that would obviously be an option that I would investigate further.
“We have spoken to Brighton on numerous occasions in the summer, but at the moment I am not convinced it is going to happen. I am hopeful, but at the moment, I don’t honestly know.”
Towell, who was named PFAI Player of the Year after scoring 29 times for Dundalk in the 2015 season, is out of contract at Brighton at the end of this season. The former Ireland U21 international has also reportedly attracted interest from League One club Portsmouth.
Rotherham began life back in the Championship with a 5-1 defeat away to Brentford, before recording a 1-0 home win over Ipswich Town. They slipped to a 2-0 defeat at Leeds United on Saturday, during which Ryan Manning came off the bench.
The current Ireland U21 midfielder, who has signed a season-long loan deal from QPR, could make his home debut against Hull City this evening.
“Ideally I’d like one more [new signing],” Warne said. “You’re only ever one injury away from a bit of a problem. Touch wood, we’ll be okay. But I would like something else, something a bit different.”
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