Stuart Kettlewell says stories about the transfer money haven’t been true, but he thinks Motherwell are in the advanced stages of talks about Theo Bair’s possible departure.
The French Ligue 1 team Auxerre has expressed interest in Bair. Early reports said the two teams had agreed on a £1.25 million transfer fee, but Kettlewell’s most recent remarks suggest the ultimate sum will be far more.
The Motherwell manager has voiced optimism that the team is nearing completion of the agreement for the gifted young forward to leave Fir Park, but he has not revealed any specifics of the current negotiations.
Motherwell would suffer a great deal if Bair left, but the money they might make could give the Scottish Premiership team a much-needed financial boost.
Kettlewell said, “We’re probably moving to a more advanced stage.”
“The guys here at the football club share a lot of information with me to make sure I’m up to speed with the stuff I don’t see on social media and all the different types of things. I’ve seen so many different reports.” The one thing, too, that I can promise is that I haven’t seen a single report that is correct in terms of the numbers or anything similar.
“We are at advanced stage in terms of Theo moving on, I can absolutely confirm that.
“I can’t give you too much more information, but nobody has reached the numbers that we’re actually speaking about as a football club. Everything has been undershot in any report that I’ve seen, but we just need to monitor that really over the next 24 hours.”
The 24-year-old, who previously played for St Johnstone, found his scoring touch towards the end of last season, netting 13 goals in the final 18 games.
This impressive form earned him a call-up to the Canadian national team for the prestigious Copa America tournament.
Despite his side’s loss to Uruguay in the third-place play-off on Saturday, where Bair came off the bench for the final 13 minutes, his stock is clearly on the rise.
Kettlewell revealed that there have been several bids for the player, all of which have been rejected by the club – but knows it’s only a matter of time before someone offers a fee that Motherwell can’t resist.
He said: “There have been a lot of conversations and I’ve been really transparent with some of those conversations, some of the bids that have come in that have been turned down by the football club.
“But I’m now thinking he is back from international duty and that will start to move over the next 24-48 hours.”
In other news, Liam Kelly, who joined Rangers this summer, has been replaced as Motherwell’s captain by Paul McGinn.
Due to McGinn’s absence from the most recent Premier Sports Cup triumph over Edinburgh City, Stephen O’Donnell assumed the armband. Furthermore, O’Donnell will assume the responsibilities of vice captain for the forthcoming season, according to Kettlewell.
“The two players have participated in more than 1,000 football games together,” Kettlewell said.
“Paul has a voice and a significant impact on the locker room. It’s amazing how much consistency and excellence he upholds every day.
He possesses the group affinity that I believe a captain should have. A captain must have significant influence; they are not merely names Considering the expertise and voice both players have on the squad, this was ultimately an easy choice to make.
