Argyle plot record Walton swoop
August 5th, 2008 | by conrad |BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | Plymouth | Argyle plot record Walton swoopPlymouth Argyle could break their record transfer fee as they try to sign QPR midfielder Simon Walton.
Argyle boss Paul Sturrock hopes to tie up the 20-year-old in a £500,000 deal later this week.
The club’s record is £500,000, set in January when Scottish striker Steve MacLean joined from Cardiff City.
But Sturrock has revealed that the transfer fee for the former Leeds midfielder could rise up to £750,000 with add-ons.
“We’re still in the middle of negotiations with Simon Walton, as I have been with a lot of other players throughout the summer,” Sturrock said.
He added that he hopes to finalise the deal later this week.
Walton began his career at his hometown club Leeds, making 34 appearances for the club between 2004 and 2006. He then moved to Charlton Athletic for £500,000, but failed to make a first-team appearance.
“I envisaged it to be hard to bring in players, but not this hard”
Plymouth Argyle manager Paul SturrockWhile at the Valley, he was loaned out to Ipswich Town and Cardiff City before moving to QPR in a £200,000 deal last summer.
He made five appearances for QPR last season before being loaned to Hull City in January where he played 10 games.
Argyle have seen a host of players leave the club since the end of last season, including star Hungarian winger Peter Halmosi, who left for Hull City in a deal believed to be worth £2m.
Argyle’s captain Paul Wotton was released at the end of last season, as was veteran midfielder Lilian Nalis. The club also cancelled the contract of goalkeeper Luke McCormick after he was charged with causing death by dangerous driving.
But Sturrock has found it hard to bring in replacements, only paying a fee for one player - Barnet winger Jason Puncheon - who cost £250,000.
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