Tom Bradshaw is not for sale according to Walsall boss Dean Smith. Speaking to BBC WM 95.6 today, Smith says the player wants to stay after a bid from league rivals Swindon Town was rejected earlier this week.
Top goal scorer Bradshaw only signed a new contract as recently as June, and following three goals in the opening four games of the new season, the former Shrewsbury Town man has begun to attract significant interest.
It is no secret that the Robins are hoping to add a new striker to their squad. Jonathan Obika was the only striker named in Mark Cooper’s latest matchday squad and after losing several key players over the summer, Cooper is hoping to significantly add to his squad prior to the September 1st transfer deadline.
However that is of no concern to Smith, who insists his star striker isn’t going anywhere and is fully focused on the coming season at the Bescot Stadium,
“We don’t want to sell him and he wants to stay. Tom showed his intent by signing his new contract and, as far as I am concerned, he’s not for sale.”
Bradshaw is currently in the form of his life, so it won’t come as a surprise to his manager that clubs are taking a greater notice of the front man. As recently as last week in the 4-3 Capital One Cup victory at Nottingham Forest, Bradshaw scored his first professional hat-trick. Whilst Smith acknowledges Bradshaw is a key man, Walsall is far from a one-man team,
“He led the line well (in the recent 2-0 win against Southend United), had good support, and took his goal really well. Anyone who comes to watch us will see that it’s not all about Tom Bradshaw though. It’s a team game and Tom’s very supportive of his team mates and he’ll be the first to say they’re doing him a lot of credit.”
Although the figure from Swindon has been disclosed, the Express & Star believes it is significantly below what the Saddlers value last season’s 20 goal striker at. Smith had earlier revealed to the Express & Star that their valuation of their man will only increase considering his superb start to the season.
