Luton Town have been dealt a big dent in their aspirations of a Play-Off place, with two further players set to depart Kenilworth Road.
Jerry Yates has completed a loan move to Sheffield Wednesday, while the Owls are also interested in taking Marvelous Nakamba.
But it would be the loss of Christ Makosso that would be the most devastating, with Oxford United a rumoured destination for the 21-year-old Congolese defender.
There was some positive news for the Bedfordshire outfit, with a replacement for Yates close to being announced. Devante Cole was believed to be undertaking his medical at the Hatters yesterday, boosting Luton’s forward line. Bradford City were also said to have been interested in the 30-year-old, but they have moved on to other targets after also having a bid rejected for Jake Beesley.
Starting with Yates, things just haven’t clicked for him at the Hatters this season. After bagging 20 times in League One for Blackpool in 20/21, the 29-year-old has scored at least eight goals in the last four Championship campaigns. That includes ten on loan at Derby County last season, which convinced Luton to make a move in the summer to sign him from Swansea City.
But Yates has struck just twice in the third tier this term, failing to force himself into Jack Wilshere’s plans since he took charge in mid-October. While a move to a division higher seems odd on the face of it, given that form, Wednesday are extremely limited in what business they are able to conduct while they are in administration.
That also explains the South Yorkshire’s sides intertest in Nakamba, though this deal has an extra layer of complexity to it. While the Zimbabwe international has six months left on his current deal, The Star are reporting that he may terminate his deal at the Hatters to move to S6. Despite featuring in the Premier League and Championship for Luton, Nakamba has just 16 minutes of league football behind him this term.
Biggest Blow For Luton
It’s the loss of Makosso, though, that would be the most disastrous, more so in the long-term. Oxford United are finalising a loan move for the 21-year-old, with a £3m option to buy, according to Dan Marsh. While he has only played eleven League One games this term, he kept three clean sheets in his four league appearances of the season.
Winner of the Hatters Young Player of the Year and Signing of the Season last term, Makosso enjoyed a breakout campaign in his debut campaign in Bedfordshire. It is believed the fee Luton may receive for his services, if Oxford opted for a permanent move, would represent a profit from when he was signed from RWDM Brussels 12 months ago.
Luton are aiming to avoid three successive defeats this afternoon when they face Blackpool. Wilshere’s side are six points adrift of the Play-Off places, requiring a quick turnaround in form to avoid dropping down the table. The Hatters are only two points above 14th-placed Plymouth Argyle, as they bid to avoid another season in the third tier after successive relegations.