Hampton & Richmond Borough striker Ben Wright’s proposed move to Premier League side Fulham is hanging in the balance as the clock ticked down towards Monday’s transfer deadline.
The Beavers announced last Friday they had accepted an undisclosed fee for the 20-year-old, who has caught the eye with 13 goals in 14 starts for the club this season.
Hampton boss Alan Devonshire said on Monday that Wright had only to complete a medical at the Cottagers’ Motspur Park training ground before completing formalities on Wednesday.
Since then, talks have stalled, with the Beveree chief remaining tight-lipped after Wright sat out Saturday’s 3-1 triumph over Thurrock in preparation for the move.
“It is all up in the air. I can’t say anything until it is all sorted,” said Devonshire.
Earlier in the week, a Fulham FC spokesman had revealed the club were unaware of Hampton’s meeting with Roy Hodgson and officials last week, which saw the two clubs agree an undisclosed fee for the player.
The deal was thought to be in excess of the £40,000 QPR paid the Beavers for Leroy Griffiths in 2001 but yesterday the contract remained unsigned with rumours circulating that another club had come to the table.
League One Millwall and Championship side Reading had been linked with Wright in the past, while Brentford boss Andy Scott revealed earlier this month that his interest in him had cooled.
“We have had him scouted, I have watched him several times and we have spoken to Reading about him. We are well aware of him,” Scott said.
“I know what he can do, what he is good at and what he is not good at. It is not something we are looking at doing at the moment, but you never say never.”
January’s transfer window closes on Monday at 5pm, which should see a flurry of action over the next three days, and Scott has warned Hampton it is not a system stacked in the favour of small clubs.
“Things go mental at this time of year,” he added.
“We field a lot of phone calls from agents and managers “There is not a lot of money about at the moment and clubs lower down the leagues cannot afford to make mistakes.
“Clubs can hold out for better deals up until the last minute or you can pick up bargains.
“It becomes a free-for-all and the only people who win are the agents.”
