Day 300

Peter Johnson, my head scout, took a look at transfer target Ryan Donnelly. He thinks the young Scottish striker is a special talent, good enough to be a star player in any League 2 side—and perhaps in any League 1 side, a few years down the line. His report was even more glowing than Ian Gardner’s and Mark Bradshaw’s were.

Now the trick is figuring out how to sign Donnelly. He has another year on his contract, and he’s at a small club that doesn’t seem too keen to lose him. With a prospective transfer budget next season only a little bigger than nothing, it could prove a big challenge.

I put in an enquiry. From there, I’m thinking of proposing a player exchange—some of my youngsters for Donnelly. His club, Airdrie United, will be promoted to the Scottish First Division—the second tier of Scottish football—for next season, so I’m betting they’ll need a few more players.