‘A head-turner’ – AFC Wimbledon boss makes admission over Ipswich’s transfer pursuit of Ali Al-Hamadi
AFC Wimbledon boss Johnnie Jackson admitted Ipswich Town’s interest is “head-turning” for striker Ali Al-Hamadi.
Our paper reported on Thursday that the Championship side had submitted a bid north of £1million for Al-Hamadi, who is away on international duty with Iraq.
The Dons have been demanding a fee in excess of £2m, a club record of the phoenix era, to part with their top goalscorer.
Al-Hamadi has 16 goals and seven assists in all competitions this season.
His former side Wycombe have a sizeable sell-on clause included in any deal.
“There has obviously been big interest in Ali,” said Jackson following Saturday’s 2-1 League Two win over Mansfield.
“He’s away with Iraq, so it’s a difficult one to navigate.
“When you have a player like that doing what he does, he’s going to attract interest. When a club like Ipswich come in, it’s obviously head-turning for the lad.
“It’s something we’re going to have to navigate in the coming days.
“I have always wanted to keep him – he’s the best striker in the league. But when you have the best striker in the league, clubs who can offer you life-changing money come in for you. That changes the landscape completely where the lad is concerned.
“I’d rather you assemble the squad at the end of August, and that was you until the end of the season.
“We’re the hunted, aren’t we? We’re not the hunters because of where we’re at.
“When you have an asset like that, unfortunately, a lot of clubs want to take him – that’s the nature of football.
“A deal has to be done between clubs – it’s not any one thing. We have to see how it pans out over the coming days.
“When a team like that come in and are doing what they’re doing – and can offer you the opportunity to play at a certain level – a team at the top of the Championship, who might be going up the Premier League, is going to be a head-turner.”
PICTURE: KEITH GILLARD
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