Wellens

[teblin]

Wellens

[daveyboy]

EXCLUSIVE by John Edwards

Last updated at 2:48 PM on 12th May 2009

Nigel Pearson has been told to raise his offer after failing with a £1million move for Doncaster midfielder Richie Wellens.

The Leicester manager steered his side to instant promotion, 12 months after dropping out of the Championship, and wasted no time earmarking Wellens as his first transfer target.

But the ball is back in Pearson's court after Doncaster turned down the bid and made it clear it would take at least £1.5m to prise the 29-year old away from the Keepmoat Stadium.

Wellens, a stylish midfielder with an eye for goal, was in the same Manchester United youth set-up as John O'Shea and Wes Brown and has convinced Pearson he would enhance Leicester's chances of making an impact in the Championship next season.

[Super Arj]

never seen him play..

any good??

[Edmund]

Richard Paul "Richie" Wellens (born 26 March 1980 in Moston, Manchester) is an English professional footballer currently playing as a midfielder for Doncaster Rovers.

Wellens started his career at Manchester United, playing alongside the likes of Wes Brown and John O'Shea. But frustrated at the lack of opportunities, he moved to Blackpool in 2000. In 2005 he left Blackpool for

his local side Oldham Athletic. In summer 2007, after turning down an improved contract offered by Oldham, he signed a two year contract with fellow League One side Doncaster Rovers.[1]

Wellens made the 2004-05, 2006-07 and 2007-08 League One PFA Team of the Year.

Wellens was a vital player in the Doncaster side that gained promotion to the Championship in 2007–08. His skillful midfield performances brought him several individual awards, several key goals and helped the

team gain promotion. His first competitive goal for Doncaster was in August 2007 in the Football League Cup with the second strike in a 4–1 victory over Lincoln City, however this wasn't the first time he had hit the

back of the net for Doncaster; In his very first appearance in a Doncaster shirt, Wellens impressively chipped the ball over the opposition goalkeeper and into the net from fully 40 yards in a pre-season friendly

against non-league Retford United.

In July 2008, Wellens put pen-to-paper on a two-year extension to his current contract, leaving him contracted to Doncaster until the summer of 2011.

[Matt]

I know we can trust all these rumours and articles but every player we are bidding for we seem to be bidding in the millions region, i'm surprised tbh.

I don't know alot about this player though.

[Ultra]

Used to play for Blackpool.

He'd be a useful buy for us.

[Joe.]

Wellens would be quality!

[foxoffderby]

good passer, bit of a midfield mastro likes to dictate the play with an for goal

[CosbehFox]

Very good player. Eye for a pass.

[daveyboy]

good passer, bit of a midfield mastro likes to dictate the play with an for goal

Like the idea that he is a good passer of the ball; adds some more quality. Ex-United as well, not always but most of the time gives some credability too...

[morris1234]

hmmmmm who suggested him in the wish list? errrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrmmmmmmmmm no slipped my mind!

WHAT A SHOUT!

enough messing, this guy is quality great work rate, brilliant passer and scores some right stunners.

[Sir Fynwy]

£1.5m way too much imo.

[Granno]

Good purchase if the price is right. Anything more than £1.5 mill seems a bit steep.

[potter3]

Good purchase if the price is right. Anything more than £1.5 mill seems a bit steep.

Especially as he's 29, not saying he's too old, but we're not likely to recoup much of that in transfer fees. Then again, if he helps us into the Prem, it'd easily be worth it.

[StanSP]

Good player.

WOuldn't mind seeing him at the Walkers.

I presume that Doncaster want £1.5 (too high imo) as they might want to look for a suitable replacement should he leave.

[Dr The Singh]

1.5 mill is alot of money, let's hope the value is a gross exaggeration!!

[Guest Basildon Fox]

Wellens

We seem to be linked with this guy every season don't we? £1.5 m for a very average player. If that is what players of his calibre are going to cost in the summer then I would think we can expect a raid on European players. Wouldn't pay £100k for the bloke and would not improve our team or our squad imo.

[ousefox]

£1.5m is a lot of money for a 29 year old. I have heard he is a good player but this does seem a bit steep.

[Guest Chocolate Teapot]

never seen him play..

any good??

I watched him play against Forest when Doncaster beat them 4-0 and he certainly stood out, I seem to remember him scoring a delightful chip and bullying the Forest midfield out of the game. I think he might be a very good buy if this is true, however I don't really think Donnie would be too keen in allowing him to leave.

[teblin]

I'd guess we have prob bid about 600-700k

and will prob get him for about 800-900k with add ons if we go up.(if we do actually want him)

The press usually have over inflated prices caused by agents.

[General Smuts]

Worth a squirt at that price. Does he play on the wing or is that wishful thinking that he'll keep 'can't cross Maxi' out the team?

[StanSP]

Worth a squirt at that price. Does he play on the wing or is that wishful thinking that he'll keep 'can't cross Maxi' out the team?

Think he's more of a central midfielder...

[leicesterseddon]

1.5 mill is alot of money, let's hope the value is a gross exaggeration!!

well yeah, this is the football transfer market after all...

£1m is a decent amount. if no other higher bids come in, NP really wants him, and he's up for coming here, we'll probably see him in a city shirt before too long i would think...

[MarkDeVries]

Sounds good but 1.5m for a 29 year old

1m sounds okay though

[Hitesh]

Would be good but not for £1.5m and I can't see MM or NP wanting him for that much anyway. If the play has any sense and wants to move he will ask to move in which case they will probably let him go for £1m rather than something less later on. All depends if the player wants to move or not!