Tranmere look to have won the race to sign midfielder Alex Woodyard on a free transfer from Peterborough United and could unveil the player early this week, roversrearguard.com understands.
Woodyard initially joined Rovers on loan in January and did enough to suggest he’d be a really shrewd signing, especially in League Two. We understand that he had all-but agreed the move with Micky Mellon prior to the manager’s departure and Mike Jackson was equally as keen to get the deal done.
It is our expectation that the player will sign a two-year contract and become Rovers’ first summer signing. There is also interest from Tranmere in at least one other of last season’s loan signings.
There is predicted to be around 800 professional players without clubs this summer, so expect clubs to be largely holding their nerve and making signings even later than usual as they look to drive down salaries.
With the anticipated cap on squad size and salary likely to be introduced by the EFL and the uncertainty of no season start date set in stone as of yet, clubs will be biding their time.
On the Tranmere front, a move for ex-Liverpool midfielder Jay Spearing is looking highly unlikely. We believe the club did make contact with the player, however, a return to Bolton Wanderers is looking most likely at this point.
Meanwhile, there is still no news on some of the other players who are out-of-contract at Rovers this summer. We saw crowd favourite Connor Jennings leave for Stockport last week, while the likes of David Perkins, Olly Banks, Jake Caprice, Neil Danns and Mark Ellis are all ouf of contract.
There is some interest in Ellis from League One newcomers Crewe, with whom he used to play for. Nothing concrete known on any of them right now though.
