As I write this piece it is currently the 18th of June and we are 13 days away from the start of the summer Transfer Window. Needless to say it is going to have to be a busy one on Leeside. Cork City currently find themselves bottom of the pile in 10th position, 2 points off of fellow relegation candidates Sligo Rovers after their 1-0 win against Waterford on Saturday Night.
It is clear that City comprised a poor squad at the start of the season and it looks like a few of the shining lights of this already subpar group of players may depart their spot in the changing room.
Every League of Ireland club is allowed 4 loan signings at a time and 3 of these loans are set to expire at the end of June. The first of these is Kitt Nelson who has impressed many in his short spell at Cork City, playing as a No.10 and on the left wing netting 4 goals. Nelson is set to finish his loan with City and return to Preston North End with talk of another loan move this time to newly promoted League One club Bradford City.
Tein Troost is another player who is set to depart the club at the end of his loan spell. Troost joined the the club from Eredivisie side NAC Breda on loan with an option to buy at the start of the season. This buy option is believed to be €75,000 but it looks like Troost will return to the Netherlands. Lee Steacy is a rumour right now of a possible replacement. He had quite a successful season with Cobh Ramblers in 2023 securing himself a move to Shamrock Rovers where he has spent the last season and a half as 2nd choice and now third choice keeper.
Onto the players that are contracted until the end of the season. The biggest topic at the minute is Djenairo Daniels as credit to Dan McDonell revealed that Kilmarnock are in for the Dutch Striker and are interested in bringing him to the Scottish Premiership. There has also been murmers of the Dutchman returning to his homeland in the Netherlands. When he was announced just before kick off in the Munster derby it said that he had signed until July. This is impossible as players must be signed until the end of the season so it is believed there is some sort of clause or gentlemen’s agreement to let the striker leave once the window opens.
This will be a big let down for the Rebel Army as he has quickly been accepeted by the fanbase becoming the club’s joint top scorer this season scoring 4 goals.
Onto the most talked about and inevitable departure is young superstar Cathal O’Sullivan who looks increasingly likely to join FA Cup winners and Europa League competing Crystal Palace. As LOI Talk exclusively revealed that Cork City have been offered €400k for the 18 year old. The young winger has impressed many in the last year and a half with his finishing ability and his old school grit and flair. The English side would’ve payed upwards of €1m but City don’t have much negotiating power as his contract expires in 6 months.
There is a rumour of Milan Mbeng leaving City for Belgium. Many have jumped to the conclusion following his immediate departure of the pitch on Friday Night without shaking any hands or clapping the fans. City would be entitled to a fee if he left and it is a rumour for now. It would be a shame to see the 23 year-old leave as he has become a fan favourite.
Fiacre Kelleher has been announced as Nash’s first recruit coming in from Colchester United after rejecting a deal there and choosing to return home to Cork. He is of course brother of Caoimhin who recently got his big move to Brentford. He joins City with a lot of experience at a high level in the English pyramid which should translate to the League of Ireland. It is believed his contract will take him to the end of the 2027 season.
Tyreik Wright however is another name linked to coming across the water and join Cork City. Wright is a winger who can plays off the left but can also play on the right aswell with his preferred foot being his right. Wright played under Nash in the Villa youth system and the 23 year-old has been spotted back in Cork over the last few weeks as he is from Ovens, Co.Cork.
Lee Steacy is not the only Shamrock Rovers player linked with a move down the M8. Gary O’Neill and Trevor Clarke have also been linked with a move to Cork City.
O’Neill is a No.6 who can also play as an 8 and has only made 8 appearances this season but has 163 Premier Division games under his belt and at 30 years old he would be the perfect age profile to join the club.
Trevor Clarke on the other hand made his first start of the season on Monday Night as his side beat Drogheda United 2-1. Clarke is a 27 year-old Left Back which would make sense for City as Benny Cuoto will be sidelined for a good while with a suspected ankle injury. Clarke has a good bit of LOI experience with 124 PD games in his legs.
It’s going to be a busy window in Bishopstown but one they have top get right if they went any chance of salvaging something from this horrid season so far.
Credit to Sportsfile for the photo.