Rotherham United Cautioned Over Sam Nombe Exit as Bolton Wanderers Show Deadline Interest
Rotherham United have been urged to tread carefully over the future of striker Sam Nombe, with League One promotion hopefuls Bolton Wanderers reportedly considering a late move for the forward ahead of Monday’s transfer deadline.
Bolton are firmly in the hunt for a long-awaited return to the Championship and currently find themselves six points outside the League One automatic promotion places. However, Steven Schumacher’s side remain in the mix, with second-placed Lincoln City holding a game in hand, meaning the promotion picture remains finely balanced.
In stark contrast, Rotherham United are fighting for survival near the foot of the table. Despite securing a crucial 2-1 victory over fellow relegation battlers Northampton Town on Tuesday, the Millers remain just two points above the relegation zone and face a tense battle to avoid an alarming drop into League Two.
The South Yorkshire outfit have been active in the transfer market, recently bringing in highly-rated Leeds United youngster Harry Gray on loan. However, attention has quickly turned to Nombe, who has attracted interest from Bolton as they look to strengthen their attacking options.
Debate Grows Over £2m Sam Nombe Valuation
Although Nombe’s campaign has been disrupted by injury, limiting him to just 12 League One appearances so far this season, the 27-year-old has still managed to make a telling impact, scoring six league goals and underlining his importance to Rotherham’s survival hopes.
Rotherham have reportedly placed a £2 million price tag on the striker, a figure that reflects both his proven goalscoring ability and the club’s reluctance to weaken their squad while locked in a relegation scrap.
Football League World sought the opinion of Millers fan pundit Tom Eyre on whether the club should consider cashing in on Nombe or stand firm amid growing interest. Eyre admitted the situation is far from straightforward.
He explained that while £2 million is a substantial sum for any League One club, it is highly unlikely Bolton would be willing or able to meet such a valuation. Eyre also pointed out that although the money would be significant for Rotherham, the limited time remaining in the January window would make reinvestment extremely difficult.
Eyre added that while a £2m deal including add-ons would normally be hard to refuse, the reality of the market and Rotherham’s current position means a move is improbable. He believes selling Nombe with just days left in the window would be a major risk, especially given the club’s precarious league standing.
Keeping Nombe Key to Rotherham’s Survival Push
Having only dropped into League One from the Championship in 2024, Rotherham now face the very real prospect of a second successive relegation. Only bottom-placed Port Vale have recorded fewer League One wins than Matt Hamshaw’s side this season, highlighting the scale of the challenge ahead.
Nombe, who is averaging a goal every two matches in the third tier, possesses the quality and experience needed to help drag Rotherham away from danger. His goals could prove decisive in the coming months, making his retention vital to the club’s hopes of avoiding relegation.
As Eyre concluded, with so little time remaining in the transfer window and the stakes so high, Rotherham United would be wise to resist any temptation to cash in on their key striker.
Attention now turns back to matters on the pitch, where the Millers can boost their survival prospects further by following up their win over Northampton Town with a positive result away at Exeter City this Saturday.
