Latics set price tag for O’Grady

Chris O’Grady (right): Among the goals this season.

ATHLETIC have named their price for striker Chris O’Grady — now it is up to Rochdale to match it.

The long-running saga over the striker’s future is set to reach a conclusion late next week. O’Grady, who has enjoyed a hugely successful loan spell at the Coca-Cola League Two side, is down to return to Boundary Park after the Spotland outfit’s home game against Port Vale on Saturday, January 16.

Rochdale manager Keith Hill has made no secret of the fact that he is desperate to keep hold of a player who has scored 12 goals in 21 games, striking up a very useful partnership with Chris Dagnall in the process.

But an extension to the current loan is out of the question as far as Athletic are concerned and though negotiations have taken place with Rochdale officials over a permanent move for O’Grady, no deal has yet been struck.

Athletic are not revealing the figure they are looking for but it is likely to approach six figures, particularly given the rumoured competition for his signature from Championship sides Scunthorpe, Derby and Peterborough.

That sum could be a stretch for Rochdale, who may need to sell before funding the purchase of a player who was deemed surplus to Athletic manager Dave Penney’s requirements earlier this season.

O’Grady, who joined Athletic from Rotherham in May 2008 for a fee of around £30,000, has not registered a goal for the club in that time and spent last season on loan at Bury, Bradford and Stockport.

With Pawel Abbott not yet at full fitness following his return from hernia surgery, Penney is likely to be on the lookout for striking reinforcements following Paul Heffernan’s return to Doncaster after a loan spell at Boundary Park.

But a rumoured move for Blackpool striker Daniel Nardiello is unlikely to come off at this stage, with the striker set to feature for the Championship side this weekend.

The 27-year-old former Manchester United trainee was sent on loan to Bury earlier this season to build up his fitness and impressed for the League Two side, scoring four times in six games.