Latics set price tag for O’Grady

Photo: Jon Coluccio

It is believed that Rochdale will have to pay a sum in the region of £100,000 to sign Chris O'Grady from Oldham.

Oldham 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 with the League Two leaders, is down to return to Boundary Park after Dale's home game against Port Vale on Saturday 16 January.

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 Oldham are concerned and though negotiations have taken place with Rochdale officials over a permanent move for O’Grady, no deal has yet been struck.

Oldham 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 Oldham manager Dave Penney’s requirements earlier this season.

O’Grady, who joined Oldham 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.