Luton forward tipped to join Shrewsbury Town on loan
Gbode rumoured to be heading to the Croud Meadow Stadium
Luton striker Joe Gbode is tipped to move to League Two side Shrewsbury Town on a season-long loan.
The 21-year-old would become Salop’s seventh addition of the summer, after signing midfielders Jack Price and Jay Turner-Cooke, plus Byron Pendleton, Isaac Fletcher, Josh Davison and Arkell Jude-Boyd during the transfer window. Gbode moved to Kenilworth Road from Gillingham last September, making five substitute outings in the league, plus three Vertu Trophy appearances, but only featured twice once Jack Wilshere was appointed.
He moved to National League side Woking in January, having played for two EFL teams, with five outings for his former side prior to joining Luton, making it 58 matches in total for the Gills, but only four goals. After scoring in his first two matches against Walton & Hersham and Forest Green, Gbode was on target four times in 16 fixtures for the Cards, who are managed by ex-England international Jermain Defoe.
Returning to Bedfordshire in the summer, the Shropshire Star is now reporting that Shrewsbury are closing in on a deal to borrow the former Gills player, who didn’t feature for Luton in their opening pre-season friendly at Hitchin Town on Saturday. Having missed out on selection along with Town team-mate Lasse Nordas when Wilshere initially took charge, then speaking in November about their exclusions, the ex-Arsenal and England star said: “I hope they know why.
"I’ve had conversations with them and hope they’re clear on why that is. It’s tough, it is tough because you come in and without really seeing them play and going off training, I had decisions to make and it wasn’t easy. They’re still part of it, they’re still part of the squad. They’re in training every day, they’re working hard, they’re trying to find their way into the squad, and listen, everyone has to be ready.
"It could be an injury, could be an illness overnight and all of a sudden you’re in the squad and then the last 20 minutes you could get your chance. So they have to stay ready and they are. When we talked about coming in and what do the players need, clarity was one of them. Clarity on what we’re doing, how we’re trying to play, what our vision is but also clarity for the individual if he’s not involved or he’s been left out. So we try and do that as staff, sometimes it’s not easy, but I think they deserve that.”