Breaking: Town Reportedly Has Advanced Negotiations To Sign Another Top Experience Player

Shandon Baptiste, a former Brentford midfielder, is rumored to be in advanced negotiations with Luton about a free move.

After spending four years in West London, the 26-year-old left the Gtech Community Stadium in the summer after Bees manager Thomas Frank did not extend his contract. He is presently a free agent. Prior to making his debut for Oxford United’s main squad in 2017, Baptiste had spent a season on loan at National League South outfit Hampton & Richmond.

In October 2018, he played for Oxford in a League One match against Town. With 17 minutes remaining, he was sent out for two bookings, but the Hatters rallied from a 1-0 deficit to win 2-1, due to goals from James Collins and Dan Potts. After that, Baptiste experienced many shoulder dislocations until an anterior cruciate ligament injury ended his season in January 2019.

After starting the 2-1 Championship loss at Kenilworth Road in February 2020 while still at the Bees, the midfield player was acquired by Brentford 12 months later for an undisclosed sum thought to be around £2.25 million. However, as the team advanced through the play-offs the following season, he sustained a knee injury.

Rehabbed to full fitness for the 2021–22 Premier League season, Baptiste scored in the 2-2 draw against Leeds United in December 2021. He went on to make 68 league appearances for the Bees, 18 of which came from the start. Baptiste played 10 times in the top flight the previous season, adding a goal from close range in the 3-1 victory over Luton in December.

Town is looking to bolster their midfield spots as Luke Berry is leaving, Sambi Lokonga returned to parent club Arsenal, and Ross Barkley left Luton for Aston Villa on Monday. According to TEAMtalk, they are getting close to signing Baptiste, who has also played for Grenada internationally. His first cap came in a 5-0 friendly loss against Panama in October 2017, followed by his second in a 2-2 draw against Trinidad & Tobago. His last cap came in a 4-2 loss against Belize in March 2018.

“We signed Shandon when we were in the Championship, when the aim was to achieve promotion to the Premier League,” director of football Phil Giles stated of Baptiste to the team’s official website before departing Brentford in the summer. Together, Shandon and Brentford have accomplished that, and throughout the previous three seasons as a Premier League player, he has participated in several pivotal events for us.

We believe that now is the appropriate moment to allow Shandon to establish himself as a reliable and important member of another team since, in all honesty, we know he would want to be more active on the field than he has been.