Hooper wage demands explain why the band won’t be reforming

The band won’t be reforming!

When Fraser Forster signed on loan from Southampton he borrowed Victor Wanyama’s number 67 as speculation mounted that Neil Lennon had his eyes on signing the Spurs midfielder.

Sitting at home as free agents Joe Ledley and Gary Hooper teased on social media about recreating the summer of 2012 when Celtic had clinched title number 1 and prepared for Champions League football.

The reunion never got off the ground. Time and a claim that Hooper is looking for his £30,000/week Sheffield Wednesday wages have ensured that they won’t be getting back together again.

Ledley appeared close to a move to Holland during the summer but after making four Championship appearances for Derby last season he is back home in Wales, training with Cardiff City and at the age of 32 is waiting on the phone to ring.

Likewise Hooper, after playing six matches last season for Sheffield Wednesday he remains unattached, yesterday Bristol Live dampened down the prospects of a move to Bristol City:

Bristol Live can reveal that Hooper has been identified as the best candidate but after holding initial talks with his representatives the prospect of the 31-year-old signing looks remote.

Unlike Ashley Williams, who has signed a short-term deal until January which could be extended until next summer, Hooper wanted a longer term contract beyond this season.

Given his status as effectively an emergency signing who may only be needed for the next three months, that could run contrary to transfer plans for both windows in 2020.

Hooper was also on around £30,000-a-week at Sheffield Wednesday and any salary close to that amount would make him among the highest earners in the City squad, if not the highest.

Wanyama, Ledley and Hooper will probably be watching Forster and Lennon tonight against Cluj but the prospects of a reunion are over although all three played significant roles in creating the current run of success.