Exclusive: Luton Town tipped to be in mix to sign "absolute handful" from Wycombe Wanderers | OneFootball

The Hatters tried to sign the 21-year-old in the new year but failed to do so.

Wycombe Wanderers striker Richard Kone will be a wanted man again this summer following a heavy period of interest in him in January, particularly from Luton Town.

The Hatters' liked Kone before they brought Wycombe's former boss Matt Bloomfield to Kenilworth, as Football League World reported, and that desire to bring him in only strengthened after their new manager's arrival.

They made a number of attempts to sign the forward before the winter window closed in early February but were ultimately unable to reach an agreement with the Chairboys, who rejected bids in excess of £5 million for the former non-league attacker, according to Football Insider.

Kone, 21, has proven that he is more than good enough to play in League One. The natural step then, for him, is to challenge himself in England's second tier. Getting to that point with Wycombe would likely be the ideal scenario for him, but they now have slim chances of winning promotion automatically and will have to battle their way up via the play-offs; a very uncertain path.

Plenty of interest expected in Richard Kone this summer

Regardless of Wycombe's fate this season, clubs in the Championship are likely to be keen on the forward again in the summer.

Sky Sports pundit Don Goodman expects Kone to be playing for someone other than the Chairboys in the 2025/26 campaign. He envisages Luton being among the teams vying for his signature, but the ex-EFL frontman thinks the Hatters' chances of signing the Ivorian will depend on which division they are in.

"Personally, I think that Richard Kone will have options next season, and Luton will be one of them," Goodman exclusively told Football League World. "Obviously the manager, Matt Bloomfield, knows him, but, from his perspective, will Luton be in League One, or will they be in the Championship?

"If they are in the Championship then they will be an attractive proposition for him, but he's had a fantastic season. He's proved to be an absolute handful, he ticks all the attributes that are needed, and I suspect, one way or another, he will be playing away from Wycombe next season."

Hindsight may hit Wycombe hard

It's been a number of years since the Wanderers were last in the Championship. If they manage to win promotion this season, rejecting those big offers for Kone in the new year will probably make it worth it. But what if they don't? What if they fall agonisingly short and don't complete the underdog story?

There's a good chance that next season could roll around and Wycombe will still be in League One and they will receive offers nowhere near the amount of £5 million for a player who may want to go and test himself at a new level. If that comes to be, Wycombe may end up regretting their decision not to sell Kone.