CHESTER CITY experienced mixed fortunes in the transfer market yesterday. They completed signings of two midfield players, but were thwarted in their attempts to bring a central defender to the club.
City's second financial offer to Mansfield Town for their central defender Dave Artell was refused by the Nottinghamshire club. However the Coca-Cola League Two outfit were successful in completing the signings of midfield play-ers Justin Walker and Craig Dove.
Following Mansfield's rejection of Chester's improved offer for Artell, manager Keith Curle may now be forced to look elsewhere for a central defender.
"We offered what we considered to be a fair price for Dave, but I do have other options which I will now pursue," explained the manager last night. "Mansfield will not budge on the matter, so unfortunately it appears to be a closed issue as far as we are concerned and we must now move on."
Curle did complete the signings of Walker and Dove, who were with Cambridge United and Rushden and Diamonds respectively last season.
And Curle is hoping to strengthen his squad further next week, with former Mansfield Town player Luke Dimich and ex-Yeovil Town player Abdul El Kholti close to agreeing terms with the Deva Stadium outfit.
"This is an extremely busy time in football, but thank-fully we are now beginning to see results from a number of negotiations and discussions we've had," the manager added. "We hopefully will be able to add Dimich and Kholti to our squad early next week."
