In-form Irish League striker attracting transfer interest from England ahead of window opening
In-form Crusaders striker Fraser Bryden is attracting interest from clubs in England after his sensational start to life in the Irish League.
Scottish star Bryden joined the Crues from Ayr United during the summer and has wasted no time in showing his sharpshooting ability, currently sitting top of the Premiership’s goalscoring charts after netting 13 times in as many appearances.
That tally includes a memorable four goals during last weekend’s victory over Glenavon while Bryden also struck a hat-trick to help Declan Caddell’s men defeat Bangor in August.
Bryden’s form hasn’t gone unnoticed with clubs from League Two understood to have shown early interest in making a move ahead of the January transfer window – but any potential suitor will have to stump up a significant fee due to the striker signing a two-year contract at Seaview.
The 21-year-old will miss Saturday’s trip to Ballymena United through suspension as Caddell’s men look to extend their winning league run to three.
Bryden insists interest from across the water won’t impact his game with the forward determined to seize his Irish League chance.
"I don't really look into any of that stuff,” he told the Ayrshire Post this week. “It's nice to be spoken of like that but my only focus is on playing football and scoring goals.
"I'm just looking to grab my opportunity over here with both hands and long may it continue."
Bryden is following a similar trajectory to that of countryman Kieran Offord, who shone during a loan stint with the Crues from St Mirren before joining Irish League champions Linfield in a six-figure deal in January.
Caddell has worked his magic once again by identifying Bryden from the Scottish market and has developed him into a lethal striker.
Before arriving in Northern Ireland, Bryden’s previous best goal return in a single senior league season was one, amassed while playing for both Ayr and a loan spell at Queen of the South.
Crusaders are in a strong position when it comes to negotiations with potential interested parties, but Caddell insists he won’t stand in Bryden’s way if a “bigger and better opportunity” presents itself.
"Listen, they're my players,” he said. "You always want the best for them.
"If there's a bigger and better opportunity for my players, I'd be the first one to push them out the door.
"I'm not selfish whatsoever that way. If they're able to move on to bigger and better things than we can provide here, then brilliant.
"I've been part of their journey and that's what I am as a coach. I try to develop young players and let them lift the levels and move on to bigger and better things.
"I've managed to do that the past year and the coaching staff have managed to do that the past year.
"For me, he's a Crusaders player at the minute. He'll remain a Crusaders player at the minute. There will be interest around him, but he's content.
"He's a good lad, he's an honest lad, he'll want to develop and he'll always make the right choice as it comes along what's best for him.”