AFC Wimbledon will be relieved 2022 target didn’t sign given Bristol Rovers struggles: View | OneFootball

In the summer of 2022, AFC Wimbledon had just suffered their first ever relegation, landing back in League Two following six years in the third tier.

As part of a rebuild that summer, the Dons looked to target a goalscorer following the departure of their talisman Ollie Palmer in the January window of the previous season.

One of many goal-getters they were reportedly interested in was John Marquis, who certainly knew where the net was in League Two, having previously scored 26 goals for Doncaster Rovers in 2016/17 in the same division.

However, given both parties' history since that reported interest in the summer of 2022, AFC Wimbledon can be very relieved that the Englishman was never signed.

AFC Wimbledon's interest in John Marquis

The interest from Wimbledon was reported by South London Press, who wrote that, following the expiry of his contract at Lincoln City, he was available as a free agent and that the Dons were one of many clubs interested in his services.

The South West Londoners likely put themselves forward as a club that wanted to sign the now 32-year-old, as Marquis is from London, and having spent a good portion of his career circling around a few Northern-based teams, he perhaps favoured a move back toward more familiar territory.

Adding to this was the fact that the Dons had a fair bit of money to spend. As mentioned, the club had parted ways with Ollie Palmer six months prior in the January transfer window and had gained a reported £300,000 from the deal. However, they also had funds from the future sale of Jack Rudoni to lean upon if they wanted to make a fast move for Marquis.

John Marquis' mediocre spell at Bristol Rovers

Despite the Dons presenting themselves as an option to Marquis, the Lewisham-born forward chose to move west to Bristol Rovers, where he played up until the end of 2023/24.

In his two full seasons since at the Gas, the forward has been underwhelming, not following up on the impressive form that he had shown in previous seasons at League One level.

In 22/23, he scored 11 in 42 appearances, and in 2023/24, he was even more disappointing, appearing 42 times again but only scoring six times.

Wimbledon, then, can perhaps be slightly smug that the money they had to spend in that summer window in 2022 was not spent on Marquis, as given his recent record, he certainly is not the same player he was five or so seasons ago.

However, there is perhaps an even greater reason as to why the Dons can be hugely relieved the Englishman never signed for the club.

Marquis' missed signature led to the signing of Ali Al-Hamadi

While not strictly connected, it could be argued that the club missing out on Marquis led to the signing of Ali Al-Hamadi.

In truth, Al-Hamadi was signed using funds largely generated by the departure of Ayoub Assal, and the Iraqi was perhaps viewed as more of a replacement for the diminutive Moroccan attacker.

However, come the January window when he was signed, the Dons were without Nathan Young-Coombes, following his recall by Brentford, and had Josh Davison as their only recognised striker. Had Marquis been part of the side, there may have been no need to sign Al-Hamadi in the end, and this could have been catastrophic for the club.

The Iraqi international's 10 goals in his first half-season at the club meant that, despite an awful drop-off in form, the Dons remained in League Two, and in his second half-season at the club, in 2023/24, his 13 goals somewhat powered Wimbledon to a top ten finish.

Further to that, Al-Hamadi's eventual record sale to Ipswich Town in January 2024 has given Wimbledon much-needed money.

The Dons are famously fan-owned and with that comes the fact the club are somewhat cash-strapped in League Two. Therefore, Al-Hamadi's significant sale has not only generated funds for future signings and contract renewals but has also given the clubs' pockets a small boost as they looked to pay off debts surrounding the building of Plough Lane.

So had Marquis been signed just over two years ago, the Dons could have been sat in a very different position. They would not be as financially better off as they are now, and if things had gone the same way they have for Marquis at Bristol Rovers, they would've been left disappointed.

Therefore, Wimbledon fans can perhaps feel quite pleased that such a deal for Marquis never came about, and that, thanks to savvy work by their new transfer team in 2023, they instead got to witness one of the best players the club has seen in the 21st century.