Rotherham United are closing in on their 13th summer signing, with a deal for Salford City midfielder Josh Austerfield expected to be confirmed shortly. Head coach Alex Bruce is also pushing to add at least one more player before the weekend, as the League Two side looks to strengthen ahead of Tuesday's transfer deadline. The Millers currently sit 17th in League Two, having taken one point from their opening two matches, and face a key home fixture against 16th-placed Chesterfield this weekend.
What does Josh Austerfield bring to Rotherham?
Josh Austerfield, a 24-year-old midfielder, is set to join from Salford City to fill a specific role in the squad. Bruce has been seeking to bolster his midfield options throughout the window, and the impending arrival of the former Huddersfield Town player addresses that need. This move would represent the 13th new face through the door at the New York Stadium this summer, showing a clear intent to rebuild the squad for the campaign ahead. The club's ambition is further reflected in their current league position, where they are just five points behind early leaders Barnet.
Who else is Rotherham United targeting?
Beyond Austerfield, Bruce remains keen to add another attacker and a wide player to his ranks. The Rotherham Advertiser reported that Bruce attended Sheffield United's Carabao Cup tie against Blackburn Rovers on Tuesday night, where he watched Blades forward Louie Marsh. "He's a player I like," Bruce said of Marsh. "He's a Sheffield United player, and that's all I can say about that for now." Marsh featured against Rotherham in a behind-closed-doors friendly recently, but the club is also tracking alternative options to bolster their frontline. Bruce indicated that one or two signings could materialise before Saturday's game, telling the outlet, "Possibly one, maybe two, between now and Saturday. Watch this space."
Will any players leave Rotherham United this week?
As the deadline looms, Bruce expressed a hope that he will not lose any current squad members. He stated that, as of the midweek report, no clubs had made enquiries about Rotherham players this week. Earlier in the month, Salford City had made a bid for 25-year-old defender Denzel Hall, but that interest is now believed to have cooled. Securing the existing group allows Bruce to focus on integrating new signings, a process he would like to complete before Tuesday's league trip to Tranmere Rovers. The manager admitted that, like most of his peers, he wants the final week of the window to be over so focus can shift entirely to the pitch.
What is the immediate focus for the Millers?
With the transfer deadline set for 11pm on Tuesday night, the immediate football focus is Saturday's home match against Chesterfield. Rotherham will hope any new additions can help improve an attack that has scored two goals while conceding three in the league so far. Bruce and his staff are working to have all business concluded before the squad travels for the Tranmere match on deadline day itself. The club's activity can be tracked on our dedicated squad page, while the full run of upcoming fixtures is available on our fixtures list. Securing positive results in these early games is vital for a team aiming to climb from 17th place in the standings.
