Exclusive: Bristol Rovers, Northampton Town and Shrewsbury eyeing Wycombe Wanderers player
The 27-year-old has had a difficult time getting into the starting lineup this season, starting just three league games for the Chairboys and sitting out a good portion of the 2024–25 season thus far.
He has been able to avoid starting because of players like Aaron Morley, Luke Leahy, and Tyreeq Bakinson, and Matt Bloomfield hasn’t needed to use Butcher because the third-tier league leaders are now doing well.
Having been in every matchday squad thus far this season, he is still part of Bloomfield’s plans, but if he is to succeed at Adams Park, he obviously needs more league playing time.
Other clubs appear to be on high alert ahead of the January transfer window because the midfield player may struggle to get much playing time between now and the end of the season.
Butcher might be moving again in January. He only joined the Chairboys in January of this year after his contract with Plymouth Argyle was terminated.
Even though he doesn’t play much in the third division, clubs are still interested in the player.
Rovers are currently in a relegation battle, but so are Northampton and Shrewsbury, two other teams who have the 27-year-old on their radar ahead of the January window.
Ex-Wycombe boss Gareth Ainsworth, who’s currently in charge of the Shrews, could use his contacts at Adams Park to try and get a deal over the line.
He will be looking to steal a march on the two other teams in this race, both of whom haven’t got a permanent manager in place at this stage.
It’s unclear at this point how the player feels about leaving Buckinghamshire.
Butcher may be hesitant to leave Adams Park just yet, though, given that he has only been there for a little over a year.
Although he doesn’t play much in the league, he is getting a lot of starts in cup competitions and, assuming he can remain healthy, is expected to play in the FA Cup match against Portsmouth on January 10.
The Chairboys may not be prepared to let him go without a fight either.
It might be difficult for interested teams to get a deal next month because he is still a vital member of the team.
