In the couple of weeks before the recent transfer window closure, it was widely reported that the Rams had turned down a bid of about £6.5 million from Wolves for out-of-sorts striker Chris Martin.

I feel quite sure that most of us — including me — thought this story would follow the usual pattern in these cases: Wolves would return with a larger offer; other clubs might well make offers too, and Martin would eventually join either Wolves or another club for a fee well north of £6.5 million.

But this one ended very differently: on deadline day, it was reported that Martin had joined Fulham on loan for the rest of the season.

I have to confess to being a little unsure what to make of this whole series of events.

First of all, let us be clear: it may not have made any difference that the Rams turned down Wolves’ offer, if the offer had been accepted, the player himself could have rejected the terms offered to him, either because they did not match his valuation of his worth, or because he did not want to play for Wolves.

That said, why did the Rams turn down Wolves’ initial offer? I can think of two possible reasons; the most obvious one is that they did not think the offer was enough in the current market for proven strikers. The second possibility is that the Rams did not want to allow a player of Martin’s ability to go to Wolves, a team they perhaps see as a likely promotion rival.

Whatever the reason might have been, it now looks as though the only acceptable offer was received from Fulham in the form of a season-long loan.

I imagine the Rams received a loan fee for Martin; almost a season of use for a £6 million plus player ought to translate into about £2 million or so and then there is the saving of all — or at least most — of his wages.

Since Martin’s contract with the Rams does not expire until the end of next season, then as things stand Chris will return to the Rams at the end of this season. Then either he moves on to Fulham permanently, some other club or he is back with the Rams for next season.

But with all of that taken into consideration, I have to wonder if the Rams might have overplayed their hand on this one. From where I am sitting, £6.5 million looks an awful lot better than a loan fee and an uncertain future; particularly when it is starting to look as though the Rams may be adopting a playing style that might not suit Martin all that well.

In addition, the Rams have no idea what condition the player will be in when he returns to us next May; he could be better than he is now but he could also be worse. It could be that the Rams have already seen the best days of Chris Martin’s football career.

Whatever the rationale that went into this decision, I hope it is not another of Sam Rush’s transfer market cock-ups.

I am confident that Nigel Pearson has demanded — and been granted — much more authority in the transfer market than Paul Clement enjoyed. But I do not believe that in a well-run club the manager alone can turn down a £6.5 million transfer offer; that decision would have to be made with input from either chief executive Rush, or by chairman Mel Morris.

Let’s hope that whoever is responsible has not reached a decision we will all regret.

Photo: Action Images

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