You start by saying the power is all with the player and agent and then proceed to use Ronaldo (biggest transfer fee in the world) and Bale (biggest transfer fee in the world as examples. The clubs did ok there. We have a good record of getting top dollar for our in demand players and given the choice I suspect Ashley would prefer to be lumbered with Mitro for another year than be seen to have become a soft touch - and he's probably correct. £20m+ will be the figure and he'll get it. Is Mitro worth that? Yes I think he probably is.
We should be getting £25m+ for a (probably) in demand international striker with EPL experience in today's market. We are getting quoted the same price for unproven Jorgensen and £30m for hit and miss Andros Townsend ffs. Fulham need to get their hand in their pocket if they want to have the player that got them promoted last season. After the price we got quoted for an average player like Tom Cairney last summer I can quite imagine Mr Ashley playing hard ball with 'The Cottagers'.
On the face of it there's a lot of logic there and cheers for posting as it's a good one. However last year (as mentioned above) Newcastle were apparently quoted £20m+ for Tom Cairney. Mitrovic is younger, has plenty of top flight experience and has just lead the line for his country at the world cup against Brazil, Switzerland and Costa Rica scoring in the process. Cairney can't get in the Scotland side. Prices are nuts, clubs are unreasonable and Ashley never, ever forgets.
Your earlier response suggesting that Ashley could hold on to Mitrovic for a further year interests me. How would this work? For me the only way would be for Ashley to send him out on a season long loan. With the media baggage that he - rightly or wrongly - has attracted surely a return to Newcastle would be impossible, how,for example,would Rafa react? Could he - would he - be prepared to accommodate him into the first team set up,or would he banish him to the reserves,the academy or worst of all make him train on his own? At the moment I assume that he is on post world cup leave and would therefore not return for pre-season training until mid July. Ashley may be many things but a fool he is not,I would expect Mitrovic to be gone before the end of the month,if not to Fulham then to another club. I am surprised that you appear to underestimate Cairney. This was the player,along with Sessignon who destroyed Newcastle when we last met,however he has subsequently had knee problems which restricted his appearances during the first half of the season,only when he reached full fitness,and along with the signing of Mitrovic did our fortunes change - so, is Cairney worth 20 mil? well,we have reportedly rejected that bid by WHU,and according to reports down here Arsenal are showing an interest - presumably as a replacement for Wilshire.however, whether he would pass a medical is another matter.
Good luck in shining any sort of light on anything that Mike Ashley does. We've suffered for over ten years just living with the shame of having a cut-throat owner who is addicted to making huge profits. The man is pre-programmed to squeeze every last penny out of anyone he can - it's just who he is - he won't ever change. I enjoyed the mini history lesson and hopefully you'll get your wish with the big Serbian ending up in London. Although he's had an awesome season under a Serbian Manager, it will be interesting to see how he would cope outside of a scenario where he doesn't get unwavering support. He struggled at times at Newcastle and has been simply awful at times (Oxford in the FA Cup) not to mention his poor discipline. £30m sounds fair to me, although he could do with a pair of roller skates owing to his shocking lack of pace.
Ashley is utterly unpredictable other than he will rinse money out somehow. Mitrovic would be welcomed back by most fans but he's no world beater. As for Cairney, I'm not saying he isn't good just that I disagree with the idea he's worth £5-£10 million more than a younger, higher profile, more successful striker. I'll guarantee Ashley disagrees too.
Unfortunately your 'argument' falls down here .......................... Ashley is indeed many things, and an absolute footballing fool is one of them.
Perhaps not such a footballing fool! Fulham expect to be able to complete the signing of Newcastle United striker Aleksandar Mitrovic when the Serbia international returns from holiday. Telegraph Sport understands that the London club believe they have agreed a fee in principle with the Magpies hierarchy, although there are still details to thrash out over the terms of the payment. Mitrovic has gone away for a short break after Serbia were knocked out of the World Cup at the end of the group stage, but Fulham have already held talks with Newcastle about signing him this summer. That deal is likely to go through before the end of the month, with Fulham set to break their transfer record to land the 23-year-old. Newcastle have been asking for around £20 million for the striker, which would dwarf the £12.4m Fulham paid Olymipacos for Greece international Konstantinos Mitroglou back in 2014. Mitrovic scored 12 goals in just 17 games for the Cottagers as they secure promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs during a successful loan spell last season. The money from the sale of Mitrovic should aid Newcastle in their own recruitment plans, although it is not thought there will be any more signings made before the start of pre-season training on Thursday. Hope the deal goes through and the money is used to finance Rafa's plans,and not to pad out Aashley's back pocket!
£20m up front or £30m over 5 years ala Sissoko! Not pleased but its decent money for him at the end of the day. If the money goes towards Plea could work out well for everyone. I will be the first to say "I told you so" when he inevitably out scores Joselu and Gayle next year though.
Bottom line is that ANY Toon player can be bought, for the right price. Finding Ashley's valuation is all that is required.
You don't need to tell me, I started a thread devoted to his scoring exploits back in January. Unless we bring in someone pretty darn good I reckon we've downgraded but ultimately if he isn't going to get game-time with Rafa he's surplus to requirements.
