My heart agreed with you DH but my head says that Poch really wants to get rid (if the player doesn't commit to a new deal) and use the money to finance new players. If for example (theoretically) selling Eriksen now for that fee is the difference between bringing Dybala in Jan or not, I'd 100% sell. Happens to be I don't think the deals are contingent on one another in reality but just using it as an example to illustrate. My head also observes that since Eriksen started seriously considering moving, his performance levels have dropped noticeably (if even Spurf is negative about something or someone, it's usually a good sign that the thing is true ). Of course, he'll still chip in with a nice amount of goals and assists, but do we want a semi-interested Eriksen standing in the way of a very interested Lo celso's development? Also, the unknown factor in all of this is how motivated he'll be to perform. People compare the situation to Modric but we forget that the summer he wanted to leave, only Chelsea were seriously interested in him. He signed a new contract, got his head down, and attracted interest from a far bigger fish. Eriksen on the other hand can't really attract any bigger fish than the few he'd like to play for. For all we know, Real might have already got word to him saying "just see out your contract, we'll sign you for free next summer regardless". It's the sort of underhanded arrogance we've come to expect from them. It could even be that this has actually happened and it is the real reason Poch is sulking. Unlike Toby who seems naturally very competitive and more of a passionate character, I'd seriously worry - based on evidence we saw last season - that Eriksen will sleepwalk through the next 10 months. If by drastically reducing our asking price, we can encourage Real or the like to bid now, I'd take it immediately and start working on deals for the Jan window as soon as the deal goes through. The signs aren't great though. Real know more than most how difficult Levy is to deal with. The fact that there hasn't been so much as a single tapping up article in marca to date suggests that they genuinely couldn't care less whether or not they sign him. Atletico are another option as are Juve, especially if we can weave in some sort of an agreement for Dybala in Jan. But as of today there haven't even been the usual whispers you'd hear 3-4 days before a transfer, which is all that's left.
Optimistic Bastard here It would be a surprise if Eriksen went now, but then Spurs are full of surprises as we all saw last week with that dismal performance. On the other hand there would be little unrest if Eriksen had said right where is my new contract from Spurs so we must believe that he still has hope of his 'dream move'. Either way Eriksen needs to sort his head out and play the game he is paid so generously for. If he wont or can't I would stick him in the reserves. Or transfer him to Bury.
If he is worth £60m for a single season , the we should have offered him 400k a week to stay. That would have only cost us 60m a season even allowing for other players wanting more to match him. On a marginal cost basis he might be worth that as the final cog in the machine that wins us the CL or PL. But there are three or four other players with the same argument. I think £40m is closer to where I would sell.
Dybala doesn't seem to hinge on Eriksen though, we had most of the deal agreed in summer the window before Juve pulled the plug. All that seemed left was image rights and agent fees. £60m I'd grit my teeth and take. Anything less (ok, £50m absolute worst case) just wouldn't make sense for me. Because without Eriksen - especially for the first half of the season where Gio needs to adapt and get up to speed - we could be out of contention by the winter window, would Dybala then fancy a move and even if he did, how long until he'd get adjusted? So getting £30m for a world class - or very close to world class player - doesn't make sense to me, I'd rather have him for another if that's the only offer on the table. By selling Eriksen now, at this stage, I just find it a huge risk. We'd essentially be relying on Tanguy and Gio to step up imemdiately and at a time where Tanguy's currently injured (hopefully not for long though), Gio isn't match fit and Dele has only just returned to training, we have no one in the squad who does what Eriksen does. Eriksen's head may well have been turned and that may have contributed towards below-par form by his standards (although there were rumours of carrying an injury too) but I think when you consider other players in his position, both here and in other sides, a below-par Eriksen still pisses over 95% of them at present. We're just accustomed to seeing him be brilliant more often than not that a below-par spell has caused some OTT criticism in my opinion.
We'll never offer that sort of wage whilst our current cap is seemingly £200k, even if just for a year. Everyone would want rises too if we offered £400k to a player, some likely even wanting parity. I think it'd get too messy and "Ozil-esque". I wouldn't even want to sell for £60m (I don't want to sell full stop) but £60m is probably his market value with just one year left, he'd at least be double that if he had longer on his deal. Any less and I think we're mugging ourselves off.
If he was the difference between us getting knocked out in the group stage or reaching the CL final then for one season he is worth roughly 100M-30M = 70M
To make it fairer, average the CL revenues earned during the Pochettino era, and do the same for the EL. Subtract CL - EL - 2 (this number being the rough loss in PL earnings for dropping from 4th to 5th) , and that is the sum to be subtracted from your 100m. Whatever it is, the end value is probably a lot closer to 60m than 40m.
We've already mugged ourselves off by allowing the situation to drag on into the final year of his deal. We only needed to look at that lot down the road to see what happens in these situations. From here on in it is a matter of damage control. £40m is not a sum of money a club in our position can afford to sniff at.
The 60m loss of income only happens once. The loss of any of 4 or 5 players would increase its likelihood. Holding out for 60m for Eriksen has similar knock on effects to breaking our salary cap to retain him.
Llorente has joined Napoli. 2 year deal. Makes sense as we only offered him a year. The Italian game will suit him.
This is my problem Even if he stays...I don't think he has the kind of heart others have. I expect Eriksen to play with caution incase anything scuppers his move. In fact a bit like he was doing since around January once his mind was made up about pastures anew. He spilled the beans when he opened up straight after the CL final which suggests it's the only real concern of his. I don't trust Eriksen to give his all even if he stays.
There must be at least one midfielder in the lower leagues we could use instead of lashing out money for foreigners all the time.....and screwing up.
Maybe...just maybe Poch is causing a stir to deflect from the team. If that was Jose/Pep it would be seen as genius
