If he's not signing a new contract we HAVE to set a value that others are likely going to be willing to pay, otherwise we lose him for even less. If we were fighting to stay in the league, or fighting for automatics, you could argue that keeping him and taking that risk would be worth it. But this isn't that kind of season. And we can afford to sell him now (IF he isn't going to sign a new contract). Obviously in an ideal world he'd be signing a new contract. But I also can't see why he should / would when there is potential Premier League move in the offing either now or in the summer. If I was his agent I'd be not signing a new contract but also not entertaining a move this January. I'd want him to go and score loads of championship goals and then become the main attraction of the summer transfer window, knowing that his value will be lower due to contract situation will also mean both agent and player get paid more in bonuses / salary. Stewart would be crazy to move now.
Poorer players with less potential have gone for twice that amount. We should be having someone's pants down here.
And on the "we aren't going to be able to replace him so don't sell him" argument... well its kinda moot. If he doesn't want to sign a new contract we are going to have to replace him. Either now, in the summer, of the season after. The ball isn't really in our court. We could offer him as much money as we could possibly afford to, and his agent would still know he could get more for him in the summer. So why on earth would he sign a new contract? And if he isn't going to sign a new contract, we HAVE to replace him at some point. So we can't just keep pricing him out of transfers each window, as eventually it will be for free.
Selling Stewart and bringing in some untried young talent, smacks of cowardice and settling for mediocre. If we hang onto Stewart and strengthen where we are weakest, strikers and midfield, having a crack at play-offs/promotion is a possibility. Not to do this is a step backwards, so its not about sustainability but about developing the team to a level where it can compete.. then when you a proper squad, you can then factor in sustainability.
Ok then, who sells their decent players in a January transfer window? What sort of quality of his standard would we hope to pick up. As I've said players like that come round once in a blue moon.
I don't think we are actively trying to sell him. But it's realistic to think that his value will be much less in the summer. It will come down to whether we want to just throw away that potential money in the vein hope he might change his mind and sign a contract. Either way - most of our fans don't think £10m is enough. I think it's kinda moot anyway because I don't think any other clubs will think £10m is realistic for a player with such little experience above League One level.
Be amazed if we get an offer of 10m to be fair. Possibly with lots of add on incentives. If he was fit all season and banged them in, maybe but last 3 month out will reduce fee offered IMO.
This. So I hope we stick to our £10m valuation that doesn't get met. In an ideal world he's not able to secure a move this January, and so as a compromise signs a new contract with us on a greatly improved wage, with a min. fee release clause, which protects us from losing him for hardly anything in the summer / next winter, whilst also gives him improved salary now.
This. It'll be £4m....paid over 2 years,plus another £2m if he gets 20 goals, another £2m if he starts for Scotland,another £2m if Everton get into the top 7 in the PL. It's a £10m deal.....but all bollocks,man.
It's always in installments, mate....none of these deals are ever paid in full up front. Whatever is quoted includes all the what ifs and maybes.
There’s a few people on here who don’t seem to have much faith in KLD. Were they supporting Sunderland before he came ?
I have every confidence that if we sell him it will be for the right reasons and for the right value, and at the best deal in the circumstances for our club. Even if I end up not agreeing with it. Got to bear in mind the "in the circumstances" bit. This is not an ideal situation. We can't dictate how this goes and will need to compromise.
Agreed marra. I think I've said elsewhere that I have every confidence in the way our player dealings are being managed under the KLD regime. I've seen very little so far to indicate otherwise.
Undisclosed fee will mean Speakman etc will say it was an amazing deal we couldn't turn down, the average punter will think it'll have been peanuts.
Not a chance £10m for a player who we bought for £300k 2 years ago. 6 goals at 2nd tier of English football who has had 2 muscle injuries in last 2 years keeping him out for a number of weeks. We know how important he is to us, but talk of £20m is ridiculous It'll give the usual suspects something to moan about - "club's had it's pants pulled down again etc etc"
If he goes the meltdown could possibly be the biggest yet. We are not in a great position and his agent has been hawking him around for months. I didn't think Rangers had the finance now, but of he goes then I have to trust the management and directors to get a replacement in.
