Anthony Patterson, lower end Premiership club, £7m + £3m in incentives. - Patto is still a work in progress, whilst I'm not completely convinced on him, I'd want min £10m up front because that's the going rate these days Timothee Pembele, lower Ligue One club, £250,000. - We've barely seen him, we don't know what we paid and it's too soon to write him off. Let's see what version of him turns up next season Jobe Bellingham, Real Madrid, £10m + 5% sell on. - No chance. There is significant potential in this lad, why sell him off for pennies to get swallowed up in Madrid's youth system? He'd spend 3 or 4 seasons out on loan and probably never play for Madrid's first team. Hemir Semedo, mid table Portuguese club, £150,000. - As with Pembele, there is time yet to see what this kid is about. I'd be sending him on loan to L1 with the proviso he plays ever week. Let's see what comes back when he has 50 games in senior football under his belt and has been kicked a few times by Tom Flanagan and co Leo Hjelde, Rosenborg, £500,000 - Not sure taking a £1m hit on a lad who's been here 5 mins is wise. He looked more natural as a CB on sat and it's very harsh to judge him in this current team (albeit I have been guilty of that). Pierre Ekwah, Marseille, £4m + 10% sell on. - Think I'd take that. Not sure about Ekwah, but I have some sympathy with him in terms of how he's been dropped into the team and played in 3 different positions. He has potential, but not sure what his position is. Nectar Triantis, Hibs, £2m. - Deserves a chance next season. Could he be the Kirchhoff type we've been crying out for?
Agreed. Feels like last summer was filling the squad with potential, but ignoring (or choosing to ignore) the here and now. Sign a CF and a CDM, then assess the squad. Financially we don't need to let anyone leave, but Clarke's departure may just fund a couple of key additions that aren't 18yo French kids from Lens I'd like to see a plan in place for the likes of Matty Young, Caden Kelly, Tommy Watson and co. Let's get them out on loan for the next year or two, with each loan being a step up in quality (similar to what we did with Pickford). Decisions to be made on people like Bennette who hasn't really progressed in the 18 months he's been here - the loan to Greece was an absolutely bonkers decisions and it's benefitting no-one. It's a tricky balance because even the likes of Ba could probably benefit from playing every week in L1 to get some games under his belt, but he has shown the ability to influence games, it's just that he's so inconsistent.
Anthony Patterson, lower end Premiership club, £7m + £3m in incentives. We should be snapping their hand off if we get a bid anywhere near £10m total imo. Timothee Pembele, lower Ligue One club, £250,000. No, that money is pointless and he's not really had a chance. Possibly not even back to full fitness yet after his injury. Give him another year at least to see how he develops. Jobe Bellingham, Real Madrid, £10m + 5% sell on. Take it and run. He is not his brother. Hemir Semedo, mid table Portuguese club, £150,000. Indifferent. The money is almost a waste of time so I'd probs give him another year to see if he can improve. Leo Hjelde, Rosenborg, £500,000. Nah, he's a good squad player. Pierre Ekwah, Marseille, £4m + 10% sell on. I'd flog him for that. He's not kicked on at all this year and I think he may have reached his level. Nectar Triantis, Hibs, £2m. Indifferent. It's decent money but part of me wants to see how he could develop. Getting good reviews in Scotland, apparently.
Let’s try a few more: Elliott Embleton, Derby, £100,000. Naz Rusyn, Shaktar Donetsk, £2.5m. Alex Bass, Wimbledon, £50,000. Joe Anderson, Shrewsbury, £175,000. Abdou Ba, Reims, £900,000 +10% sell on.
Embo - don’t really see where he fits in now, shame really like him, that goal at Wembley will live with me forever, but yeah probably time to go Rusyn - need to see him out wide first he’s not a striker but really like his attitude so would keep him for another year ba - still so raw but good output in goals and assists so for that money I’d keep him Other 2 I couldn’t care less really, thanks, good luck bye I guess
No chance id be accepting the rusyn or Ba offers. Ba has been better this yr than last season so hope he kicks on again this summer and is better next yr. Rusyn needs time to settle into a new country, especially when you think of what is happening in his own country. Rusyn is a sunderland player with his workrate and he has shown glimpses of his quality The other 3 i would accept, embo just needs a fresh start imo, Bass has been very good this season so will likely have a lot of interest in him so should get 50-100k Anderson isnt good enough for us so whatever we get for him is a bonus
Elliott Embleton - I can't help thinking we've kept him too long. Five years ago I thought he was going all the way. Now he's 24 and looking for another loan when he recovers from injury. If someone wanted to buy him it could help him get back on track. Reluctantly sell Rusyn - I appreciate he puts in a shift and it can't have been easy for him, but no way is he a replacement for the Ross Stewart of three years ago. I just don't see him as the striker we need. Older players (by our standards at least) should inspire the younguns and to do that they need to be used to UK footy. Slightly reluctant sale Alex Bass - Am I right in thinking he's 25 now? Practically a pensioner in this squad and still on loans for his development. This is not good for our image. Sell Joe Anderson - Signed him just over a year ago, been getting games at Shrewsbury so he's on the development track. He's 23, getting on a bit Reluctantly keep Abdou Ba - £900k is no price for a winger of his quality, even if he is a bit frustrating and inconsistent he's only 20 years old. Definitely keeping
Here's a new one. I’ve intentionally put the bid amounts lower than I, personally, would be happy with, this is by design to see if those who do not rate the players would be willing to accept bids below market value in order to shift them. Please assume the offers are after an extensive period of negotiations and are final offers, if you say no, the players stay on with us for another season. Would you accept these bids in January? Naz Rusyn, Panathinaikos/Olympiakos, £750,000. Abdoullah Ba, Le Havre, £400,000. Jewison Bennette, an MLS club, £200,000. Adil Aouchiche, A Saudi Club, £1m. Leo Hjelde, Rosenborg, £1m.
Probably accept all bar Hjelde I know I’m in the minority but I think he’ll come good and Règis and the players seemingly think highly of him, he probably could do with a loan though
They all look acceptable to me. Would like to think we could get a touch more for Ba and Jewi but it would be hard for us to ask for more when neither are close to the first team. I would loan Hjelde though.
Depends on sell on % plus structure of payments No chance I'd sell Hjelde tho, I'd be keen to loan him
Is it true we paid £2m? I don’t massively rate him but he’s hardly played and still only 21, hard to judge
Think it can raise to that, I've watched him a lot before he signed and there's definitely a cracking player in there He needs game time tho so needs to get out on loan to see if he can reach his potential
Okay hypothetically: Rusyn to Greece for £510,000 upfront, let's say £240,000 in monthly installments for 6 months and a 10% sell-on over £750K. Ba to Le Havre for £400,000 upfront and 10% sell-on over £400,000, let's say £50k after 25 league appearances and a further final £50k after the 50th league appearance. Jewison Bennette to Colorado Rapids, £100k upfront, a further £100k if he renews his contract and stays on for the 2026 season. 10% sell-on after £200k. Adil to Saudi for a straight £1m upfront, no further incentives or additions.
