yeh I didn’t mean the £13m. I wouldn’t be surprised that we’d have agreed to sell him for X price though. I get the feeling we don’t want to be seen as blocking big moves. Which is something I agree with.
I reckon the fee will be really high, likely 25 million Agree we don't want to stand in a players way, I would hope that we have set the expectation that if it's in the January window the fee is even higher He won't get near their starting line up so he will be with us until the end of the season at least
yeh I’m hoping closer to £30m but wouldn’t be surprised at £25m considering the Clarke fee I keep coming back to the £40m for Archie gray though and wonder if we shouldn’t be holding out for similar.
Clarke's fee was lower than some thought as there wasn't much interest and didn't have that long left on contract Jobe has loads of interest and has signed an extension before the season started so he will go for a good amount I think Jobe could get close to that fee tbh, but all depends how the 2nd half the season pans out
It wouldn't shock and stun me if Jobe was sold in January especially if it is Arsenal but I do think his development (and price/wages ) would be far better off staying the season. You can see him learning and developing each game in almost real time at the moment and I just don't think he'd get the time or space to do that in the Prem.
A lot of the why Jobe is so good, and has potential, is his physique. At 19 he uses his body and power so very well. The way he protects it is brilliant to watch. Le Fee appears to be a much smaller and less physically strong player. I am not a big one for attributing size to worth on a pitch, but there does remain a place for those physically dominant players in all sides. I would hope we have one eye on that as part of the looking ahead to life without Jobe.
It's very likely that there would be a bidding war with Jobe. Clarke didn't have that much interest and Harte had to engineer the move. With Jobe that isn't the case.
Tested the waters with a Sunderland discord I’m in and the general consensus is if we get anything under the amount Gray went for then it’s not good enough
40m for Archie Gray seems very high. Not paying attention tbh but can't imagine many PL senior fullbacks, first team ready have or would cost that much?
I think the 10 months left on his contract played a role too compare that to jobe who signed a 4 year deal in the summer
My personal view is the £40m for Gray was insanely over inflated and has essentially ****ed up the perception of what’s a fair fee for quite a while. £30m would have probably been fairer. I do wonder if we were a more “fashionable” club, if some of the quoted fees would be higher. It’s almost like we’re being treated as “former league one club Sunderland” rather than “former premier league club Sunderland”
Spurs overpayed for him. Anything at 30m or so would be a fair price for Bellingham IMO. Or 25m with a significant sell on.
The Archie Gray transfer was a strange one if I recall correctly, think it was around £40m but then Joe Rodon went the other direction for £10m in a separate deal which I presume was for FFP reasons. So essentially £30m + Joe Rodon. Think Brentford had a fee agreed then Spurs jumped in last minute. I'd want £30m for Jobe but it's all about creating a bidding war, that's how you get the fees up. Sell on clause as well.
Another thing on transfer fees when comparing Gray and Leeds, is that £25m to us (as a club with a relatively low budget), is worth a lot more than £25m means to Leeds (because of parachute payments). Other clubs will know that and so might be reflected in bids. but like others have said, plenty of interest and a long contract should help in that regard. on that note it would be great to extend Rigg’s deal in the summer if we can. Sell Neil and make Riggy the youngest captain in the country
I actually think Archie Gray has massive potential. I thought he was a real standout in the league last year. The expectation is he will play CM in time I believe. I think there was a lot if interest in him and maybe Spurs just put the money up to stop the bidding war.
