Ujah open to Black Cats move

Nigerian striker Anthony Ujah is not ruling out a move to Sunderland in the summer after being linked with the club.

The 20-year-old, currently at Swedish outfit Lillestrom, has reportedly attracted interest from the Premier League ahead of a potential switch at the end of the season.

The Black Cats are understood to be one of the top-flight clubs chasing his signature, with manager Steve Bruce looking to bolster his options up front.

Ujah has revealed he is keen on an English move, and would relish linking up with fellow Africans such as Sulley Muntari, John Mensah and Asamoah Gyan at the Stadium of Light.

Asked if he would like to play for Sunderland, Ujah told skysports.com: "Why not? There are some Africans there who can help me settle in.

He added: "I am flattered to be linked with a move to the Premier League.

"I am 20 years old now and I would love to play there one of these days."

Dutch giants FC Twente have also been heavily linked with Ujah, who has scored 19 goals in 28 games for Lillestrom this season, while French clubs Lille, Rennes and Toulouse are also thought to be interested in the youngster.

his current record at Lillestrom

2010 season - 27apps 17goals 2assists
2011 season - 5apps* 7goals* 2assists

from the clips maybe worth putting a 2m bid and test Lillestrom's resistance. Cud be good as a squad striker, usually the african players do good in the English league and the lad is only 20 if not we make our money back

 

£2million bid for a 20 year old striker who has scored 21 goals in 29 apps?

Are you for real?

 

yup I am, since when did someone cost a fortune from a scandanavian league??? The lad has said he would love to play in the prem, no disrespect to Lillestrom but if we did put in a bid he would come and for cheap I rekon.

Anthony Annan how much did he cost Schalke??? He is one of the best up and coming defensive midfielders in the world and was signed for €2.5m

 

A young striker with enough ability and potential to score 21 goals in 29 apps will not cost £2million. Especially when there's competition for his signature. You guys would be laughed out the door.

 

we will see pal, I bet if he does leave this summer it will be for less than 4m if not then come on here and take the mick out of me asmuch as you like

 

How much did Ronaldinho cost PSG? £5m?

Blackburn paid £3.6m for Shearer?

How much did Charlton pay for Darren Bent? £2.5m?

Nicholas Anelka to Arsenal... £500,000.

Eric Cantona to Man Utd... £1.2m.

No decent player ever goes on the cheap though Poolie.

 

That is what's known as backing up a point in an absolutely resounding manner.

Nice

 

How much did Ronaldinho cost PSG? £5m? - Yeah. That's 5mill. And it was 11 years ago. Adjust for inflation, and you're looking at about 7mill. Plus, at the time, his goalscoring record was just under 1 goal every 2 games, which is good, but not spectacular.

Blackburn paid £3.6m for Shearer? - After he only scored 23 goals in 188 appearances for Southampton before he joined Blackburn. Plus, adjust for inflation, and you could double that figure to 6mill+. It was almost 20 years ago.

How much did Charlton pay for Darren Bent? £2.5m? - After he only scored 48 goals in 122 apps. Adjust for inflation, and you're looking at £3-4mill

Nicholas Anelka to Arsenal... £500,000. - After only scoring 1 goal in 10 appearance for PSG. He was very young and very, very unproven even on lower levels. Adjust for inflation, and you're looking at £1mill

Eric Cantona to Man Utd... £1.2m. Yeah, after his goalscoring record up until that point was exceedingly average and in some cases below average. Adjust for inflation again, and you're looking at £2.5mill+

So yeah, every single one of those points are completely irrelevant I'm afraid. Nice try though.

Of course it's possible to find hidden gems. We found Tiote for dirt cheap compared to the quality he is. However, Ujah has 21 goals in 29 apps. He isn't a hidden gem anymore, and other clubs are interested - such as FC Twente. Hoying in a bid for 2mill would just make the club look a bit daft.

 

Might want to check the Bank of Englands historical inflation rates.

The goals they scored were in leagues of higher standard than the Norwegian League.

Also Ronaldinho was 5million Euros. I just don't have a Euro sign on my keyboard.

 

Mate, you're a good poster, but there are so mant flaws in your argument its untrue.

Ronaldinho. a) £7million would STILL be peanuts, and 1 goal in 2 for a midfielder/winger is absolutely phenomenal.

Bent. 48 goals in 122 games is 1 in 3. Bear in mind Bent was a teenager when he broke through at Ipswich, and at least a third of these games were as a substitute.

Anelka. Half of Europe was after him, he'd been an up and coming star from the age of 14.

Cantona. Was widely regarded in France before arriving in England as the most talented player since Platini. To say he was regarded as average is a million miles wide of the mark, only his attitude was ever in question.

Speculation does not a point make marra

 

I've based it on previous historical transfers which have been adjusted for inflation. I've probably underestimated some of the much older ones. Either way, it doesn't make a great deal of difference to my point.

Possibly. However, the Norwegian league isn't the worst, and 21 goals in 29 apps for a 20 year old is seriously noticeable. If he keeps up his form during the 2011 season, he could be bagging a goal a game or higher.

Also Ronaldinho was 5million Euros. I just don't have a Euro sign on my keyboard.[/QUOTE]

Still far more than Ujah, so that's irrelevant too.

As I said. You can find hidden gems for good prices who eventually become good. This guy is already clearly good though, and there's some proof to back it up. The days of just dishing out a few mill for these sorts of players is long gone - especially with competition from top European teams.

 

Still far more than Ujah, so that's irrelevant too.

As I said. You can find hidden gems for good prices who eventually become good. This guy is already clearly good though, and there's some proof to back it up. The days of just dishing out a few mill for these sorts of players is long gone - especially with competition from top European teams.[/QUOTE]

I think the fact that Annan went for £2million, and Ivan Rakitic for £2.5million proves that those days are far from gone mate.

These were 2 of the most vaunted young players on the planet.

 

I guess we'll have to wait and see how much he goes for when he leaves. In your opinion what will it take to prize him away from Lillestrom?

 

I'm pretty sure he played as a forward for Gremio. Perhaps it was as a winger.

And like I said, it's good. Damn good in fact, but it isn't 21 goals in 29 apps. Yes it was in a Norwegian league, but I'm not saying that this Ujah guy is worth 7mill or more. He's just worth more than bloody two with that kind of potential. The fee for Ronaldinho was great value, but it isn't proof that a player with clear potential and heavy European interest is easy to sign at 2mill, or anywhere near.

So what if he was a teenager? Ujah is a year off and he was 19 when he scored most of his goals so far. And yeah, 1 in 3 is decent in a lower league. That's why he cost the value of around £3mill. If Ujah scores 21 goals in 29 apps at the age of 20, why would he be valued at 2mill when Bent cost a lot more?

He was much younger and completely unproven. No goals to actually provide any sort of factual proof that he could score goals. It was pure speculation and a gamble by Arsenal which did pay off. That's why he didn't go for more.

Average goalscoring record. What it was caused by is irrelevant. If you have a **** attitude and your game suffers, your value will drop. He only scored 2 goals in 16 games at Nimes before joining Man Utd. It was a good deal though. No doubt about it.

But yeah, bid 2 mill for a 20 year old 6 foot tall Nigerian striker with 21 goals in 29 apps at the top flight in Norway. See how far it gets you.

 

I think the fact that Annan went for £2million, and Ivan Rakitic for £2.5million proves that those days are far from gone mate.

These were 2 of the most vaunted young players on the planet.[/QUOTE]

Agreed, these days certainly aint long gone.

Annan and Rakitic are good enough to get into a large majority of premier league sides and cost less than 5m combined. Lillestrom could not compete with teams from the top league's, as it seems with Ujah he knows clubs are interested, he knows that there is a good posibility of playing in a better league and earning more money if he wants to leave there is little Lillestrom could do, as I said before when did someone from a Scandinavian league cost an arm and a leg, Annan one of the worlds best up and coming holding midfielders proves this.

 

I'm certainly not suggesting we'll get a player that i've never heard of or seen play from a tiny club to whom £2million is probably a fortune for £2million marra, i'm merely saying your argument is terminally flawed.

Bent cost 500k more, including 'english premium'.

Cantona was supremely talented, and people knew this WELL before he hit England.

Anelka was a hot, hot talent, 1 goal in 10at senior level doesn't cover the fact that before he hit the first team, he was being talked about as a real prospect.

 

If his current goalscoring form continues anywhere near as much as it is now (7 goals in 5 apps so far) until the Summer, then it could be £5-7mill+. If not, could be £3.5-5mill.

Nothing stupid, just nothing as low as £2mill. This is especially true when there's interest from FC Twente, Lille, Rennes, Hamburg and others. They won't let him go elsewhere for dirt cheap if he has a real impressive knack for scoring goals.

 

Agreed, these days certainly aint long gone.

Annan and Rakitic are good enough to get into a large majority of premier league sides and cost less than 5m combined. Lillestrom could not compete with teams from the top league's, as it seems with Ujah he knows clubs are interested, he knows that there is a good posibility of playing in a better league and earning more money if he wants to leave there is little Lillestrom could do, as I said before when did someone from a Scandinavian league cost an arm and a leg, Annan one of the worlds best up and coming holding midfielders proves this.[/QUOTE]

Rakitic is the big example poolie, he was playing for SCHALKE, champions league semi finalists, not some small fry scandinavian also-rans, and he moved to SEVILLA, a side ouzing talent in midfield, with Navas, Alfaro, Capel etc

 

We shall just have to wait and see.

I'll lick my own balls if he retains his form and goes for £2mill though.

 

You can't lick your own balls marra, if you could, you wouldn't be on here at 2am.