Again, if Hooper wants to get closer to his family then why would he move to Cardiff? We will see, we will know by Wednesday or Thursday. I personally think that Mcnally will have enough of being pissed around and give up. Why doesn't Hooper hand in an official transfer request? Its all a bit wierd.
He loses loyalty bonuses still owed to him by Celtic (even if he moves) if he hands in a transfer request. That's potentially a lot of money to lose.
Money again... I imagine most players do that though, especially in Hooper's case where he's all but forced a move by refusing a new contract.
Could be silly money though, McNally isn't daft he will have his upper limit. Redknapp the bankrupter is bound to pay over the odds.
I'd rather we go elsewhere if he's going to be more than 4 million. Surely the scouts have seen better in the Netherlands.
I've read £5 million, I wouldn't consider that silly money. It's risky but I think he would be great in the Premier League and could be in England squads if he was getting goals in the Premier League, which I think he would. £5 million is not a bad price in my book.
Toivonen? That seems to be completely dead in the water now. Bony was out of our price range baring in mind we have just signed RVW. I really like Luc Castaignos from Twente, whether he would join us is another question though. Maybe Finnbogason who has just had a successful season with Heerenveen. Surely Cove will know of a few realistic targets.
Trouble is, is the anybody with only 12 months on their contract like hooper? Otherwise you might be looking at bony / Rvw type prices
He ''has' to though, he's got no other way of attracting players. Still, you'd think they'd do better raiding the lower leagues for upcoming talent, rather than their current, FPP-threatened, high wages route.
He played at Carrow Road for Parma, wasn't all that impressed with him. Surprised he got that many goals last season, he is a tall guy though and I imagine he isn't Carrabuh's sort of player. He isn't mine for starters. I don't know whether he would really be effective with us, he seems to have just fitted into Feyenoord like a glove.
Just because we have a lot of money I don't think we should be paying over the odds. 5 million for someone who scores for the top team in a pitiful league I think is a lot. I hold his record for a struggling Scunthorpe in higher regard to be honest.
Just looked him up, this article is interesting. And as YellowLittle's just said, I fear for Carrabuh's sanity if we were to sign him. Apparently he's only just signed a 4 year contract though, so he would be far from cheap. He's also only had a single good season, his 64 goals in 220 games all told is a different story, and as the article I linked says, he's never been able to do it in Serie A, so I'd worry the PL would be too great a step up.
Is Hooper going to be a third choice striker if he arrives?, I'd like to think so and that's maybe why we are limiting the fee, I can't believe we would not bring in another following our offloading of strikers this Summer.
I have a feeling the money isn't there for two more strikers and an attacking midfielder, so the idea is/was to go for Hooper and someone like Toivonen, who can cover both roles. If we had injury problems, Toivonen would have been the 4th striking option, with Wessi and Howson capable of stepping into the attacking midfield role. In a fully fit squad, RvW and Toivonen would start, Hooper being the bench/rotation option. That would also explain the Quagliarella interest I suppose. For ~£10m I don't think we'd find an attacking midfielder and striker (other than Hooper) who'd be a significant step up on what we've got. Still seems madness to be considering spending that much though.
Like YellowLittle, I think Luc Castaignos from FC Twente is a talented young striker, but he cost them 6m euros from Inter, so wouldn't come cheap. At 20, he wouldn't take a squad place this year either.
Well, if the money was there for a centreback, it should be there for the much higher need for strikers and midfielders. We really are in need of some midfield options.
