I'd suggest we're willing to forgo the money to not strengthen a rival. Only issue is if Grabban is determined to go back then he's unlikely to want to sign for a championship team instead.
In other news, Sunderland have been slammed by Lorient because of their treatment of Kone (they have just signed Kirchhoff instead and pulled out of the Kone deal). Time for us to step up and sign Kone if we have not got someone else lined up? Apart from perhaps wages I do not see why we would be less attractive than Sunderland though admittedly wages probably is pretty key...
Kirchhoff is a much better player. I saw something on Twitter flash up, and can't find it now. Something about Sunderland saying Defoe can leave this window?!
Yeah I would have thought so if he was enough for Sunderland to behave pretty badly although I confess I do not know anything about him. I guess ultimately it will boil down to whether our scouts think Kone is good enough.
Very pacey, about 6'5 or something silly. Good solid tackler, good in the air, can play the ball because I think he can also play defensive mid.
Sorry, that was about Kirchhoff. Kone is about 6'1, not slow, decent in the air, pretty strong. Can play Right-Back too as well I think.
Well I think McNally´s absolutely right in not selling to one of our closest rivals. I can just imagine the uproar there´d be on here from those most vociferous, if Bournemouth managed to stay up on goal difference at our expense thanks to the goals Grabban scored for them in the second half of the season. Far better to make them struggle to find someone, or make them pay over the odds for someone they don´t really want. And as for ´McNally out´, that just beggars belief!
I guess it depends how much of a barsteward Grabban is going to be over it. If the offers are reasonable fees from championship sides, then I think we'd take the hit and avoid selling to Bournemouth. That said, if the championship offers are loans or tiny fees, then £8m goes a long way. Effectively it makes the upgrade to Naismith free. I guess it depends how much of a greater threat Bournemouth are with Grabban. I'm glad that's not my decision.
Or his misses and attitude might send them down £7m lighter! £7m for that turd, we should bite their arm off for that! If we get more for him then well played Mr M, otherwise it's lunacy to reject it! Bah!
I think with the potential improvements we could make with that money, getting rid of a player and wages of someone who isn't going to play a great deal, who doesn't want to be here, I can't see a downside. I just don't believe he is good enough to save them. He was bang average in yhe championship and no front line prem player. £8m would be completely mugging them off. Naismith for the same money again is unbelievable, I'd take that a million times over, not that it is necessarily either or but some room needs making for the new recruits. I'd me happy to go with Jerome Mbokani Naismith Loza Though I'd be happier still if we added Haller, Afobe or A N Other. With only playing 1 up top they'd be enough. We could always call back the Wolf! Bah!
The way I see it is a virtual straight exchange for Naismith, who has been in AN's plans for a while and Grabban, who made it patently obvious he no longer wants to be here. Naismith may well be the catalyst for an upturn of form in which case Bournemouth will no longer represent a "relegation rival". Cos we ain't going down
I'm a big fan of Kirchoff. Hes a really solid defender and if Sunderland get him that is a great signing for them!
It seems they have done. Pete O'Rourke @SportsPeteO Sunderland have completed the signing of centre-back Jan Kirchhoff from Bayern Munich on a two-and-half-year deal. #safc #fcbayern
I was happy to write Sunderland off but I'm not so sure now. Excellent player and he's got the Bayern pedigree. Would have loved it it we'd signed him.
He would have been perfect, and only 1m apparently. ridiculous value. S**t! Just also seen Spurs have bid 5.2 accepted for Nkoulou! Again, that's really cheap! Also, looks like Liverpool and Spurs have crossed off 2 of our targets
I can understand Liverpools situation, but Spurs the greedy bastards it's hardly like they're struggling with Alderweireld and Vertoghen, then they have Fazio and Wimmer as cover.
