Is it really all that bad?? Reading a couple of the papers this morning and if what they're saying is correct, decisions on the whereabouts of Henderson next season could be made as soon as Wednesday next week. As discussed yesterday Liverpool have reportedly upped their offer to around 18.5 million, just short of the figure Bruce's said they couldn't really turn down of 20 million. For me, this story has been running far too long to be complete garbage and if what I was reading this morning about Liverpool being willing to quadruple Henderson's wages, who can blame the lad for wanting to move on. Remember, he's far from the finished article and Liverpool are taking a big gamble. Anyway, that 20 million. Talk today about putting a bid in for Wellbeck of around 10 million. If you'd suggested this 3 or 4 months ago I'd have said no chance but with what happened in the recent Champions League final where the Man U midfield got torn a new arsehole I reckon Ferguson might be thinking that money could be better spent elsewhere. I don't think Wellbeck (especially with the injury) proved himself good enough to be a regular starter for Man U ... yet. For Sunderland however, when fit I think he's just what we need and personally I think he's better than Henderson?? That then leaves the Wes Brown and Darren Gibson. I know Brown isn't getting any younger but I reckon that bit of experience is just what we need in defence, he's done it all, Premiership titles, Champs League, FA Cup the lot. I don't see him being a bad signing and can't see Bruce offering too much for him. Bruce has mentioned Gibson being a direct replacement for Henderson, I can't argue with that? He's always been on the fringes of a successful Man U team, is young and why wouldn't he do well for us? If we could pick these players up for around the 20 million mark I don't see it being bad business by SAFC.
When the hell are we going to sign bloody N' Zogbia?! Why can't we just go in and say to Wigan...there's ya £12m you wanted...and do the deal. Now the mags are sniffin around aswell as others... Don't want Gibson or Brown as they are very average at best. I'd like Gardener, N' Zogbia, Crouch and Larson. And why is it being stated that the money we may get from the Henderson deal is going to be the main source of our transfer kitty when we haven't spent a single penny of the Jones and Bent deals yet?
My thoughts exactly. Even if the Jones money largely went on Sess, there's still the big fee we got for Bent. And all the rags are saying we'll sell Hendo because Bruce is unsure of his budget otherwise! We need to spend the Bent money AND the Hendo money at least if we are to replace them and still move forward.
Good point, I don't know how much was up front. However it should be more than 18m now that he finished their top scorer and they stayed up. And if we're getting it in installments surely we just have to offer installments for our current purchases and that'll sort of even itself out?
By my reckoning (an educated guess!) we should have at least £30m to spend after Henderson leaves. I haven't heard anything about "add ons" re Henderson and it sounds like most if not all the fee will be paid up front. Add that to the money off Bent then even on the conservative side we should have £30m? Mind you, we will need every penny of that and THEN SOME!
Yes I guess it will even itself out. Seems to be the norm these days where fee's are paid in instalments. Your right though if this Henderson sale does happen, alongside what's currently in the Bent kitty we should have plenty to spend. Just hope it's used wisely and not chucked at loads of Muntari's & Angeleri's!