They very nearly got relegated with us. They were awful for large chunks of last year. There is no real evidence they will clearly break away from the relegation scrap this year. It isn’t like he is joining a club that is a definite European challenger regardless of the competition they won last season. It is still a step up but not as much as it could have been
They finished 14th and won a European trophy. That's a better season than we've ever had in our post war history. 'very nearly' got relegated is a bit hyperbolic tbh as they were as good as safe quite some time before the end of the season. They also qualified for Europe via the league in the previous two seasons and also reached a Euro semi which suggests they have been steadily improving and aren't now to become regular relegation battlers. They're not guaranteed to challenge for Europe of course but he'd be joining a club in Europe this season and who will almost certainly qualify for Europe again sooner than us. They're clear levels above us even if we're in the PL these days imo.
In the sense that there's a price for everything, yes he is sellable, but I didn't think we were touting him looking for offers.
So they want to buy him back, 7 months after they sold him, for less money? It’s not like he’s had much wear and tear
From a football365 article about derisory offers: “Villa can’t complain too strongly about Inter taking the p*ss over Martinez. They’re not immune to trying it on themselves… Two years ago, with Jack Grealish on his way for £100million and shortly after signing Emi Buendia from the Championship for more than £30million, the Villans went to Southampton and plonked £25million on the table for Ward-Prowse. The midfielder was an England international and captain at St Mary’s. He had four years remaining on his contract so from Saints, the response to a ‘derisory offer’ was swift and abrupt. Villa didn’t go back and Ward-Prowse signed a contract extension. Two years later, West Ham have seen Saints’ relegation as reason enough to take the p*ss with the same offer from Villa that was given the shortest of shrifts.” So it isn’t just us
Exactly - and look at how low Saints start (and often finish) when they're the buyers. People talking a bit like teams offering the asking price from the off is the norm, and Liverpool and West Ham are doing something odd here. I'd expect nothing less from a buying club tbh. And in these scenarios, the players are always blamed by the fans for wanting away, but I think in the majority of cases the club actively want to sell these players (assuming the right price is offered).
"Look, Jürgen, we really can't budge on £50m it just doesn't make any financial sense with the clauses in place with Man City. However, to sweeten the pot a bit how about we include an extra player? We have a selection of strong, passionate centre backs..."
Of course he has. This isn’t exactly news. They still need to up their offer. More for the message it sends than anything else. I’m not sure he is quite in the position where phoning it in if not sold will make no difference to a big money offer. Not least because the clubs that want someone in his position will want to sign one this window. I don’t see Liverpool waiting until January and bidding what we want then like they did with VVD. They can’t afford to let Man City build up any kind of ground by having an unbalanced squad / team
This one will get done. That opening offer is pretty close to the asking price and, as far as I'm aware, Saints have let Liverpool know that as long as the £40m is fixed, the rest of the package (to get up towards the £50m asking price) can be structured in bonuses. Wonder if it'll be done by this time next week? Can see a deal being agreed at the weekend for Lavia to do the medical etc.
I mean a fixed £40million is a good deal with the last 10 in sensible achievable add ons. The quicker this gets done the better - can then look to bring in one more midfielder into the group, hopefully a creative player.
Do Man City get 20% of the total fee, or of the fixed fee? Presumably it’s the total, so still about £10m.
