For 1 player it's fine tho, not every player should be signed based on what their resale value is The total cost of wages and fee will likely average at 10 million a year, over 3 years 30 million isn't a lot in total for a player that really improves us immediately There will be clauses in the deal if we do go down but a player like Xhaka feels about a safe a signing as we could make that improves us immediately I get the concern, I'd be happy wiyh the risk for 1 player (if we were signing 4 or 5 like this then I'd have massive concerns)
See, I don't think that this will come about. I didn't realise that he still had 3 years left. I would complete understand the club if they were to approach him/club if he had a year left. Now, don't get me wrong I'd love to see him here but I just don't think his situation fits 32yo/3year left/£20m+. Happy to be wrong.
That's not the model we have built at all though. I get the flex and have asked for it. This just seems so so far away out there and top end of wages for no resale. Let's see but I do not see this getting sanctioned.
Don’t get me wrong, for right now he’s ideal, but we’ve got where we are by not doing this and cumulatively growing. That said I’m certain he would help our adjustment and staying up is massive for the club. The third year seems a stretch.
As i just said i’m torn. You make a good point but we balance that with getting an early 20’s 6 on a 5 year deal for the same investment and I’d probably still go there. If he doesn’t keep us up what then ?
It's all about having a balanced squad, in L1 and the Championship we were able to bring in experience on free transfers - Pritchard, Evans, Baath, Roberts, Moore and Browne - that's not easy to do in the PL tho To bring in experience that also improve a team/squad we will have to pay fees, now as long as those fees aren't too high then I'm fine with that as long as the player is quality Xhaka started regularly for Leverkusen so it's not like he's had a drop off and is available. As long as we only sign 1 or 2 at a max of these type of players then we will be fine. The squad needs a mix of promising young players (we have that and that should be the core of our team), players in their peak and then complimented with a couple players who are maybe best their best but bring valuable experience. The best squads will be built like that. Now do I think we will sign Xhaka, no I just think it's probably too ambitious and probably a season too early However, if finances were going to be a massive issue we would have stopped straight away (maybe we have) It's mental to think that we have a chance to sign one of the best CMs in Germany after just being promoted - really love what we are trying to do
I get what you are saying and so far they have made no signings like this but the club might look at it and think we can't sign every player with a view of the potential profit of they do what we expect. Maybe one or two we lose money but gain the experience needed to help.improve those young players (so help them gain in value) and keep us in the league which will bring in more money! Players with no sell on value but maybe the value is elsewhere? I wouldn't be completely shocked if they pulled the trigger because of the above but it is going to be on the expensive side so not getting my hopes up too much.
if there was no transfer fee involved in signing xhaka his wages wouldn’t be a conversation. We knew hendo would have required top wages but that one didn’t feel like breaking the model because he was free Writing off the £10-£15m outlay for what he brings now seems like less of a compromise. Like others though I think he goes elsewhere as he will have better offers even we match his current salary
We are. He is a 30m player with a likely massive upside and guaranteed money back in some form. There is a difference.
The club also know how vital experience is in this league. I think they’d be up for losing rather than having resell value on a couple of proper quality. in fact we wouldn’t even be entertaining the negotiations if we weren’t up for it
Well we'll see about Xhaka. Seems a stretch, both financially and in football terms. But you never know. They keep surprising us. Nor, by the way do I see it as meaning that Dan Neil is bound to go. Numbers in midfield. Always vital to have a chance, you get swamped in there and you've had it.
People need to box the finance talk, unless it’s truly egregious but nothing we’ve been linked with so far is. just focus on the quality and how much they move the needle
If we don't get Xhaka over the line, then that is fine, its showing that we are at the next level and can attract a better callibre of player than we could be before, if in Jan, we are in a good posititon that will give extra wiggle room for that window, its all but progress and slowly reaching our full potential. this window has proven that "the model" ( which sounds like one of the cheesy pyramid scheme help books) can change and reflect what league we are in, we've gone from signing Grigg on 5m to Le Fee,,,
Unless neil signs a new deal is irrelevant tbh, if neil doesn't sign a new deal then he needs to go Xhaka is a massive upgrade on Neil, and I'm a huge neil fan