Think like big Mike.... a two pronged solution to our striker search?

OK.. we all know Mike likes a good deal... and that often... money (and I mean it in the sense of saving it) can overcome any 'emotional reluctance' to proceed with a recruitment strategy.

This got me thinking (a dangerous thing but bear with me)... if Pierre Aubameyang is destined to slip through the net and chase a greater payday.. and Mandy goes to the higher paying West Ham United we may need to change the way we look at our striking options.

It's therefore not beyond the realms that we will see Shola leave the club and Mike go back in for Remi AND also make a bid for Bent (who apparently would welcome the move). The cost of those two deals would be approximately £8m for Remi (buy-out clause) and £5m for Bent. A total of £13m.

Wages are, of course always an issue with our club and I can see Remi being offered no more than £70k pw and Bent £50k pw. Taking off Shola's wages (I'm guessing at £30k pw) that leaves an increase in the wage bill of £90k pw or £4.6m per year in terms of our striker costs.

Given the extra money coming in next year (+£60m) these are a pair of affordable deals which spread risk across two strikers (both proven in the PL) and not just one.

We would then have a forward line of:

Cisse
Bent
Remi
Gouff
Campbell

If the above came off I'd welcome it. I appreciate Bent is getting on a bit but on the right money he could do a job until Campbell hopefully develops to replace him.

 

Sounds good.


Are you there Mike?

 

What's going on regarding the Remy rape claims?

 

He's in contact with Titus for some advice...

 

i like the idea, i feel we won't be getting Ameobi off our books though. who would pay him 30k now?

 

Don't want Bent at any price. That would be worse than the bad old days, when we regularly bought aging greats so that we could watch their rapidly declining abilities and fund a comfortable retirement. The only difference is that Bent was never as good in his day as the clapped out stars we used to be so fond of.

Just say no

 

Bent played 58 times for Sunderland scored 32
54 Villa 21 Thats not bad for an ageing goalscorer

 

He hasn't got any younger since then though.

 

Geremi played some blinders before he came to us as well.

 

I'll say what I said on the other Bent thread: He's a lazy turd.

For 4million we could sign Dwight Gayle from Peterborough. That's what they want for him, he's from lower leagues so has low wages (I think he's on about 4kpw at Posh), is still young but is one of the best strikers i've seen in a long while.

Gayle > Bent

 

Remi I'd welcome. Bent I would not. Lazy with a limited game.

I'd take Hooper, Rhodes, Austin all ahead of Bent. All would command lower wages. The fees would be greater (maybe not Hooper as entering his last year). Hell I'd take Dwight Gayle and I haven't got a scooby doo who he is.

I wouldn't mind one English striker though. I just think the places for the England frontline are wide open and with it being a World Cup year, I think you might get a fair bit out of the likes of Carroll, Hooper etc.