Wickham, like it or not, is our clubs most in form striker right now. With the Borini saga dragging on and on, no other established striking options seemingly in sight, Fletcher still to prove his fitness and the utter failure of Jozy last season, Wickham is entitled to see himself as the number one choice and therefore worthy of a better contract. The club either have to cash in on him now, sit tight and wait for next year isn't an option, offer him a contract he will sign, or break the bank and recruit a 15/20 goal a season striker. I don't blame Wickham for exploiting our perilous position to get himself a new deal at all. It's the clubs fault for being so vulnerable.
Tribunal will set his fee likely around £6m or so from recent tribunal decisions so, unless we sell him for £15m+ it's pointless - besides, he's English, 21 years old and only just been given a chance at PL level. I, personally, would pay him the £42k he's apparently asked for (using goal scoring & win bonuses to make it up to the £42k). On a four year deal, if he comes good this season then at the end of the season we have a £20m+ striker if the big boys are interested. It's a big if but I think he will personally.
No, he was the clubs most in form striker fella, it was last season Cest. This is pre season, All that matters now is form on the training pitch day in day out in front of Gus. Nobody knows which of our strikers will start first game at the moment. Also, we don't need to cash in on him now, a cracking season without signing a contract could land us a very nice compo deal in 12 months. If his wage demands are too high then **** him, the club has all the power here thanks to the tribunal, as we have the time we wouldn't usually have for a player in the last year of his contract. The club has not left itself vulnerable, it's using the advantageous position it's found itself in to not let a 6 game wonder take the piss over wage demands.
What if he wants a flat 42k a week before bonuses? Not convinced myself, he's shown he's got the ability but his holiday antics tells me he still hasn't grown up enough to be trusted with his own commitment and responsibility for his own development.
I kind of agree with you - I don't think he's a £42k a week player not including add-ons. But who can we get that is better for less wages without having to pay a transfer fee? (I don;t think we could get anyone). It's being caught between a rock and a hard place really. Wickham is trying to get as much as he can (and asking for the same that Jozy is on which is fair enough IMO - even though Jozy was a big financial mistake by an idiot Italian). I hate catch 22's! Borini will want far more than £42k a week to come here - still not convinced about him as an out and out striker TBH - and he'll also cost uis up to £14m to buy - so which is the lesser of the 2 evils?!
I don't think that's fair at all, If Wickham thinks we should risk the same mistake again just to satisfy his demands then he ain't very bright. If he overvalues himself he's doing himself no favours. We're guaranteed most of the Wickham back where he's spend three seasons letting his attitude get in the way, manager after manager hasn't fancied him, Brucie signed him and rarely played him. 6 games of form doesn't warrant 42k a week for me like. Not in a million years and it seems as though club doesn't think so either.
Won't be the worst thing in the world if he doesn't sign, just means he will be slogging his guts out to earn a place at a table at a top club, plus we get probably 6 million tribunal money and save about 2 million on wages.
But who will we get that is better, knows the PL and is only 21 for £42k a week? I think that's more my point Bry/Bri (Not sure how to spell your name mate so apologies if I keep getting it wrong). With zero transfer fee and only wages there will be no-one available for that money which is better than Wickham IMO. Those 6 games are, in all honesty, the only 6 games he's had together in a full 3 seasons. As I say, we're stuck between a rock and a hard place - Borini will demand more than any £42k and £10-12m up front payment as well so will end up astronomically more expensive than Wickham and I still have reservations about him as a central striker as his finishing leaves a bit to be desired. I don't know what to do with Wickham but I know I'd rather have him firing for us than against us this season coming up.
It's an I mate. I don't know mate but I don't call scoring 6 goals in 43 premier league appearances as knowing the Premier League myself, that's a one in seven striker. Not worth 40k a week for me, the fact we've paid 8 million and 22k a week for 1 in 7 striker rate tells me we've already wasted enough money on him. Don't get me wrong I want him to sign a new contract and stay, but I'm won't be that fussed if he leaves to be honest.
