Adebayor has tweeted "Loved my spell at Tottenham. We are working hard with the chairman to make it permanent. Will keep you informed!!". So some good news to follow up this weekends disappointment. Great to see that he hasn't changed his stance since we failed to make the Champions League. More importantly, even better to see our chairman hitting the ground running this close season to get contracts etc wrapped up asap. The time is now. COYS!!!
someone mentioned on another thread that Levy is actually in amsterdam, so might be working on Vertonghen too. After the weekend we really needed him to hit the ground running and show that we still mean business. Go Levy!
I think he'll potentially be our big summer signing and one I'd be very pleased with. If we can get him in on a realistic wage, Levy will have done a fantastic job.
I don't think there was a purchase option built into the original loan deal. However, I'm sure City will be more than eager to get his wages off their books. Especially with UEFA FFP (hopefully) coming. As far Ade goes. It's up to him as far as I can see. Nobody in the "real" footballing world is going to pay those kind of wages to him. He'd have to go to China or India, or the Middle East. So it's down to him - is he all about money? Or does he still want o play top flight football?
If media outlets/ "ITK" sources are correct, Ade, Remy and Vertonghen seem to be our 3 main targets, IF we can pull them off, they'll be major coups for our club and benefit the team immensely. A first XI of (providing no player sales): Friedel Walker, Kaboul, Vertonghen, Ekotto Parker/ Sandro, Modric Remy, Rafa, Bale Adebayor (Remy will play as a RWF/ Ade's strike partner with Walker bombing down the right and Lennon to come from the bench if/ when needed). That team would take a hell of a lot to beat and one that would definitely get fans excited and defences petrified!!! Oh well... I can dream!
The rumour was that City were open to a fee of only £8m. They just wanted him off the wage bill, especially as there seems to be no way back for him with Mancini, for some reason. Wouldn't mind signing Adam Johnson from them either, if his wages aren't too unreasonable.
Problem is, PNP, how many City players are on " reasonable" wages? Not many, i would think. I suppose it's all relative, what's " reasonable" to City, is more than most others are willing to pay.
Very true NSIS, but he joined from Boro for a reasonable fee and hasn't really held down a regular place. If he could replace Bentley, for example, then there might not be a lot of difference there, with regard to wages.
Johnson wants out so he can get more games and stake his place for England. He signed a new contract in November and if the Fail are right with his wages in this article then he'd have to take a wage cut if he wanted to leave to go pretty much anywhere. He's got to decide which he wants, City money or an England career, SWP chose the former and has gone from one of the brightest young prospects in the country to a nobody who never achieved anything.
Last season I'd have taken Johnson in a snap but I'm not convinced he would be right for us anymore. I've not really seen him on the left much and on the right he cuts inside a lot which, as we've seen this season, can really derail our game. If we were to get that kind of winger I'd rather Hoilett as he's a bit lower profile and isn't at the stage in his career where he'd demand to be a starter. Ultimately it's a real shame we didn't manage to get Krasic on loan to run the rule over him before we made a permanent move for him.
i think johnson would be a good addition, even more so, that we're not in the CL and can't be too picky. he does cut inside, but he's also god the ability to beat his man deliver a decent cross. from the left, the "cutting" in, could be very handy on to his right foot. I know nothing about Krasic at all. don't think i've ever seen him play. (however, Im getting lost with names at the moment and may well have done!)
I imagine there would be a "small difference" between what we would get for our malfunctioning Bentley, and what City would ask for Johnson. That's without talking wages. He's a good player - I like him. But, there's a price too far for anything. I think the price for him would be just that, unfortunately.
Johnson will want to play every week imo, so wherever he goes that will be his foremost thing...I can't see it with us. On the left? Bale? and on the right as said, tends to cut in and any decent defender will just show him down the right. If he's not happy as backup at City, there's absolutely no chance of it here.
One source claims he's going to have to take a pay cut of about half, giving him £85k pw. This will be offset by £4m in signing on fees. Worth it?
