Maybe maybe. This is very out of character. we pay 40kpw to **** players, we never break the wage structure for good ones.
But when Altidore's contract would have ended (if he had stayed at Sunderland) Defoe will still have 2 1/2 years to go on his Sunderland contract.
All this tit-for-tat wages stuff is bollocks, you have one slightly expensive (to club's budget) striker, you might then have another but very expensive striker and you might then be left with just the very expensive striker; either way you are shelling out serious dosh. If he scores the goals (and you don't concede as many or more) and you stay up, he will seem to be worth every penny this season, but then next, and the next . . .
Ah I see, anyone who refers to your previous posts that contradict recent ones is an idiot. Well I'm guilty as ****ing charged then.
There have been numerous reports on this and the one I took was from Toronto themselves who said they would entertain bids of 6 million quid or more. Sunderland offered Altidore in a straight swap to which Toronto gave the 'big finger' to. Sunderland then upped the ante to (I believe) 14 million quid plus Altidore which was then accepted. Defoe has since passed a medical at Sunderland and the transfer arrangements continue. Whilst the balance of Sunderlands mind is disturbed they might just give us Fletcher, Wickham and Cattermole in exchange for Sagbo.
http://www.shieldsgazette.com/sport...defoe-in-straight-swap-for-altidore-1-7051199 "There have been indications emerging from Toronto that Sunderland are paying a £6million transfer fee for Defoe, while recouping a portion of that investment from the sale of Altidore to the MLS itself, who are then expected to franchise the Black Cats flop to the Canadian club. However, the Echo now understands that Sunderland have not splashed out ANY extra money to land Defoe than they will receive for Altidore. Sunderland have essentially just conducted an exchange of strikers, rather than a player-plus-cash deal. The Black Cats have made a big investment on Defoe’s wages though, with the 55-time England international due to become the club’s highest earner. The contract is thought to be markedly lower than the £80,000 per week which has been mentioned in some reports, but it is a measure of chairman Ellis Short’s continued support that Sunderland have beaten off competition from Crystal Palace, Hull and Leicester to land Defoe on a big-money deal."
If Altidore has been swapped for Defoe we could have offered Sagbo plus a bag of chips - they'd have been better off!
Forgive me as there are certain things I do not understand and I am having trouble figuring them out. Perhaps one of our learned fans who understand the workings of the Mickey Mouse league could enlighten me. Reports are saying that Altidore is to join the Mickey Mouse League and that Sunderland are to pay the MLS (NOT Toronto) the sum of 11 million quid. Whereas it appears that Toronto are the 'front-runners' in securing his signature this is by no means certain because there is something called the 'Allocation System" and that the powers that be will decide where Altidore goes. There are two other teams (so I understand) who have laid claims to Altidore's signature but both are below Toronto in the allocation process. I would imagaine that Toronto would have to receive some of this (reported) 11 million as Defoe was their player. No wonder everyone in Philadelphia is a lawyer!
The 14m talked about is purely Defoe's wages. The transfer is a straight swap. This thread is yet another example of TigerRoo being stupid.
It is getting a bit worrying, Sunderland have got Defoe a proven striker and Lesta this striker Chelsea were intersted in. We have got to solve this stiker shortage and quick.
