QPR closing in on £2m move for AJ The Telegraph believe that QPR are close to concluding a £2m deal to sign Andy Johnson in January. Johnson has rejected a new deal offered to him by Fulham and, although Martin Jol said he was unworried by the continuing uncertainty over the strikerâs future at his press conference this afternoon, the Cottagers are privately moving towards a position of having to consider selling the 30 year-old in the winter transfer window. Johnson is out of contract in the summer and Fulham would not want to lose him for nothing. Jol was playing his best poker face at the press conference, saying: Iâm not worried. Of course thereâs always interest from other clubs but heâs still under contract until the end of the season. Johnson is certain to attract suitors given his fine form this season. Having battled back from a serious knee injury, the former Crystal Palace and Everton striker has scored 11 goals in 19 appearances this season, including a hat-trick against QPR in October. His £2m-a-year salary has reportedly been sanctioned by new QPR chairman Tony Fernandes, who is intent on helping Neil Warnock strengthen his squad when the window reopens in January. Fulhamâs decision will be whether to retain a player who could score vital goals in the knowledge that he could walk away for nothing in the summer or risk selling him to a rival â potentially in a relegation dogfight as the Telegraph notes â for a fee that might not reflect his true value.
A season or two Swords. It's all a bit weird at the moment mate, twelve months ago we would of bitten off any of the signings we've been linked with. But now, unless it's Messi or better we're humming and arghing! Post a thread about Michael Owen for instance, great for Man.U yet we will still get loads of detractors saying he's not for us! Good times or not? It's all getting a bit surreal at the moment. This time last year we were all on tenterhooks as to whether Hulse had signed on time on transfer deadline day.
I'll be interested to see how the Fulham 606ers react to this news. Half are fans, half are very derogatory of AJ (I'm a fan). Our trouble is he hasn't been great value for his £10m fee 4 years ago beecause of so many injuries. Will he get an improved contract at Fulham? I doubt it. Will we keep him till the end of the season and let him go on a free? maybe - he's been scoring and playing well, but would that continue if he wanted to leave (IF)? My guess is that Ruiz is intended to do the channel running that AJ does and thus the supply part of his job - so freeing AJ's wages and getting a couple of mill towards another scorer - may well be the strategy. I for one think he could be a bargain at £2 m for a couple of years for you or someone else in the prem
Question. On the basis of current form (and give that no one can accurately predict the future eg injuries etc), would you take AJ, Zamora or Boothroyd of even Helgs, with his rejuvenated career, up front. No brainer for me though TF and NW are likely to have even more mouth watering options. Also, can we also please remember that if we sign AN Other Footballer from no where, please can we give him a chance before we fill the board with negative comments. Remember Jamie Mackie!!
This is an interesting one for me. Someone made the point to me if AJ or Zamora were to come to us would that free up Defoe to join up with Martin Jol once more. For me Defoe would be the real deal and statemnet of intent. January going to be very interesting times for us.
Spot on with the point about Mackie. I for one (as were many others) was thinking 'Who is he ?'.......so glad i was proved VERY wrong
As the fulham poster said, since his £10m transfer from Everton he has been injured a lot; we already have a sizeable contingent of injury-prone-players. I like him; I think he could get us some important goals; but he has that Achilles heel ( or is it his knee?) It's a tough judgement call, that's why Sir Neil is being paid so handsomely.
I have said this before but I really can't see Defoe joining us and i do not believe he is a NW type but AJ is right up NW's street and the point about Mackie is a valuble one. Personally I think he would be a better fit in our squad.
Forget about Defoe, he's younger and has more England caps than Peter Crouch. Crouch cost Stoke +£10 mill, Defoe will cost more = we won't pay that amount. AJ for £2 mill = bargain. But only as long as he don't get a longer contract than 2,5 years.
My take is that we are still fishing for Defoe and he will clearly be first choice if 'Arry can see his way clear. Johnson is being lined up for when that falls through. Fulhams 'offense' just won't be the same without him.
