Lots of stories linking us to this lad again this morning and talk of 8m bids being accepted? If true, this is a tremendous signing IMO as the times I've watched the lad he looks a very, very hot prospect indeed. A very hard to please mag mate of mine watched him in the championship when they were in that league and his words to me the 2 times he watched him live was this. He reckoned this lad was the closest thing to Alan Shearer he had seen in years and told me 18 months ago that he wanted noocarsel to put a bid in for him then. However, and this is the only negative. I hope that if he comes (still a huge if mind you) he is doing it for the right reason and not just becasue he didnt get to move where he wanted. I think by all accounts, he has set his heart on a move to Liverpool and if we are a poor 2nd choice but the only ones to cough up the cash, will he come with the right frame of mind? A Connor Whickham hungry and raring to go to prove himself in the EPL, will be a huge asset to SAFC. One that comes with a heavy heart may well not be so. Still, I'm extremely happy (unlike me I know) to see this kind of player in our sights.
I think the lad will overcome the lack of moving to Liverpool (assuming it doesn't!), as he'll just be delighted to have a crack at the premier league. I don't think there's owt to worry about (and i don't think we'll sign him anyway!)
Daily Mail (I know, I know...) say £8M + £2M add-ons, but that he's desperate to go to the bindippers.
You been drinking Cest? (sorry) I dont know a great deal about him but if the clubs who are rumoured to be after him are then he is indeed a good buy. I see a few saying no, we want a bigger name, older, more experienced and ask, whats makes people think we wont get that? I remember this time last year and how silly some of us looked, what we shouted, shipping out Wagghorn and bringing in a Man U reserve, a kid. Well we all know what happened next.
I don't think we'll get him either but I'll still live in hope!! .... A bit more info; 'Sunderland look likely to have begun the expected summer bidding war for Connor Wickham by offering the Blues an initial £8 million for the 18-year-old striker. Other clubs are almost certain to follow suit with Liverpool, Spurs and the rest of the Premier Leagueâs bigger clubs having been keeping an eye on the Hereford-born frontman since his days in Town's Playford Road academy. The Black Catsâ offer, the first Town have received for the England U21 international, is understood to include clauses which will take the fee beyond £10 million if achievement and appearance clauses are triggered. Sunderland have been interested in Wickham for some while, manager Steve Bruce making an audacious but unsuccessful four-man swap offer involving Grant Leadbitter, Carlos Edwards, Dean Whitehead and Daryl Murphy two years ago shortly after his former Manchester United team-mate Roy Keane took over at Portman Road. Even if Town accept the bid, which they would appear certain not to do with so many other parties interested, Wickham is unlikely to join Sunderland with Blues boss Paul Jewell saying in March that one-time Reading academy schoolboy would only be interested in moving to one of the Premier Leagueâs bigger clubs. The Wearsiders firming up their interest is likely to lead to other clubs following suit with Liverpool, erroneously reported to have made a bid earlier in the month and the side Wickham supported as a boy, probably the favourites to eventually land the striker. Wickham is contracted to the Blues until 2014 and while Town are not actively looking to sell, itâs believed there is a clause in the youngsterâs deal which means he can talk to another club if they make an offer at a set level, believed to be somewhere between £10 million and £15 million.'
Ipswich fan in peace Wickham is an excellent player, us Town fans know he will move on but we are apparently holding out for £12 Mill or more. Wickham is a Liverpool fan so that is where he wants to go, Spurs are in for him too. If you were to land him he would do well for you, and I can see him getting more games for Sunderland than if he went to Spurs or Liverpool. I just hope 1) we get as much money as possible 2) whoever buys him gives him games so he can develop (or loans him back to us) Here is a clip of one of his goals http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/13876117.stm
Would be a great signing, we need to let him know he will get plenty of pitch time and that he will be linking up with Gyan and Sess. Get him and Welbeck and we will be motoring.
Do you think, as a lad who's seen him regularly, that he's ready for the step up now though? That's the big question for us.
I think this lad is the real deal Syd. I reckon he would be with us for 2 years or so and then would have the real big boys chasing him if we couldnt offer trophies/Europe. 8m/10m now could easily be 20m+ in 2 years time if he nets 14/15 goals a season.
I think he can do a job in the prem, he was excellent against Arsenal and he was playing out of position on the left wing. He wouldn't be the first pick ahead of Gyan and that fella from PSG you will be getting, but he is as strong as an ox so works brilliantly as a sub. He's also got a good abilty in terms of linking up with players. He may need a year of adjustment but he has the talent. In a few years he will be worth £20+ i'd think, and will move into the england squad if he can establish himself in the prem. we'd love to keep him but i accept he will most likely move on
Cheers Is he the sort that a mobile player like Gyan will get service from? He looks a big lad physically, good in the air?
If we sign Connor i believe he should be brought into the team slowly, maybe as a sub for 20 minutes against the mags and score the last minute winning goal!. Larsson is quality and he scores goals (try youtube).
Like the echo says we could have him 4-5 years, develop him and he would then still be young enough to move on to a top 4 team. With him and he's potential deffo think we could get into top 6. Optimistic admittedly but this lad is a real handful, which imo, would allow our other players to score quite a few goals
I just hope the promise and probability of more first team starts than he would get at Liverpool will appeal to the young man, yes a great signing if it happens.
The latest news from the Mirror...... Liverpool will match Sunderland's £8million bid for Connor Wickham. Anfield boss Kenny Dalglish has been monitoring Ipswich's young striker for the past six months, and he is ready to act in the face of opposition from the north east club. The Mirror revealed yesterdaySunderland had made a formal bid for the England U-21 international, which has prompted the reaction from their Merseyside rivals. Liverpool had previously bid £6million for Wickham, and also offered Ipswich the chance to take their young star Jonjo Shelvey on loan for next season. Read more: http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/tra...-bid-Ipswich-article751591.html#ixzz1Q30Jjn2O Sign up for MirrorFootball's Morning Spy newsletter Register here
We should increase our offer and then let Liverpool match it. I think it is the least we can do to help Ipswich get a bit more for him after all they did help us by taking a few players off our hands.
