Jordan Rhodes: Can Bristol City afford transfer-listed Middlesbrough striker? Championship goal-scorer extraordinaire Jordan Rhodes will be on the move in January – but the chances of him coming to Bristol City appear remote. Out of favour at Premier League newcomers Middlesbrough, the 26-year-old Scotland international has been made available for transfer and will almost certainly be departing Riverside next month. Boro boss Aitor Karanka wants to recoup the fee paid to Blackburn for Rhodes' services and City head coach Lee Johnson is in the market for another striker to provide competition and cover for Tammy Abraham and Aaron Wilbraham. But the price will preclude the Robins giving serious consideration to a making a move for a player who is out of their price bracket. Boro will be asking a minimum of £9 million for Rhodes, who currently earns £40,000 a week in wages in the Premier League. That is sure to rule out all but the richest Championship clubs and the likes of Aston Villa, Sheffield Wednesday, Derby County and Norwich will face stiff competition from top-flight rivals Burnley and Hull City. Although Rhodes more or less guarantees goals at Championship level, City's best hope of landing value for money in the January window lies on the other side of the English Channel. Jonathan Kodjia became the club's record signing when they paid Angers £3.1m for his services in the summer of 2015 and Johnson and chief operating officer Mark Ashton are scouring the European market for a replacement. In the meantime, signing the likes of Rhodes will remain a pipedream, no matter how much some City fans might wish it. http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/jordan...ough-striker/story-29957788-detail/story.html
But you told us he's signing. You even put the omojo's up to look like you was in the know. Plus a championship side DID pay that weekly wage. Born paid it and I suspect others will do as well just not us.
I think this could be a case of 'who blinks first' between Boro and potential buyers. Considering his price tag, I think for most lower Premiership teams he would represent a gamble, and the majority of the richer Championship clubs already spent their money in the summer. I could see Norwich go in for him though, in which case Rhodes himself may need to accept a pay cut (though agree a clause to increase his salary if they got promoted). Boro may say otherwise, as they don't want to show their hand, but I think if he hasn't moved by the last day of the transfer window, they'd consider loan offers, in which case there's a faint whiff of a chance we could get in there.
Actually, the maths adds up. We got £15m for Kodjia. If the asking price for Rhodes is £9m plus he's on £40k per week, that would be £6m left for his wages without dipping into the piggy bank. To sign him for a year would cost £2.08m (assuming 52 weeks at £40k per week) leaving us with the best part of £4m left, but it's more likely we would go for a deal to the end of the season which would be far less; 20 weeks would take us from January to May - and would cost a mere £800k. Bargain if he helped get us promoted! Can't see it happening though
I can't see us going for this one and it just goes to highlight the vast gulf between the parachute mob and the rest of normal society. Let's stick with common sense and let the chips fall where they may.
The German, Dutch or French leagues have a good level of forwards, and for the price of one Rhodes we could maybe pick up a couple of players from there. Or are we on the Rhodes to nowhere ? Or on the Rhodes to Hell perhaps ?
For a loan, or short term contract I would be very happy. For anything longer I would be very worried indeed - we are not a retirement home for has-been high-earners.
