I don’t think he’ll leave this summer for a few reasons.
1. I don’t think the club are desperate for the cash. I think a lot of 2+2=5 has been done to assume we need to make up the £40 m our income has fallen by. The prince said we were not desperate to sell anyone and he wanted to keep the core of the squad together. Hence it’s release clause or nothing.
I think the club saw a pretty profit on him in a couple years time. It’s the first time they’ve bought a decent ‘name’ in from Europe. They obviously worked very hard to make it happen and clearly saw him leaving for big money to a top club in the future. The club will still hope to realise that big profit onw
2. I don’t think anyone is going to pay £35 million for him. That’s not because he isn’t very good. He is. He’s unbelievably talented and has a good reputation across Europe. But he’s struggled with a serious injury and has had a few niggles since returning which suggests this season may not go totally smooth for him. He also got shoehorned into a struggling team in a role that he is not used to, in a new league and in a new country. We have not seen the best of him so that means his suitors haven’t seen the best of him for a good 18 months either.
- it would probably be the best thing for him to play for us until at least January to prove his fitness. That way if he was to leave he’ll probably get a better move than he would this summer.
I’ve no doubt he sees his future way above the championship. He’s better than that. But I also don’t think he’ll throw his toys out he pram. I think he’ll get his head down and do his talking on the pitch. It would look better for him to absolutely destroy the championship and prove his fitness / ability in this country rather than Chuck his toys out and leave under a cloud.
1. I don’t think the club are desperate for the cash. I think a lot of 2+2=5 has been done to assume we need to make up the £40 m our income has fallen by. The prince said we were not desperate to sell anyone and he wanted to keep the core of the squad together. Hence it’s release clause or nothing.
I think the club saw a pretty profit on him in a couple years time. It’s the first time they’ve bought a decent ‘name’ in from Europe. They obviously worked very hard to make it happen and clearly saw him leaving for big money to a top club in the future. The club will still hope to realise that big profit onw
2. I don’t think anyone is going to pay £35 million for him. That’s not because he isn’t very good. He is. He’s unbelievably talented and has a good reputation across Europe. But he’s struggled with a serious injury and has had a few niggles since returning which suggests this season may not go totally smooth for him. He also got shoehorned into a struggling team in a role that he is not used to, in a new league and in a new country. We have not seen the best of him so that means his suitors haven’t seen the best of him for a good 18 months either.
- it would probably be the best thing for him to play for us until at least January to prove his fitness. That way if he was to leave he’ll probably get a better move than he would this summer.
I’ve no doubt he sees his future way above the championship. He’s better than that. But I also don’t think he’ll throw his toys out he pram. I think he’ll get his head down and do his talking on the pitch. It would look better for him to absolutely destroy the championship and prove his fitness / ability in this country rather than Chuck his toys out and leave under a cloud.
