No my opinion hasn’t changed it wasn’t a tantrum. The reality we are back where we started is pretty clear, I don’t have an issue with it as we need to be run sustainably. Neither were our “top target” but we absolutely would have signed Wesley had Stoke not come in. We’ve had two weeks to sign Kaba, and then been pipped. It’s either because we think we can get someone else (I highly doubt it) or we’ve been pipped financially by both Birmingham and Las Palmas.
Personally, I think the likeliest explanations are that (i) we were not that interested in him and moved to other targets and/or (ii) we had a valuation for him that we thought was fair and are not interested in exceeding it. I’m not that disappointed this isn’t happening. I think Kaba fits the profile but is only a somewhat above average striker in the league and wouldn’t have much resale value. That said, maybe, once we see how he does/who we get in instead I may reconsider.
Given we know we couldn’t compete with Stoke’s offer for Wesley, the more likely answer is the same happened with the secondary target. Sometimes the most obvious answer is the most likely one and we are simply potless after being run into the ground by our foolish man-child owner. I guess the proof will be if we end up with a superior player or Andy Carroll.
Have we been linked with a striker who is clearly objectively better than Bayo yet? Cho maybe? Even Kaba has a similar record in England and a worse record in Belgium. I think we're gonna struggle to make a significant upgrade, even if we do end up spending a couple £m that we don't seem to have.
It may be that there will be other suitors for our top target who can out compete us. Strikers are expensive, proven strikers even more so. I'd be pleasantly surprised if we are in the position to secure an in-demand proven striker at this level.
Sorry how do we know this? I think I asked this yesterday too. Even if we know we wouldn’t compete with Stoke while maintaining an interest in Wesley that again is different from not being able to.
Wendover had the low down on this. Given the state of the club I just don’t see the value of making up scenarios that the club are wisely scheming behind the scenes. Given their previous actions the finances are a state and that is the reality of it. Last dog to the bowl and all that.
I have discussed Wesley privately with Wendover and what he told me is that we were interested in a cheaper structure than Stoke. Not that we “couldn’t compete” with Stoke’s offer. I don’t think I ever said the club was wisely scheming. Merely that the club have valuations for incoming players and are interested in paying the right amounts.
We liked Wesley - but his wage demands were ‘ludicrous’ and we also didn’t want to give him a 1yr deal as there’s no real security in that for the club. Kaba - I don’t really know. But it was mentioned to me that we only wanted him on loan. And the player was very keen on going to Spain. I think the club were wary of getting burned on a player who would rather be elsewhere in 6-12 months. Not sure we were ‘pipped’ or outbid for either player. I don’t think our interest was strong enough in either player for that to happen.
So we didn't think he was worth what Stoke paid rather than couldn't afford to match it ? What happens if none of our options are available for the price we think they should be available for ? We withdraw from the market and don't sign anyone ?
Sure. The financial devastation of the club is clear in the last accounts. We don’t need to pretend we could spend the money if we wanted to as a comfort blanket. Just accept our new place in the grand scheme of things.
If you choose to be devastated that we didn’t push the boat out to sign a player who scored 3 in 37 in the Spanish second tier, that’s your choice. If he was good I’d be disappointed he’d ended up at Stoke. Personally I do think there is a meaningful difference between choosing not to compete financially and not competing financially. You and a number of other posters have specifically said the latter with apparent certainty when from what I’ve heard (and seemingly corroborated by @Burnsy above) we just weren’t that interested (in Wesley)
I’m not devastated. The finances are. £45m through the door and wage bill has been slashed. And we are still only able to sign Ince. The Pozzo’s aren’t spending money because the pot is empty after their excesses. Credit lines used up I’m afraid. What remains is needed to pay Duxbury his premier league salary and have Giaretta as a superfluous management layer. Priorities are important.
I’m starting to suspect that @Burnsy ’s mystery striker is in fact dear Burnsy himself, and his partial absence from the forum is because he’s been away from his keyboard pounding the gym and the running track pending his official unveiling by the club We probably could do worse too
A slashed wage bill and a healthy amount of incoming cash actually points to greater financial health than earlier this year.
We have approached their club and weren’t turned away. And the player has held previous interest in joining. That’s as much as I know, genuinely. If you were to ask me if I think it’ll come to fruition, I still think a move for Kieffer Moore is much more likely. And I think the Shamar Nicholson link is rubbish.
Isn't this what you wanted though? The Watford of old would have given a crock like Wesley a 3 year deal on big wages, and you'd (rightly) complain a year from now when he sits in the medical room wasting the club's money after 2 goals in 25 apps. We should be frugal, we shouldn't be pressured into wasting money on players with little to no resale, just because Stoke want them.
Thanks for the information. Sounds like the very very early stages of a potential transfer, so won’t get excited over this one. Just hope we get someone!
I just remembered something, didn't @Carpster say a couple of months ago that he'd heard we were supposedly interested in Carlos Vinicius at Fulham? He'd certainly fit the bill of a striker other Champ clubs would be envious of, and there's the Benfica connection there. With them having signed Jimenez and keeping Mitrovic he could now be surplus to requirements. Though we'll probably end up with the also linked Muniz instead who's not that good (currently).
