[SOLD] Will Hughes

https://theathletic.com/2706142/202...-striker-outgoings/?source=emp_shared_article

AL basically says the only way he's staying is if he can't find a better offer. At this point I'd rather he was sold.

 

Ok so he's refused to sign a new contract and club have told him he can go and find a new club but the price is £12M?

Seems reasonable

 

Wonderfully gifted player, and has had a decent run of service for the club. But he's unlikely to get much better now and has shown signs of becoming injury prone so if he won't sign a deal, let's cash in.

 

Chalobah was also shown training with the first team in a video on the clubs twitter yesterday

 

https://theathletic.com/2706142/202...ryger-larsen-and-potential-striker-outgoings/

"Watford have offered him a five-year contract which would make him one of the club’s top earners but, collectively, Hughes and his agent are reluctant to sign that deal due to the terms in it and are actively looking at alternative options."

If this is the case, thank you for your time here and we wish you the best. (Genuinely!) If the club are sticking to a new wage structure that secures our longer term well being, then as much as it sucks to lose him it will be for the best and sends out a message to the squad that we aren't bending over for any individual. I'd much rather he stayed personally but not at the cost of ever being so perilously close financially to ruin like we were last Season.

 

It does, though we all know he will find a better offer and the club will have to cave in the end and accept £5m.

 

100% in agreement.

I rate Hughes very highly and think he was a massive factor in our success last season, BUT, I stand with the club on this. It's evident the sticking point is the wage reduction if relegation happens. Surely he'd have similar stipulations if he joined Villa or Newcastle? Both could be in a dog fight next season, especially if Villa sell Grealish!

The biggest issue would be if we chose to give in to Hughes and not put a clause in there for relegation. What then happens with Chalobah? He will surely want the same terms? Then the next player etc etc.

Thanks Will for your efforts and especially for sticking around last summer when you could've gone, but now it's time to cash in if he's not willing to sign a new LUCRATIVE deal. Why come out and say you want to stay when you clearly knew you were going to turn an offer down anyway? Trying to look like the victim.

Take the rumoured £12m (a profit on the player) and replace him.

 

Think we will be lucky to get anyone willing to spend £12m on Will Hughes in the current covid-affected market.

Yes, he has PL experience and has showed he's capable at this level - but given the likely list of clubs interested, I just don't think any of them would part with that much money for an average PL midfielder who they can have for free in 12 months. £12m may well be our asking price but the situation being what it is, I would expect the club to be low-balled left, right and centre. Buying clubs will know his situation and that we won't want him walking for free in a year.

Sadly, our relegation still haunts us. No way should players like Chalobah and Hughes be down to their last year of contract at their age - but our demise a year ago means it had to be the case.

I suppose one way around the relegation 50% wage clause would be to put in a set release clause for PL clubs in the event of relegation. But I suspect he still would be reluctant to sign. He's clearly a nice, bright guy - but I think his head has been turned and I can't see it ending any other way than us selling him now.

 

Another player that I like, but possibly for his character more than anything. If I am being completely honest I think that Hughesy is overrated. Yes he can pass the ball fairly well and has some good technical ability but he don't really do anything significant in terms of scoring goals or assisting them. Yes I would prefer to keep Will Hughes but I doubt he will a substantial loss.

 

Sell him and upgrade with Lemina. Easy.

 

Supposedly had quite a decent season with Fulham? Linked with him previously.

 

This is largely how I feel. I think he has the potential to kick on and be a better player - but I just don’t think he will ever do that with us. I think he has more ‘gears’ to his game that he rarely shows - but even in third gear, he was a standout in our average midfield at times.

 

Yep really good player (actually a much better 6 than Hughes anyway). No time for this nonsense being conducted by Hughes and agent, likewise Chalobah. They should be grateful to be getting Premier League contracts. Particularly Chalobah who was awful for most of his contract until stepping up in the latter part of last season. Hughes is a tidy player and was loyal playing for us in the Championship, but this **** now is where the club should draw the line and get rid, we're Premier League now and there's plenty of players better than him that would take that contract.

 

What I will say is that if Chalobah AND Hughes go, we are light again in midfield. And as a unit, we would surely have the worst CM in the division.

 

Yeah, he can go. He's decent, but entirely replaceable. He's never really done anything to make me think "wow, how would we get by without Hughes?".

 

Which will be a book profit of about £3m. We paid, what, £8m 4 years ago so he'll have been written down to £1.6m.

 

The confusing thing about the Lemina link is that he’s on 65k a week at Southampton according to many reports. He won’t be getting that on offer with us. And I doubt he’d be keen on a relegation clause either if I had to guess.

I just don’t see how, contractually, he is an easier option than Hughes. I also think he is the exact type of character/player Duxbury said they wouldn’t be targeting.

 

Yes although book profit is totally irrelevant in selling decision making.

 

If either goes then they need replacing.

 

He's a more difficult decision if, as is being discussed, he goes to NUFC in exchange for Hayden.

 

I'm confident we'd be able to improve on both.

 

I've said before I like Hughes but if they don't like what's on offer he can go and ASAP so we can get his replacement in, exactly the same for Chalobah. But do agree with @Burnsy 12m is not going to be offered infact nowhere near that.

 

Wouldn’t surprise me if they’ve both been replaced on the cheap already with Etebo and Louza.

 

Surprised how many people are calm with the idea of Hughes leaving.

I would argue he is close to being our best player, probably second after Sarr. It was Hughes' class that guided us safely to promotion, not sure he can readily be replaced.

Shame if he goes.

 

Of course it’s a shame. But he’s not irreplaceable at PL level, it’s as simple as that. And if he’s refusing to sign, then the club should deal with that accordingly.

And it was far more than just Hughes that guided us to promotion. Chalobah did just as much, as did the CB’s - and Sarr roasting defences. Hughes played his part but no more than 3 or 4 others.

 

But are you confident we will ?

 

Very surprised how blasé many are. I think it may be a case of "don't know what you got 'til it's gone" for some.

 

Well, we have also had plenty of experience of him being ‘gone’ as he has also had his fitness issues which may be another factor why the club aren’t panicking about a departure.

 

Correct. The only questions are: "Is he worth what he wants?" "Can we afford what he wants?" and "How much can we get for him?"

 

The whole team and formation change guided us to promotion. The biggest factor is and always will be that DeeKnee was out of the squad!

 

Name me 3 upgrades with PL experience we could realistically sign....

Are you really sure he's not irreplaceable? A club our size and financial backing!!

 

Why do they have to have PL experience? Preferable but not essential surely?

And its also a loaded question because we don't know what we have to spend or what we would be getting by way of a fee.

And yes. He is Will Hughes. I'm absolutely certain he isn't irreplaceable.

 

I'm totally with you on this. It is the most important position in our formation. You get a DM that can't retain possession and the system falls apart. He's the first player you look to when you need a reliable option... otherwise it'll be a punt upfield.

 

Yes, and the timing of the related cashflows if we sell and replace.

 

On his day Lemina might be an upgrade, but he is another player who only performs when he is in the mood. There is a reason Saints don't want him in their dressing room.

Whereas, Hughes has shown himself to be a pretty consistent 7/10 dependable player and is supposedly a good influence in the dressing room.

Xisco built a decent dressing room last season, and I dont want to see that undone by marginal upgrades in quality for players with reptuations for being disruptive (e.g. Dennis, Etebo, Lemina). There is obviously a point where finances mean a contract is not viable, but I would be concerned at losing Hughes and replacing him with someone like Lemina. IMO it is a step down in quality on and off the pitch.