[Archived] Summer 2011 Transfer Window Part One

[Hughesy]

Getting a bit nervous over the Hoilett situation with Newcastle hovering. Hopefully he'll sign a deal soon although his dad is notoriously hard to deal with. Would be the worst start to the summer ever if he went.

If he wont sign one, then I wouldnt sell him - keep him, he could be key, then next summer take the compo - it also gives us 12 months to try and change him mind.

He already had the vast majority of a five year deal to run. There was no need from our point of view to give him him a new deal. I thought the idea of the new deal was to up his salary in accordance with his growing reputation and make him fairly untouchable unless a truly ludicrous offer of say 25 -30m came in.

To up the clause it seems.

Nobody knows the amount of the original one, but it has been reporting that Wenger was aware of one last summer.

[Grez]

i think all credit should be given to Venky's on holding out for more cash.

Lets face it - Jones is going. All that remains to be seen is how much for.

Its almost the equivalent of Venkys being allowed to look at the books, but not necessarily having the deal agreed. IMO this is why Jones went for the medical (Euro timing) and the deal was left to be sorted in the background.

I think his leaving, whilst sad, is a great advertisement for our scouting, coaching and academy staff - well done.

I dont see a problem holding out for another week or so... if anything it will really get under fergie's skin!

[Black Burn]

There are some people questioning why Venkys inserted a 16 million clause in Phil Jones's contract if they value him at 25 million.

The problem is, when they offered Jones the contract in January, no one thought him worth 25 million pounds. In January, he was still injured. Yes, he was a great player with great performances, but at that time he had an injury, he wasn't playing and his value wasn't that high.

However, after signing the contract, he managed to recover quicker than expected and even put on stellar performances - performances which all the more shone because he basically helped keep Blackburn out of relegation (with the rest of the defence), and his value rose. That was why instead of 16 million in January, Venkys now value him at 25 million. No one expected Jones to up his game in the second half of the season.

This is, of course, merely speculation on my part and I could be wrong.

[JAL]

Kean to get deals done early

http://www.rovers.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10303~2374558,00.html

If Kean signs Cruz will there be any credibility left for the sweaty sock after selling our future in young Phil Jones.

Credit to Paul Plunkett in the LT today for saying Cruz is a spent force. Totally agree with him.

[47er]

If he wont sign one, then I wouldnt sell him - keep him, he could be key, then next summer take the compo - it also gives us 12 months to try and change him mind.

To up the clause it seems.

Nobody knows the amount of the original one, but it has been reporting that Wenger was aware of one last summer.

How then were we able to reject Wenger's offer? It was widely reported that Wenger offered us 8M.

[Black Burn]

How then were we able to reject Wenger's offer? It was widely reported that Wenger offered us 8M.

Apparently Phil Jones himself had no interest in joining Arsenal so he didn't agree to a medical or the terms Wenger proposed to him. Same with Liverpool - which is why Liverpool didn't get him.

Phil Jones could refuse Manchester United's offer himself, but he told Steve Kean that he wanted to join Manchester United. Once that happens, there's nothing the club can do to keep him.

[Tim Southampton Rover]

I wouldnt be against Santa Cruz returning as long as it isn't for an expensive fee. We all know he's quality but it's pointless spending a large portion of our transfer budget if we aren't guaranteed that he'll pay. If he arrives for a £1 - 2 million and with a lower wage then I dont have a problem with that.

[47er]

Apparently Phil Jones himself had no interest in joining Arsenal so he didn't agree to a medical or the terms Wenger proposed to him. Same with Liverpool - which is why Liverpool didn't get him.

Phil Jones could refuse Manchester United's offer himself, but he told Steve Kean that he wanted to join Manchester United. Once that happens, there's nothing the club can do to keep him.

I've never read any statement from Jones, the club or even the media that it was Jones who turned Arsenal down. Surely if that were the case Utd would have cone in with an 8M offer?

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

I wouldnt be against Santa Cruz returning as long as it isn't for an expensive fee. We all know he's quality but it's pointless spending a large portion of our transfer budget if we aren't guaranteed that he'll pay. If he arrives for a £1 - 2 million and with a lower wage then I dont have a problem with that.

You mean he was a quality player about 3 or 4 seasons ago. It would be a complete waste of a shirt to sign him now. Whilst I'm on - Upson, don't go near him I'd rather have Givet anyday.

[John]

Santa Cruz is a nice guy and he likes the club, but time to move on, he simply can't stay fit.

[gumboots]

Kean to get deals done early

http://www.rovers.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10303~2374558,00.html

Doesn't the heading differ somewhat from what he says in that the suggestion in the actual article is that some players may not come in until after we start preseason?

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Doesn't the heading differ somewhat from what he says in that the suggestion in the actual article is that some players may not come in until after we start preseason?

That's what I thought, more doublespeak.

[Black Burn]

I've never read any statement from Jones, the club or even the media that it was Jones who turned Arsenal down. Surely if that were the case Utd would have cone in with an 8M offer?

Sorry, I was just speculating. Don't take my word as truth. Should have added a line like "I think" or something like that, my bad. Oh wait, I did. I used "apparently". Never mind.

I think they were confident that Jones was going to reject Arsenal so they didn't make a move. It was only when Jones was "considering" going to Liverpool that they decided to swoop in like the vultures they are and snatch him out of their grasp. Poor Liverpool.

I doubt Jones would have left us for Liverpool, though.

[gumboots]

That's what I thought, more doublespeak.

More whoever put the headline on hadn't read the article or at least had only read the bit about wanting players in early.

[Stuart]

If Kean signs Cruz will there be any credibility left for the sweaty sock after selling our future in young Phil Jones.

Credit to Paul Plunkett in the LT today for saying Cruz is a spent force. Totally agree with him.

Surely you can see right through that one JAL. Cryer and Plunkett pick a topic each week and, probably by the toss of a coin, each write an opposing argument. You could just as easily been congratulating Cryer on his insight.

I can definitely see Roque returning. Particularly being South American. If he does, we have to sign someone who can cross a ball from the wing. Probably explains the Larsson link.

[Black Burn]

More whoever put the headline on hadn't read the article or at least had only read the bit about wanting players in early.

From what I learned in journalism classes, stuff like that is done on purpose because headlines like that grabs readers' attention. They don't really care how accurate the headlines is as long as people get attracted to read what they write. Unethical, but that's how a lot of tabloids work. They put headlines like some stars being in a scandal, but in the actual story itself, they would put, usually in small print or in one or two insignificant setences how the scandal might not be true.

Like Hollywood Star involved in scandal (then when you read lines after lines about speculation, juicy news and scandals, you'll find a single line that says the story or accusation is not confirmed, or star cannot be reached for comment).

[John]

Wonder if we will go in for James Collins again - having watched more of him, last season, I think he could be an OK signing (he is better than I initially thought).

[Stuart]

Kean to get deals done early

http://www.rovers.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10303~2374558,00.html

"We have got a sizeable budget, which will enable us to attract exciting players that the fans would like to see."

Is this like when we brought in that exciting number 2?

Forget "Steve" Kean, he should be call "Superlative" Kean!

[chaddyrovers]

Wonder if we will go in for James Collins again - having watched more of him, last season, I think he could be an OK signing (he is better than I initially thought).

He is a very good player. He has a connection to SEM aswell. They were involved in his move to Villa from whu.

http://www.semplc.com/transfer-archive

could help us sign him

[John]

Could be unlikely given his contract problems, however if we keep Givet we may only need 1 centre back signing? (I am presuming Samba will leave)

Nelsen/Hanley/Givet/e.g.Collins

Of course that would mean we would have to bring in a specialist left back (which we needed anyway).

[Kelbo]

There are some people questioning why Venkys inserted a 16 million clause in Phil Jones's contract if they value him at 25 million.

The problem is, when they offered Jones the contract in January, no one thought him worth 25 million pounds. In January, he was still injured. Yes, he was a great player with great performances, but at that time he had an injury, he wasn't playing and his value wasn't that high.

However, after signing the contract, he managed to recover quicker than expected and even put on stellar performances - performances which all the more shone because he basically helped keep Blackburn out of relegation (with the rest of the defence), and his value rose. That was why instead of 16 million in January, Venkys now value him at 25 million. No one expected Jones to up his game in the second half of the season.

This is, of course, merely speculation on my part and I could be wrong.

I would go with that one, 16 million in January would have been a good deal, things change though and Hendersons Liverpool transfer, Wickhams valuation etc throws up a whole new ball game, but and this is what I believe, Jones himself wouldnt want to get priced out of a move and whether the owners admit it or not, there was a strong possibility in January of relegation and we could have lost Jones for much less than £16,000,000 - in my mind, both Rovers and Jones got a mutually acceptable contract/clause in January, it cant be changed, there may be some backlash from the PL if there were any misdoings by Man U, but the transfer will go ahead.

[RevidgeBlue]

I would go with that one, 16 million in January would have been a good deal, things change though and Hendersons Liverpool transfer, Wickhams valuation etc throws up a whole new ball game, but and this is what I believe, Jones himself wouldnt want to get priced out of a move and whether the owners admit it or not, there was a strong possibility in January of relegation and we could have lost Jones for much less than £16,000,000 - in my mind, both Rovers and Jones got a mutually acceptable contract/clause in January, it cant be changed, there may be some backlash from the PL if there were any misdoings by Man U, but the transfer will go ahead.

I agree with that to a point, it's a matter of conjecture whether 16m was an acceptable figure under any circumstances. I'm guessing if we'd gone down a separate clause for a lesser amount would apply. If Jones had never come back from injury the same the current situation would never have arisen anyway. The only way 16m might have warded anyone off would have been if he was only recovering from injury round about now.

Apart from being humped over a barrel on the price the other downside of course is that we all know if the Red Scum have been involved in any impropriety they'll be told by the Premier Leaugue they've been very very naughty boys indeed and warned not to do it again.

I'd rather have an extra few million, no matter how remote the possibility.

[Roverdale]

Aurier's side of things

He says he's looking for a move to improve, surely he would be better suited coming to us and actually getting some games? Although I don't really know too much about the guy, perhaps he's one of those players who wants the lifestyle rather than the gametime. From this interview he sounds like an alright lad and one that I would be curious to see in a Rovers shirt next season. 18 year old for €4m.. can't argue with that.

[BPF]

Hearing:

Samba to leave

RSC to sign imminently.

[Hughesy]

Nobody knows the amount of the original one, but it has been reporting that Wenger was aware of one last summer.

How then were we able to reject Wenger's offer? It was widely reported that Wenger offered us 8M.

See above - They obviously just wanted to get him cheap, knowing we had no spare cash at that time. I think its been reported this week that both United & Arsenal wanted to wait another 12 months before signing him anyway, but Liverpool forced their hand. Anyway enough of Jones....he's going - hes no longer important to us

One deal we should be all over, and id be happy with him as the one central defender addition if Samba stays

Boyata doesnt want Bolton but would join Everton