Fabian Delph - Signed for Manchester City

[Matt Collins]

I don't get this supposed low release clause.   With a quality player like Delph sure to be in demand, and his agent taking his %, why so low?

nnnngfghhhhhhhh

[saunders_heroes]

Wasn't there something in our accounts that said if we were taken over this summer a certain player (believed to be Delph) would get a massive bonus? Would he really have been able to negotiate that as well as an £8m get out clause? I can't see the club being that generous to one player.

[pauliewalnuts]

What I still don't get is this clause (if true) existed the minute he signed a new deal. You would think that his agent would have been on the phone to the likes of Man City, Chelsea etc the minute it was signed. Yet it has only been any kind of an issue since Nursey claimed an exclusive. And even then he's still a Villa player a couple of weeks on or whatever it has been. At £8 or £10m there is no way he should still be with us if his intention all along was to leave. Something about it just doesn't add up.

What's to say his agent wasn't on the phone the minute it was signed?

Even if he did start looking for a move for him there and then, there's no guarantee that it would have surfaced by now. Look at how long Vlaar's agent will have been looking for a deal for him, and he's now officially without a club, this a player who had an excellent world cup the summer before.

The thing about the release figure is it is basically suggested that he signed the deal with the low release fee as a way to ensure we got some money for him rather than watching him walk away. Given that, there's no reason why it shouldn't have been 8 or 10 million. Delph - assuming this is what went on - will have wanted the club not to lose out, but also not to make it too hard for him to get a decent move. Given that, it is easy to see why the figure might be so low.

However, I agree with Chris, I think the entire thing is a load of absolute horseshit. To do such a volte face now, after what he said a few months ago, would be a staggering display of turncoatery, even in an industry which is famed for it.

Like you mentioned, this whole thing also came from James Nursey, who is hardly the most accurate of sports journalists (and that's putting it lightly).

[pauliewalnuts]

Wasn't there something in our accounts that said if we were taken over this summer a certain player (believed to be Delph) would get a massive bonus? Would he really have been able to negotiate that as well as an £8m get out clause? I can't see the club being that generous to one player.

Why would something like that be in end of year accounts?

[silhillvilla]

Wasn't there something in our accounts that said if we were taken over this summer a certain player (believed to be Delph) would get a massive bonus? Would he really have been able to negotiate that as well as an £8m get out clause? I can't see the club being that generous to one player.

That's not going to work in any sort of accounting, legal or indeed reality sense.

[PeterWithesShin]

Wasn't there something in our accounts that said if we were taken over this summer a certain player (believed to be Delph) would get a massive bonus? Would he really have been able to negotiate that as well as an £8m get out clause? I can't see the club being that generous to one player.

Why would something like that be in end of year accounts?

The accounts that will include the new Delph deal haven't been released yet have they? So how can anyone outside of a few at the club know what's in them?

[pauliewalnuts]

Wasn't there something in our accounts that said if we were taken over this summer a certain player (believed to be Delph) would get a massive bonus? Would he really have been able to negotiate that as well as an £8m get out clause? I can't see the club being that generous to one player.

Why would something like that be in end of year accounts?

The accounts that will include the new Delph deal haven't been released yet have they? So how can anyone outside of a few at the club know what's in them?

The accounts won't contain information about the salaries of or deals regarding individual players in any case.

[Toronto Villa]

What I still don't get is this clause (if true) existed the minute he signed a new deal. You would think that his agent would have been on the phone to the likes of Man City, Chelsea etc the minute it was signed. Yet it has only been any kind of an issue since Nursey claimed an exclusive. And even then he's still a Villa player a couple of weeks on or whatever it has been. At £8 or £10m there is no way he should still be with us if his intention all along was to leave. Something about it just doesn't add up.

What's to say his agent wasn't on the phone the minute it was signed?

Even if he did start looking for a move for him there and then, there's no guarantee that it would have surfaced by now. Look at how long Vlaar's agent will have been looking for a deal for him, and he's now officially without a club, this a player who had an excellent world cup the summer before.

The thing about the release figure is it is basically suggested that he signed the deal with the low release fee as a way to ensure we got some money for him rather than watching him walk away. Given that, there's no reason why it shouldn't have been 8 or 10 million. Delph - assuming this is what went on - will have wanted the club not to lose out, but also not to make it too hard for him to get a decent move. Given that, it is easy to see why the figure might be so low.

However, I agree with Chris, I think the entire thing is a load of absolute horseshit. To do such a volte face now, after what he said a few months ago, would be a staggering display of turncoatery, even in an industry which is famed for it.

Like you mentioned, this whole thing also came from James Nursey, who is hardly the most accurate of sports journalists (and that's putting it lightly).

The difference between Vlaar and Delph is that one is very good footballer that is constantly broken down. The other is a young, England international with nothing but upside for the best years of his career. At a time when English players are like gold, a current international playing at a high level for £8m would have been swallowed up now you'd have thought. I think we both agree though that the flaw in this whole thing is Nursey and his immense ability to get things utterly wrong. That and how it would make Delph look which is practically the opposite of how he has always come across.

[silhillvilla]

Who is Delphi agent ? Any previous ?

[PeterWithesShin]

As there is no proof that Delph wants to go, or that there is a release clause, i'll not lose any sleep over it.
And even if he does go, we'll be Xmillion better off than just about anyone thought we would be 6 months ago, as hardly anyone thought he'd sign a new contract.

[Villa in Denmark]

Who is Delphi agent ? Any previous ?

Wrong way round

Delphi is Apollo's agent.

[silhillvilla]

As there is no proof that Delph wants to go, or that there is a release clause, i'll not lose any sleep over it.
And even if he does go, we'll be Xmillion better off than just about anyone thought we would be 6 months ago, as hardly anyone thought he'd sign a new contract.

Based on his own words , he's going nowhere,

[chrisw1]

I'm not one for calling for the club to comment on all speculation.  But if there isn't a release clause surely it would be in everyone's interests to nip this one in the bud?

[villalion]

I'm not one for calling for the club to comment on all speculation.  But if there isn't a release clause surely it would be in everyone's interests to nip this one in the bud?

Surely you have answered  your own question?

[saunders_heroes]

Wasn't there something in our accounts that said if we were taken over this summer a certain player (believed to be Delph) would get a massive bonus? Would he really have been able to negotiate that as well as an £8m get out clause? I can't see the club being that generous to one player.

Why would something like that be in end of year accounts?

God knows. I'm sure I read it on here from someone who looked through the accounts.