Transfer Speculation / Gossip

[Chris Smith]

I make it four in eight years. We've sold two to Manchester City, one to Manchester United and one, hilariously, to Liverpool. Three were for seriously big money and one should have seen us wear a mask, a striped jumper and carry a big bag marked 'Swag'. At no point in his two seasons with us have I ever seen anything in Ron Vlaar that makes me think he's in that league.

I think the point is that when we sold Barry and Milner we were a top 6 team. When we sold Young and Downing we were a top half team. We're now talking about losing our Captain (and arguably best player) when we've only just narrowly avoided relegation.

You're right, he's not comparable to those players, but equally, we're not comparable to the teams that those players left.

If he's not comparable to those players then surely those same clubs will not be after him. In that case where is he going to go that gives him better prospects and pays enough to make it worth his while?

[paul_e]

The issue with all this is that the only suggestion he might leave is basically that 2 dutch managers have joined premier league clubs and 2+2=5.

Despite that we have a comment on here saying it's 99.9% certain he won't be here next season and then it's spiraled into talk of how fucked we will be when he's gone and we don't replace him.

If he were to leave then it will be because someone has offered us more money than we can turn down for a 29 year old (forget the fact that's he's going into the last year of his contract, that's only relevant if the money you'd get is worth more than having him in the team for a year).  Given he has 1 year left on his deal and his still pretty sketchy injury record I can't imagine anyone being willing to make a decent offer so, like Benteke last year, he won't go because he's worth more to us than he is to anyone who'd be looking to buy him.

[Dave]

I make it four in eight years. We've sold two to Manchester City, one to Manchester United and one, hilariously, to Liverpool. Three were for seriously big money and one should have seen us wear a mask, a striped jumper and carry a big bag marked 'Swag'. At no point in his two seasons with us have I ever seen anything in Ron Vlaar that makes me think he's in that league.

I think the point is that when we sold Barry and Milner we were a top 6 team. When we sold Young and Downing we were a top half team. We're now talking about losing our Captain (and arguably best player) when we've only just narrowly avoided relegation.

You're right, he's not comparable to those players, but equally, we're not comparable to the teams that those players left.

If he's not comparable to those players then surely those same clubs will not be after him. In that case where is he going to go that gives him better prospects and pays enough to make it worth his while?

Well, at the moment "better prospects" is any club willing to offer him a contract beyond July 2015.

That might change, but if I were him and I'd not been offered new terms by now, I'd certainly be thinking about where I would want to be playing for the next few years.

[RussellC]

I make it four in eight years. We've sold two to Manchester City, one to Manchester United and one, hilariously, to Liverpool. Three were for seriously big money and one should have seen us wear a mask, a striped jumper and carry a big bag marked 'Swag'. At no point in his two seasons with us have I ever seen anything in Ron Vlaar that makes me think he's in that league.

I think the point is that when we sold Barry and Milner we were a top 6 team. When we sold Young and Downing we were a top half team. We're now talking about losing our Captain (and arguably best player) when we've only just narrowly avoided relegation.

You're right, he's not comparable to those players, but equally, we're not comparable to the teams that those players left.

If he's not comparable to those players then surely those same clubs will not be after him. In that case where is he going to go that gives him better prospects and pays enough to make it worth his while?

Any club that's pro-actively looking to compete in the top half of the League and for European Football? How many would you like to me to name?

[RussellC]

The issue with all this is that the only suggestion he might leave is basically that 2 dutch managers have joined premier league clubs and 2+2=5.

Despite that we have a comment on here saying it's 99.9% certain he won't be here next season and then it's spiraled into talk of how fucked we will be when he's gone and we don't replace him.

If he were to leave then it will be because someone has offered us more money than we can turn down for a 29 year old (forget the fact that's he's going into the last year of his contract, that's only relevant if the money you'd get is worth more than having him in the team for a year).  Given he has 1 year left on his deal and his still pretty sketchy injury record I can't imagine anyone being willing to make a decent offer so, like Benteke last year, he won't go because he's worth more to us than he is to anyone who'd be looking to buy him.

While I don't disagree with your logic, all of the above becomes irrelevant should Vlaar decide that he wants to move. If that becomes the case (and I realise it's hugely hypothetical at this stage) then I'm sure the club's stance will change to simply looking for the best deal we can get for him.

I realise we were able to change Benteke's mind last season, but at Vlaar's age he will realise that his chances of playing European Football are becoming more-and-more limited.

[SoccerHQ]

I'm sure they'll be interest abroad for Vlaar aswell.

One hope is that his injury record is none too clever so hopefully that will put clubs off.

[pauliewalnuts]

The issue with all this is that the only suggestion he might leave is basically that 2 dutch managers have joined premier league clubs and 2+2=5.

Despite that we have a comment on here saying it's 99.9% certain he won't be here next season and then it's spiraled into talk of how fucked we will be when he's gone and we don't replace him.

If he were to leave then it will be because someone has offered us more money than we can turn down for a 29 year old (forget the fact that's he's going into the last year of his contract, that's only relevant if the money you'd get is worth more than having him in the team for a year).  Given he has 1 year left on his deal and his still pretty sketchy injury record I can't imagine anyone being willing to make a decent offer so, like Benteke last year, he won't go because he's worth more to us than he is to anyone who'd be looking to buy him.

I agree entirely about the Dutch manager thing. It's purely because they're the same nationality.

I disagree on nobody being willing to make a decent offer for him, though. He might be 29, but that could be another three or four years in him yet, and as you say, he's a year from the end of his contract.

If he got the chance to play in the CL - and it doesn't have to be with an English club - then I reckon that's something he'd probably take a look at. What is the alternative? He's been here two years and had two relegation fights. It isn't hard to imagine there being clubs with better prospects than us interesting him (not Southampton, mind, God knows how they fit that description at the moment).

I think Vlaar is a solid defender, nothing more, nothing less. Having said that, he's our one reliable option across the whole back four (Okore might turn out to be decent, but we don't know that yet), and - although it isn't saying much - he was one of our two or three best players last season.

I hope he stays, but I fear he will have better options. He has looked pretty average so far in the World Cup, but he's certainly raised his profile.

In fact, although, taking Vlaar out of the equation, I would want the Netherlands to win the World Cup, if you add in the potential impact on suitors for his services, it actually makes me think I'd rather they got knocked out today.

[Can Gana Be Bettered!?!?]

The issue with all this is that the only suggestion he might leave is basically that 2 dutch managers have joined premier league clubs and 2+2=5.

Despite that we have a comment on here saying it's 99.9% certain he won't be here next season and then it's spiraled into talk of how fucked we will be when he's gone and we don't replace him.

If he were to leave then it will be because someone has offered us more money than we can turn down for a 29 year old (forget the fact that's he's going into the last year of his contract, that's only relevant if the money you'd get is worth more than having him in the team for a year).  Given he has 1 year left on his deal and his still pretty sketchy injury record I can't imagine anyone being willing to make a decent offer so, like Benteke last year, he won't go because he's worth more to us than he is to anyone who'd be looking to buy him.

While I don't disagree with your logic, all of the above becomes irrelevant should Vlaar decide that he wants to move. If that becomes the case (and I realise it's hugely hypothetical at this stage) then I'm sure the club's stance will change to simply looking for the best deal we can get for him.

I realise we were able to change Benteke's mind last season, but at Vlaar's age he will realise that his chances of playing European Football are becoming more-and-more limited.

Benteke stayed because we have him a shit load of money and a team as big as he would've liked to go to didn't want him.

[RussellC]

RE: the Dutch Manager. It's not just that. Koeman was the Manager at Feyenoord where he made Ron Vlaar Captain. Admittedly, that doesn't automatically mean that he'll bid for him, but it does mean that they have an existing relationship. We also know that Managers joining new clubs (in new leagues) tend to look to bring in players that they already know.

For those who are quite relaxed about this, I ask you to look at it from a different angle; If you were Vlaar's agent at the moment, what would you be looking to do?

[supertom]

RE: the Dutch Manager. It's not just that. Koeman was the Manager at Feyenoord where he made Ron Vlaar Captain. Admittedly, that doesn't automatically mean that he'll bid for him, but it does mean that they have an existing relationship. We also know that Managers joining new clubs (in new leagues) tend to look to bring in players that they already know.

For those who are quite relaxed about this, I ask you to look at it from a different angle; If you were Vlaar's agent at the moment, what would you be looking to do?

If I was Vlaars agent I'd be getting him to run down the last year of his deal and leave on a Bosman to be honest. He'll only be 30 by next summer, and he'll have plenty of takers. Minus a transfer fee to worry about, the deals open to Vlaar in a years time will probably be more financially rewarding than what he'll get offered now.
If Ron leaves this summer it'll be because we accepted an offer and let him leave. IMO, Vlaar won't actively seek a move because he seems reasonably happy here and it's probably in his interest to run out his deal and survey his options next year.
Same goes for Delph.
If I was either player I wouldn't be moving this summer, and I would be running down my contract and waiting for the summer 15 offers to roll in from Jan next year.

Of course what needs to be considered is just whether Randy has it in him to turn down offers for any of our players now. I think he'll take reasonable offers just just about everyone at the moment to try and further straighten the books. If a player feels they're just a commodity and not really wanted, they'll probably move on too.

[RussellC]

You may be right supertom, and I hope you are, and that we can get a takeover done pre-January and get them both signed to new deals.

If it was me, however, I'd be looking to make the most of the exposure he's had in the World Cup and get a him a move this summer, thus making myself more money with a cut of the transfer-fee.

[dave.woodhall]

RE: the Dutch Manager. It's not just that. Koeman was the Manager at Feyenoord where he made Ron Vlaar Captain. Admittedly, that doesn't automatically mean that he'll bid for him, but it does mean that they have an existing relationship. We also know that Managers joining new clubs (in new leagues) tend to look to bring in players that they already know.

For those who are quite relaxed about this, I ask you to look at it from a different angle; If you were Vlaar's agent at the moment, what would you be looking to do?

I'd want him to move to Real Madrid or Manchester City, but that's not likely is it? A new offer from Villa, as talked about by Paul Lambert yesterday, but which seems to have been ignored as it doesn't fit into the Doomsday Scenario, is a lot more realistic.

[supertom]

You may be right supertom, and I hope you are, and that we can get a takeover done pre-January and get them both signed to new deals.

If it was me, however, I'd be looking to make the most of the exposure he's had in the World Cup and get a him a move this summer, thus making myself more money with a cut of the transfer-fee.

Possibly, although to be honest, Vlaars not really matched his performance from the first game (as yet). I'm not sure we'll be bolting our doors from hoards of bidders. Of course if he has three more exceptional games for the Dutch this summer, that may change. We'll probably get a few inquiries from clubs like Swansea, Newcastle. Manure is doubtful. They're getting linked with more than just Vlaar from the Dutch backline (De Vrijj as well) but I think that's just putting 2 and 2 together and coming up with 5. There aren't any defenders in that squad good enough for Utd's ambitions.

I think he'll probably stay on to be honest. If we get an offer upward of 5 million, which if Vlaar finishes on a high this WC isn't beyond the realms of possibility, he might move on, but even still, another year down the line he could be going on a bosman and perhaps be getting offered more lucrative deals with bigger signing on fees.

[RussellC]

RE: the Dutch Manager. It's not just that. Koeman was the Manager at Feyenoord where he made Ron Vlaar Captain. Admittedly, that doesn't automatically mean that he'll bid for him, but it does mean that they have an existing relationship. We also know that Managers joining new clubs (in new leagues) tend to look to bring in players that they already know.

For those who are quite relaxed about this, I ask you to look at it from a different angle; If you were Vlaar's agent at the moment, what would you be looking to do?

I'd want him to move to Real Madrid or Manchester City, but that's not likely is it? A new offer from Villa, as talked about by Paul Lambert yesterday, but which seems to have been ignored as it doesn't fit into the Doomsday Scenario, is a lot more realistic.

Doomsday scenario? Come on Dave, you're better than that. People are just reacting and speculating to what's happening at the club this summer. Man City and Real madrid are, of course, unrealistic but there are plenty of clubs that aren't, not just in the Premiership but in the Bundesliga too. Say, for example, Dortmund lose Hummels this summer. Is it really unrealistic that they could see Vlaar as a potential replacement.

As for Lambert's interview, he's quoted as saying "“I don’t think anybody will go without me saying so. I think the lads are happy here and want to get going again." You'll have to point me to the part where "a new deal" is specifically mentioned. Then again, he also told us that he'd be sitting down with Mark Albrighton's agent to sort-out a new contract.

[Ads]

There was an article in the BM which states new deals to be discussed with Gabby, Vlaar and Delph.

We did sit down with Albrighton, a distinctly average player at best, who was offered £35k per week from Leicester. We would have been mental to have matched that and Albrighton would have been mental to have turned that down.