The January 2015 Transfer Rumour Thread

[saunders_heroes]

So, Vlaar to Napoli, £2m.....apparent done deal but not sure if he goes in January or at the end of the season.

If a fee is involved surely it would be Jan?

Eurosport site

Rafa Benitez has set his sights on the Dutch international to strengthen his back four at the Stadio San Paolo - and according to Il Mattino newspaper, Vlaar is ready for the move.

It now remains to be seen whether he will move immediately, or in June when his contract with Villa expires.

Napoli have offered to pay at most €2m for the player, with a contract worth €1.7m per season plus add-ons.

Manchester United have also been linked with the 29-year-old.

There is thought to be one major obstacle, as Napoli must first sell Paulo Henrique to Internacional in Brazil.

You know what, I'd sell him. Normally I wouldn't want any of our better players sold in January but let's face it he's hardly ever fit, and even when he is he flatters to deceive. Besides we look okay at the back without him anyway.
Sell him, get a few quid and put it into the transfer pot for a creative player or two.

[Rigadon]

Split on Vlaar leaving.  Yes, he's injury prone and we do seem to have cover now.  But Sendros is injury prone, so is Baker and Okore has only just returned from a season out.  It's risky for the relatively small return in cash if we sell.

[KevinGage]

I'd sell if we were offered in excess of £5 million - or a reasonable player coming in as swap either on loan or permanent.

But €2 million is really neither here nor there. If it's a choice of that, or Napoli (or whoever else) waiting until the summer, they can wait.

[ozzjim]

Yep. If he is going there anyway (as he can agree too now) then they don't have to offer much as they know he is coming, and it is not in our interests to sell for such an amount.

[dekko]

I'm more or less in agreement with letting him go if we get a few million (bearing in mind he only cost 3), but I'd be careful saying that we dont need him because the defence is playing well.  If there's one thing about Lambert's time here its that we're incapable of any kind of consistency, so I wouldn't be surprised if it all falls apart at the back again.

[Ads]

How long is he out injured for anyway now?

[danno]

I'd keep him.

Any fee we'd get is a drop in the ocean, compared to the difference in prize money between finishing 17th and 13th.

and I think we're far more likely to finish higher, keeping one of the more experienced players we have.

[rob_bridge]

I think 5m is about break even figure. We , ay only get half a dozen more games from him.

[Hoppo]

I don't believe Vlaar is even injured.

[Toronto Villa]

I don't believe Vlaar is even injured.

Yes, I'm also convinced he made it up the other day.

[Ads]

Physio Room has no rerun date on Vlaar's injury, but I've never known him to pick up a knock and not be out for at least a month. If he is out for that time, then we will only have 14 matches left with him anyway.

He is chronically injured, he isn't that good and I would be inclined to sell him.

[RussellC]

I'd keep him.

Any fee we'd get is a drop in the ocean, compared to the difference in prize money between finishing 17th and 13th.

and I think we're far more likely to finish higher, keeping one of the more experienced players we have.

Completely agree with this. Vlaar may be injury-prone, but to varying degrees so are all of other centre-backs. We'd be crazy to let him go this month.

[Ads]

The way Clark and Baker have stepped up, the out right quality that Okore has and how surprisingly good Senderos has been, we wouldn't miss him.

[olaftab]

Very disappointed with his latest injury. There was a good chance that we would sell him for a bit of money but now that chance has gone.

[RussellC]

The way Clark and Baker have stepped up, the out right quality that Okore has and how surprisingly good Senderos has been, we wouldn't miss him.

In terms of quality I agree. I just worry that they're all liable to pick-up injuries, as much as Vlaar is. Off the 4 remaining centre-backs I think Clark would probably be the only one to have played more than 10 consecutive games in recent years (although I stand to be corrected). If Vlaar goes this month, we'd need another CB.