By Hughie Southon
We still await an outcome to the Amando Broja saga.
And one big question dominates the scenario surrounding the Chelsea striker – why haven’t his loan club of last season – Southampton – come back for him? They appear to be a very obvious missing link!
Strikers are very thin on the ground right now and it has to be said that the reported £30 million we are apparently prepared to pay may be a little excessive for a player who until now has managed just six Premier League goals on loan for the south coast club and none at his parent club for whom he has made just ONE appearance in three years .
However, these particular stats have not been mentioned very often although one would imagine that had Saints been seriously impressed with the striker they would be challenging the Irons tooth and nail for him.
In fact the Hammers appear to have the field to themselves which seems a little odd as the prices being mentioned are hardly out of Saints reach.
Perhaps they know more about the player than we do who, by the way, is a massive Chelsea fan and allegedly is extremely reluctant to leave the club anyway.
Despite all the noise surrounding the possible switch to east London I personally can’t get excited over such a deal.
We are still waiting and seeing and I hope there is another more Premier League proven front man on our apparent list of targets!
I’ve been telling myself that he probably has made it known he will only go to a club playing in Europe, and out of that short list we’re pretty much the only ones who would need him, and experienced DM sees something I don’t… but the truth is probably closer to your take Hugh. Maybe everyone else (possibly including Newman) knows he’s not worth the £. Meanwhile Tuchel will spin this out as long as possible to try and disrupt a competitor. And citeh in less than 2 weeks? I’m trying to stay optimistic but it’s so difficult with this club.
Who would you sign Hugh?
I tend to live in a hammers bubble so my judgement is not that worthwhile buddy
I do not know why we are pussyfooting around with yet another player….First Moyes was fluttering his eyes at Lingard nonstop for 18months he got shafted and now here we are with Broja another one Moyes desperately wants but no movement….time is growing short the season is on us in a little over two weeks and still nothing this is getting truly pathetic.
Either put a bid in or move on….Forest now looking to get Dennis from Watford in yet another player reportedly we have been looking at all summer well whilst Moyes is looking through the window others have gone in the door and got what they wanted…..how can another Week of gone by and nothing but words come from the club…how about some action or are we run that poorly a lot of players just think naaaa anyone but them.
Maybe Broja and Chelsea don’t see a benefit in him returning to Southampton.
Maybe spending £30mil. on a player is not their policy
Maybe Tuchel actually wants to give him a chance?
One other thought: You don’t have to actually drive a Bugatti Veyron to know it’s fast, even if you’ve only seen it trundling around London doing 20mph
Thanks for posting this article Hugh, this is exactly what I have been saying all along. I am sorry but I just cannot get excited about the speculation around another drawn out transfer saga for a guy who warmed the bench at Southampton at times, has a goal record of 6 in 32 for the saints ( 2 of which came against Newport County ) and has not justified at all the reported 30 mil asking price. As far as I see it age IS the only thing on his side.
If we sign him I truly hope I am wrong and he scores 20 plus goals a season but I don’t see it happening.
Sonny Perkins had a better season statistically, and DM would not play him and he has moved on I get it that Moyes is a great coach with what is put in front of him, but his decision making and a manager is really worrying. Why is he hanging on for Broja to the exclusion of all other options? He has been embarrassingly mugged by Lingard and yet is doing it again. For God’s sake man go in for a striker!!! No more of this we tried crap. The rest are not standing still. At this rate it will be Europe this year, Championship next!!!
Maybe Southampton accepted what they were told, that he isn’t for sale and rather than banging their head against a brick wall, they moved on.
My only surprise so far this window is that we aren’t still chasing Ward-Prowse.
Something is seriously wrong with our negotiating, if a player is not for sale we chuck in unsuccessful high bids. If a player has a release fee or we’re told what they will cost we unsuccessfully lowball the offer or moan about the agents fees.
Now 2 very reliable media sources have blown the wage package demand accusations levelled at Lingard have been blown out of the water.
Something is very wrong.