Getting congested out there in transfer land this summer. A few days after we reported the need for West Ham to switch targets following unsuccessful bids, comes news that one of the ‘newer’ targets has been the subject of a confirmed bid by one of our Premier League rivals.
Ferveurlyonnaise.fr carried a story a couple of days ago confirming that Olympic Lyonnais central defender Jake O’Brien had been creating lots of interest from Premier League clubs keen to secure the services of the tall 23 year old. We reported a few days ago that West Ham were interested in him, having failed with interest in other players.
Everton have reportedly broken cover with a confirmed bid of 23.65 million euros (£20 million) for the player- which is a long way short of the target of nearer 35 million sought by the club in order to allow him to leave. My French isn’t perfect but it doesn’t look as though the player is reported as having a release clause in his contract.
There is clearly a lot of bluff and counter bluff being played between a handful of Premier League clubs this summer with a dwindling stock of good PL standard defenders: Unfortunately -unless you happen to be a ‘seller’- this can only mean the price expectations of clubs like Lyon are heading upwards.
Thirty million pounds for a 23 year old centre back:-Unfortunately with some of the good and the great like Jacob Greaves moving to another club and Jean-Clair Todibo apparently choosing Juventus over West Ham, there are fewer quality players available as we move into just the second and third weeks of the transfer window.
Seeing the amounts being discussed for defenders makes me troubled at some of the prices we are reportedly looking to accept for our own players on sale – for example, letting midfielder Flynn Downes move to Southampton for £15 million seems cheap when compared with the £30 million we’ve been quoted by Saints to bring KWP lo London Stadium. £15 million seems a steal for Downes who we know is really, really wanted at St Marys.
So, memo to Tim Steidten: If we really need to bring in a Jake O’Brien for £30 million or a KWP for the same amount – surely our own ‘homegrown’ dynamic midfielder Downes is worth more than half of that value?
Just saying.
Downes is younger and worth more than KWP Also with Alveras injured we don’t have any defensive midfielder to cover except Downes Southampton can pay us at least 5 million plus KWP if they want Downes
Oh no he isn’t!!
If they want 30m for kwp then we should quote them 30m for Downes, simple
The huge difference being that KWP has over 100 Prem starts ……and Downes has made 7 (and we lost them all.)
£30mil. for KWP?
A player in the final year of his contract…?
Downes is 25 is a good age and has three years contract remaining plus a one year optional extension. He is not short contract.
He also counts as a home grown player. Essentially you can have a 17 man squad of overseas players and can then make the squad up to a maximum of 25 with home grown players.
He has some premier league experience and just had a successful promotion season in the Championship.
Given going rates and all the things in his favour £15M seems a low valuation.