I can’t have been the only one left utterly confused by Southampton Manager Russell Martin’s “come and get me” plea to Flynn Downes yesterday.
In many respects, it was more a desperate call for West Ham to reduce their asking price than it was to the player himself. However, the whole situation seemed a little strange and at odds with a story that had emerged only a couple of days prior.
Learned football insiders reported only days ago that the south coast club had priced themselves out of a move for Flynn Downes. The latest news on the transfer grapevine appeared to suggest the Saints wanted £10 million in addition to the Hammers’ midfielder in exchange for their defender Kyle Walker-Peters.
As far as we know, West Ham would be quite willing to do a straight swap deal in which both players were valued between £15-20 million. It is also understood that Walker-Peters is open to moving to East London and may have even gone as far as to agree to terms.
Therefore, as far as I can tell, the only thing holding up the transfer, for which Russell Martin seems so desperate, is Southampton’s demand for an additional £10 million.
Assuming that Downes is happy to relocate his young family and play for Southampton again, the one remaining stumbling block would appear to be the Saints’ greed.
So it was odd indeed to read Martin’s cry-baby plea for Flynn Downes to be released from the chains shackling him to the London Stadium.
If Southampton wants to purchase the player from West Ham, they may well find that actual negotiation, rather than a tantrum, would yield better results.
If we can, keep Downes, tell saints to do one and go get Wan Bissaka who is similar to walker peters in that he can play in both full back positions.
As for Downes with Alvarez out it makes sense.
How can a proven PL full back and England international be of equal value to a Championship proven midfielder?
Typical WHU delusion at play here!
Nothing to do with greed,walker peters has been outstanding and consistent past three seasons including in premier league, capped by England,downes has never been a premier league regular ,
So yes walker peters is worth a bit more money,cough up or he’s off to Tottenham
You’ve said nothing about Downes contract being four times as long which needs to be bought out, or anything about Downes being two years younger which also needs to be paid for.
There are three factors to consider in how much a player is worth and you’ve flunked two of them 0/10 is why you’re wrong. Tottenham won’t overpay either, your clue should be he’s worth zilch this time next year, as players contracts run down they become worth less and less.
If we had kept Downes last season instead of loaning Philips I think we would have ended up challenging for or even getting back into Europe.
Keep Downes this season we’ll need him probably at the start and some other time through the season
KWP is a quality RB and dangerous going forward. Saints don’t actually want to sell him, but it appears that he will not sign a new or extended contract. As with most deals, best to remove swap and part exchange deals and treat them separately. That’s what Saints want to do, but West Ham want to combine them. It will work out in the end, but KWP is valued far higher than Downes, a player that West Ham don’t actually want!
How do you know that the new coach doesn’t want to keep Downes?
Sounded more to me like a shot at his own board for not getting a deal done for Downes, rather than a rant at us.
I’d like us to keep Downes personally. He could be a real asset under a new coach and in a different system
Southampton have brought in their replacement for Walker-Peters now, so let’s see if they can move him out for £25m. I’d prefer Wan Bissaka as our new right back. Better player and less money
Walker Peters is an experienced premier league right back and was the only Southampton player in the Championship team of the year. Downes has played a handful of Premier league games at the age of 25.
He was excellent in the championship last season but everyone knows that a very good championship player isn’t nailed on to be even a half decent prem player, Adam Armstrong scored 4 league goals in 2 Premier league seasons, yet his last 2 championship season he scored a combined 54 goals, it shows the gulf and shows why walker Peters is worth more then downes
I have to disagree with you without downs Southampton struggled he in my opinion was there player of the season so if saints want him a, straight swap is clearly their best option, walker Peter’s will walk away on a free transfer otherwise as he clearly knows that saints don’t need or want him hence they have, already signed his replacement, and as already touted Peter’s had agreed terms with West ham so he will join us for free at the end of his contract because he knows he will get the game time at West ham. The saints will shoot themselves in the foot on this one if they don’t see sense soon.
You’ve fallen into the simplistic trap of only comparing how supposedly good players are. When players are transferred their contract needs to be bought out and that’s where the two do not compare.
Downes has three years plus one years option left on his contract which is the amount that needs to be bought out. Walker Peters has only 13 months.
Downs has four times as much contract to be bought out is why the valuations are not as you wrongly say.
Southampton need a dose of realism here. Downes played well for them, is a good fit, but could also be effective at WH if we keep him. We would like a swap with KWP, who’s contract with Southampton runs out in 12 months anyway. They are in danger of losing out twice, not us.
Alverez injury could see him out for a month into season with Match fitness etc.
Downes can cover DMF wise.
I would like to see is keep him he would be like a new signing for us
Not forgetting J LOP will have
a completely different formation at times he will bea great utility player for us.
Southampton are desperate for Downes and we hold the cards and they need money to build where as we have money to buy .
Might be a late transfer market story .
Hopefully we would of sorted the RB (Rwb) position by then…
Just buy downes for 15 million and keep kwp
Keep him there is a decent player there and we will need use of him this coming season…..Southampton now spent money on new RB so there will be pressure for them to move KWP out now whilst they can get a fee for him or lose him for nothing…..we are in the box seat here and Martins rant may be aimed more at his board than us but all it has done is strengthen our hand if any negotiations were to be started.
Performative Ignorance.
Perhaps.
Although it may be solid strategic posturing.
Suggesting publicly, that WHU are the oppressive regime, holding players captive in chains, rather than allowing them freedom to pursue their goals and dreams elsewhere.
If that’s the first message the public hears, the subsequent messages have to disprove the initial message with a stronger message.
IMHO a straight swap sounds a fair and equitable exchange.
Why doesn’t he do the same then when it comes to walker peters, unshackle him, I’m sure he’d rather be at West Ham.