West Bromwich Albion boss Alan Irvine is keeping a careful eye on Matt Jarvis’ position at West Ham.
The Baggies boss was keen to take the winger to the Hawthorns on a season-long loan in the summer but the Hammers were not ready to agree such a deal.
Now Irvine is ready to watch the player on a regular basis as he starts his comeback from injury and may make Januuary bid.
The Irons still remain entirely disinterested in a loan deal for a player who cost them a reported £9 million.
Irvine knows that the Hammers ‘bottom line’ would be around £7 million and is hoping the Hawthorns board will back him in his first major transfer market splash.
A Hammers source told ClaretandHugh: “If clubs make sensible bids we always listen but there’s absolutely no point in putting one of your better players out on loan – that made no sense in the summer and doesn’t now.”
A credible effort in regurgitating an old gossip story Hugh but I’d be very surprised if there’s any mileage in this.
Albion signed two wingers in the last week of the August transfer window and are currently playing with no recognised out-and-out wide men in the first XI (Brunt aside perhaps), so why we’d want another, I don’t know.
Also, I don’t know how much you know about Albion’s finances, but unfortunately we’re not subsidised by anybody on Britain’s rich list, nor do we have the luxury of receiving a new ground paid for by the taxpayer! I’d be shocked if Albion were to throw £7m more around after a summer of mass recruitment – you may remember we pulled out of the Cresswell deal because £7m was deemed excessive.
If we had got money, historically it wouldn’t be spent in January as the Chairman will freely admit.
Unless there’s something you know that no other media source in the country does – if so, perhaps you’d like to share where your info came from? – then I’d be very sceptical of the content of this article, sorry Hugh!
Thanks for your input Warren. I think 7m would be excessive for a left back. We paid 3.5m. Don’t rule it out. Of course I don’t share sources so sadly I will have to live with your scepticism
A cynic may believe there are no sources Hugh! I’ll happily come back and take a big gulp of humble pie if I’m wrong, but I can’t see this one happening, certainly not for £7m and certainly not before next summer even IF Varela and Blanco under-achieve between now and then.
It was widely reported that Cresswell was £3.5m with potential add-ons taking it up to £7m.
Yep I know it was Baggie. I was the first to do so but he will have to make a zillion appearances for it to happen and it wouldn’t come out of a 12 month budget
As for the sources the cynics can believe what they want. I know and so long as I am true to myself that’s all that matters.
Hugh, I used to be an accountant so have a good understanding of cash flow and budgeting. In terms of the Cresswell deal, I think we can both be satisfied that whilst I’m sure Messrs Gold and Sullivan are trying to create a sustainable business, over the course of their tenure, income and expenditure haven’t always been entirely proportional. I dare say it won’t matter a great deal when it’s paid.
My assertion that Albion won’t pay £7m for a 29-year-old winger is an informed guess, it would certainly break with tradition and I struggle to see how or why they’d pay that sort of money even if there was a will to bring the player in. If he was available for a quarter of that – maybe.
Cheers for your responses, good luck with your site and, as you rightly say, as long as you’re true to yourself, that’s all that matters 😉
Hugh mate, I don’t think you are making this up! On the contray, I believe you are a little tease! Lol.
£7mill for an underachieving Jarvis? The club should bite their hand off!
Matt came to the club with the reputation for a player who could run very fast into cul de sacs with very little end product.
Unfortunately after all the time he has been with us imo nothing much has changed!
So for that reason alone we should accept £7mill of anybody who would be silly enough to offer it!
We then could spend the money towards a decent centre half! That way the potential loss of Reid would be easier to bare and we could then put Ginge gently out to pasture! COYI!
🙂 I don’t think they are serious serious but it’s what I’m told is going on. I’d take £3 £4 million