In 2006 we left Highbury because, as the saying goes, ‘We were sold a dream’. Financially it made no sense to play in front of 38,000 gooners when so many more were on a waiting list, especially when it was promised a bigger stadium would guarantee competing with the biggest clubs for players. Yet in 2019, the same weekend when Barcelona can pay 120 million for Griezmann, we are struggling to find 25 for Kieran Tierney.
This is zero disrespect to Celtic but they are a selling club, over the years will sell to Championship clubs and simply are not a side who can turn down bids of 25 million. People can talk about our wage bill, etc, in terms of revenue , merchandise, sponsorships, Tv deals, comparing us and Celtic is like night and day in terms of who is richer. So why can they so easily reject the money while we find it hard to find?
To clarify why would the Scottish Champions turn down one of the highest fees they will get, for a player they know who wants to leave, when their asking price has been met? The same club who thought 14 million was enough for Virgil Van Dijk,5 million for Wanyama or 18 for Dembele.It can only be one thing. That our payment plan is so embarrassing that it’s been laughed out of Parkhead, with the Hoops respecting us enough to not make it public.
If we had suggested 13 up front and 12 in a year’s time that would be fair. Or 10 now then 7.5 for the next 2 years. The fact they been so quick to turn down their valuation being met makes you wonder how silly the structure we proposed is and for what reason? If we truly in 2019 cannot afford 25 million then we may just as well give up!
We can’t negotiate like this and expect to finish in the top 4. Yet some gooners still believe our transfer kitty is bigger then it’s made out to be? You don’t act like this if you have 75 million to play with.
My auntie loves a bargain when shopping. She will run to the reduced section. The odd Chocolate Eclair half price is cool if you want to save your pennies, that’s your prerogative. If she though tried to do a monthly shop with this method you might ask if she was okay.
At a time where football has never had more money, are we being tight or are we in trouble financially?
Dan Smith