That’s not my point though…
You recruit players based in part on a pitch that includes ambition to win. Not in Jan, not in the summer, but 4 games later you sell your best player when the window is shut!
what kind of ambience do you create among the team in general, including the fans?
What is it that, as FSG and as owners, you’re telling the fans?
That you are building for the future? By suspended animation of pretending the current season does not exist?
Haven’t those players just left a club for what they think will be a bigger, brighter, richer opportunity for themselves.
There may be some disappointment but it’s a job for them. They know people move on, just as they have done, and every situation they walk into is temporary. We can’t project the feelings of fans onto players.
The fans might be pissed but you only have to take a look at this single thread to realise there’s not a universal opinion on what to do in the best interest of the club.
Take the money now, see this as a rebuild season and add some star quality in the summer. It’s not a crazy idea if the money was eye-watering. Equally there’s a lot of merit to the opinion of saying no deal at any price. But if come next summer Salah decides he wants to stay one more year so he can go on a free the following summer or the money offered for him is £100m less than we’d get now, then some fans will say we’ve made the wrong decision not to cash in.
We all know every single player is leaving at some point. Some will be our choice, others will be there’s. But fans, players, coaches all just move with those changes. All that sentiment about Bobby and him being the system and look, no one is really arsed he’s gone now because we’re all loving the Nunez experience and seeing the new guys do well. Same will happen when Salah goes. Be that tomorrow, January, next summer or the summer after that.
Couldn’t agree more with the view that he wasn’t great before he came here. The focus of the club right now should be ensuring a Sporting Director is employed well before Mo leaves, rather than where to spend the money (not suggesting that’s happening mind).
Get someone in that can do what Edwards could (or similar), and make good use of any fee we recoup for Mo and get the direction of travel sorted out. Try to find those gems that fit in with Klopp and will shine, with the odd big money signing thrown in as required.
Without a SD in post, my fear is the structure that has been successful and in place for a while will continue to erode, and before you know it we are doing what United do, throwing large sums of money on random players and hoping it sticks - an approach that rarely works.
Its really not simply about his leaving. The main, perhaps only issue is about timing. Its the timing that defines everything else…
Teams rebuild all the time, but they must find the right balance in order to remain successful.
Where is that balance in selling now with the window closed?
Exactly! He will almost definitely leave next summer and that’s ok. We have time to plan for it and make all the necessary arrangements, but right now would leave us in a bad position.
Shouldn’t happen now.
Not unless we clone this Mo Salah , make him 8 years younger and then sell the original Mo for 400M
Well that’s sort of the point isn’t it.
The fact our window is closed means it would need to be an astronomical figure to make it worthwhile for us in the medium to long term because in the short term it hurts us pretty badly.
There is a figure that would make the short term pain bearable. I’m not sure what that is but I doubt they’re willing to come up with that kind of offer now. We also know there’ll be the same interest in him come January or the summer so we’re under no pressure to do anything that isn’t in our best interest.
And its a story that keeps giving!
Because it wont go away, and because it could go on for another two years…
Plus you can spin it in any direction you want without actually lying about it!
To date, the only real/public thing has been the verbal offer…
We’d be getting 330k per week off the books and have a savings in wages from departing players. Again not likely but possible.
9 players who won’t be replacing him.
I’m not bothered if he goes next summer it gives us a year to prepare and get the right player in.
My objection is in the next two days I just don’t see the point in doing harm to our season for the benefit of something we can’t spend and probably will get at least half of next summer if not slightly more.
I am probably in the minority but the only case that I would sell Salah is for him to ask for it.
The Saudis could offer 200, 300 mil, I’d tell them do one if he wanted to stay. The club doesn’t need the money. And he is the consummate professional who will deliver each year. The way he’s taking care of himself, he could still be producing a similar output in his mid 30s. His numbers have been astounding for every year he’s been at the club and he’s started this season in similar vein. There is talk that he’s getting on and for any other footballer that’d be true. He though seems to be the exception, he won’t be needing a replacement physically wise at least until his current contract expires.
His contibution is more valuable than whatever outlandish number they come up with and frankly having 200 million in the bank doesn’t mean much in this inflated market. On the other hand, good luck finding someone who is going to match his goals and assists and overall presence.
Plan ahead by all means, find potential candidates and whatnot but setting a price for him? Absolutely not. Let him stay for as long as he is willing and able to deliver.
According to 21-22 figures here , Champions League qualification was worth about £100 million to us.
Let’s say the offer for Salah next year, with him a year older and with just one year left on his contract, is £100m. His wages to the end of this season are about £14m.
If we are offered £250 million for Salah, all up front, right now, I’d bite their hands off, even if we can’t spend it just yet.
How much is the damage from missing the Champions League for a 2nd year running worth?
How much does that impact sponsorships or potential sponsorships?
Not saying it would be a guarantee we’d miss top 4 without Mo, but those odds go up significantly.
While still a physical phenomenon, he has lost a bit of pace. It’s evident watching him play. He’s obviously still playing at a very high level and may do so for a couple more seasons, but like @cynicaloldgit says, I don’t think you turn down 250M. You may never have that opportunity again and can buy several key players needed in the next few windows with money to spare. He won’t be here after next summer anyway.
We’re making top four with or without Mo.
Chelsea, Man U, Newcastle, Spurs and Arsenal are all worse than us. We are just as good as City, but don’t benefit from the same generous referring. The only way we don’t make the top four this season is if the refs shaft us.
Who cares about the money though. He’s still a brilliant player to watch and I want to see him in red whenever the Home Secretary allows me some peace to watch a game
No individual is bigger than the club.
Agree, but I don’t think that really applies here. Salah is integral to the way we play and how we want to play. Without the opportunity to bring in a replacement, I’m not sure you take even 250mil. I think Salah still wants to play and win major trophies in Europe, and he can’t do that in SA.
I don’t think Salah is holding the club ransom here, and I don’t think he’ll be sold.
I don’t think he will be sold, either; all I am saying is that a stupid bid (£250m) would have to be considered.