Tianjin Quanjian from the Chinese Super League are reportedly interested in signing Chris Wood, shifting their attention to the United striker after failing to land Diego Costa from Chelsea. They are managed by Paolo Cannavaro, who of course visited Elland Road last year as a guest of Cellino. They are finding it hard to shift top Prem players in the January window, so it seems the next step is to look at top performers in the Championship. These Chinese clubs are paying massively over the odds for players, having recently signed Oscar from Chelsea for a staggering £60m. Therefore, if Wood was to go, I would think that we should be able to get at least £20m for him. However, with our current form and position in the league, the priority has to be to keep Wood at the club, as he will be impossible to replace. No club will let a top scorer leave in January, so we can't afford to lose him. Biggest problem is the ridiculous wages these megabucks Chinese clubs can offer. Wood will easily get £100k per week as a prized goalscorer, so should a firm offer materialise, it will be very hard for Wood to resist. Fingers crossed they find a target elsewhere and go away, but this gives me the flipping jitters. While we are in the Championship the January window is always a threat,
Juan Hung Low from the Chinese Supper league is reportedly interested in signing Steve Morison. Seems their usual Friday night delivery driver has retired.
I we can get 20m for him let him go, we can get a much better striker and have some left over. Getting close to end of season, we really need to start thinking about the prem, if and when it happens.
We won't get to the perm without Chris Wood unless we sign a top striker who hits the ground running. It's a massive gamble to take at this time of the season and with our first proper opportunity for promotion in a long time I would say it's an unnecessary one.
Agree absolutely - even if they offered £100m. Money doesn't get you promoted (although it helps), everything that Monk is doing is what gets you promoted, and having a team that's together on & off field, skill, agression, hunger .... ramble, ramble ... is what gets you promoted. If we sold Wood & brought, say, Messi in to replace him, there are no guarantees it would work. He might not get on with the manager, the coaches, the fans. He might not fit into the team & play terribly - or we change the team around to his style of play & take a damaging period of time to make the adjustment. No, it can't happen. We must maintain our current momentum, & Wood is a huge part of that. IMO it is madness to even contemplate any sum of money for him. We cannot guarantee we can buy success. Many have tried & failed. And personally, it's not the £100m+ we'll get when promoted (although it'll be nice!), it's the restoration of our prestige that I'm desperate for.
I can see the point you're trying to make Josh, totally respect it, but for us the prem is just round corner if we're successfull in turning it, however, is it better to blood another striker before we achieve promotion, or take a gamble on bringing someone in during off season. Many were saying the likes of Cook and Byram were irreplaceable, but no one's missing them now because of the defenders and mids that Monk brought in.....
Is there a link to this,or are we starting rumours ourselves that could unsettle players and ruin our season.
I think its bollox but besides money if he did go, the other reason is being closer to home 24 hours flight from here or a 6 hour flight from China> just saying
Good post WJ and you're absolutely spot on. Remember when Ridsdsale brought Venables in. We went overnight from a team who challenged for the title or champions league at worst to a tipy tapy neat little passing side with Barmby as the fulcrum. If Martin O'Neil had been appointed instead it's highly unlikely any of the last 13 years would have happened. Wood is part of the teams identity so it would be a massive gamble to sell him or anyone else when the momentum is there for all to see.
Thats the problems with imigrant fans.. No understanding of or real involvement with the club. Let me update you. Wood is the free scoring centre forward. Monk is the manager/head coach/watermelon. Perhaps you you should stick to shinty?