[SIGNED perm] Ben Foster

It's not my money so tbh I'm not so fussed about the fee.

If it's £5 million, for example, and that gets us an experienced keeper who has 2-3 terrific seasons with us and pulls off saves that might earn us 5 or more extra points in a season then that's money well spent in my opinion.

 

I guess because the offers make weren't 10% of the price quoted to them ?

 

I meant that WBA's valuation is absurd, not that we - or anyone - would pay even half of that

 

Or Brendan Rodgers! There is always an exception to every rule. Not every GK past 35 is over the hill - just look at Buffon. However WBA's valuation of 10 million is designed to intimidate the player not other clubs. Foster is clearly unhappy and they will sell. The analogy with Silva is a bit ridiculous because that happened mid-season de-stabilising the competition. There is no suggestion that we have contacted Foster directly so this seems like crocodile tears.

 

According to their local paper, we have made no bid as yet but the player is interested in coming. So I would suggest we have got one of our agents to speak to his agent to gauge his interest and it’s all come from there. I would suggest in 99% if transfers, if not all of them, there is a degree of ‘tapping up’ that takes place as very few bids get accepted and then the player says he has no interest. Bids are only made because they know through back-channels that the player wants the move.

But any analogy likening this to the Silva saga, is way off.

 

Not sure who the clubs agent's are? The clubs generally make it clear the positions and types of the players they are looking for. They also know how long contracts run and we all seem to know the pay ranges for all clubs. There seem to be few secrets left. The big difference is the power of players agents, who many seem to always be agitating for bigger and better moves for their clients. All for big fat commission that is literally bled out of the game. They are the new movers and shakers.

 

The club will definitely have a list of preferred agents and contacts they use to facilitate their movements in the transfer market. It’s the way that most clubs work nowadays.

 

I seem to recall we were ripped off by West Brom in the fire sale of Robbo.
And there is Ellington.

£1m seems a bit generous

 

If they really do want 10 million, they're delusional considering that he's 35. No way he'll go for anything close to that.

 

All located in Belgium.

 

Exactly.

They pay us £3m & quits.

 

You ARE an owl!
What a hoot!

 

Upped our bid to £3m plus add ons according to that Alan Nixon guy that broke the initial story.

Although WBA local paper saying we haven’t bid at all and are only interested.

Would seem very un-Gino to triple an initial bid....

 

For instance that Belgian agent who we seem keen to force feed money to in exchange for useless tat.

 

Not least becaue Sliva was not available. WBA have made it clear Foster is for sale. We are entitled to make whatever offer we like for them to accept or reject.

 

While I agree with the 1st and 3rd sentences, I’m yet to see anywhere where it’s been made clear by WBA that Foster is available. Merely a newspaper that says they want £10m and has nothing to back that up whatsoever.

 

Rumours of ongoing negotiations with him for some magic beans are wide of the mark.

 

Yes, you are right. I am referring to the implications of the rumours (specifically that they were offended by our derisory offer) rather than any facts. However, I don't believe that Foster would have dodged the pre-season trip if he didn't feel there was some justification to do so. So although the facts to support the rumours aren't present, there are circumstances that do, in my opinion, strongly suggest there is some truth in it, therefore I feel it is fair to speculate on the rumours.

 

Too wit, too woo!

 

I think at £5m I’d be tempted to buy Sam Johnstone, lend him to WBA as part of the deal to bring Ben Foster to the Vic.

 

I think at £5m I’d be tempted to buy Sam Johnstone, lend him to WBA as part of the deal to bring Ben Foster to the Vic.

 

I think at £5m I’d be tempted to buy Sam Johnstone, lend him to WBA as part of the deal to bring Ben Foster to the Vic.

 

I think at £5m I’d be tempted to buy Sam Johnstone, lend him to WBA as part of the deal to bring Ben Foster to the Vic.

 

I think at £5m I’d be tempted to buy WBA, lend them to Ben Foster as part of the deal to bring Sam Johnstone to the Vic.

 

Sorry, didn’t mean to post 3 times - (e)damn phone

 

So are we spending £25m on Sam Johnstone or not?

 

Foster been offered a new 2yr deal by WBA as per Wobby.

 

I thought you were bidding against yourself.

 

Reward for skipping their pre season tour no doubt.

 

I hear he has upset WBA heirarchy again by wiping his a*se on it in the CEO's office and then setting fire to it. Its all coming together.

 

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/footbal...ben-foster-edges-towards25m-transfer-watford/

On the verge of signing for us for £2.5 million apparently...

 

Decent price, that.

 

Which also pretty much blows the rumours that WBA wanted £10m for him out of the water.