It's a secret that has become increasingly hard to fathom. A secret that's so poorly kept it's no longer a secret. But the secret it is this... and if you whisper loud enough, Kenny Dalglish might not hear you at Anfield... English players are a rip-off.
Now take our new signing Alex Oxlade Chamberlain for example. Fresh faced (erm, well, actually not by the looks of him!) and bushy tailed, the midfielder is one of the hottest prospects in the country and fresh from a Southampton production line including PFA Player of the Year Gareth Bale and our very own top scorer for the season so far, Theo Walcott. But fifteen million? For a player that has experienced one good season in the third tier of English football? It seems excessive to say the least!
The trend started in January of this year as Darren Bent completed a £24m move to Aston Villa. The fee was way over Bent's estimated value but for a proven Premier League goalscorer, it was vaguely understandable. Then came the transfer that really rocked the economy of the transfer market as after only half a decent season in the top flight, Andy Carroll put the finishing touches to a £35m move to Liverpool.
Sure, the price was inflated by Liverpool's need to replace Chelsea-bound Torres on the transfer deadline day, but to squeeze perhaps treble the player's worth was a shrewd move from Newcastle.
Liverpool didn't stop there. Like Carroll, Jordan Henderson had half a good season in last season's Prem. His valued price at Anfield's transfer negotiating department? £20m.
Next came Stewart Downing. £10m perhaps? Nope, again £20m. Phil Jones, the Blackburn youngster with only one full Prem season under his belt? A staggering £17m switch to Man United. It's easy to see why Wenger was priced out of a move for ex-Wigan left-back Leighton Baines with Everton asking for a fee in excess of £15m. And with that in mind, and the transfer window closing in a matter of hours, let's take a look at our reported defensive targets and if buying British really is worth it...
Phil Jagielka
Nationality: English
Value: £17m
An England international, Jag's form at Everton has been a revelation since his conversion from a central midfielder at Sheffield United just four years ago. Jagielka is strong in the air, a sound tackler and marker, and has great positional sense. There is no doubting he would be the kind of signing we are really looking for right now but after having a 10m move rebuffed in January, is Arsene really ready to almost his offer for a player with no previous Champions League experience? After all, only one of his past 11 purchases have been domestically based, and the less said about that (Mikael Silvestre) the better!
Gary Cahill
Nationality: English
Value: £16m
After Bolton chairman Phil Gartside rejected a £6m offer for Cahill last week, Arsene Wenger declared he "won't be held to ransom" for the former Aston Villa defender. Yet the reality is, with time ticking down until the transfer window slams shut for another year, Wenger's search for a centre-back draws to a frantic close and Cahill is his no.1 target. Bolton's £16m valuation seems very steep for a player with such little international and big-game experience but strong in the air and dangerous from set pieces, Cahill could be the long term partner for Thomas Vermaelen we've been searching for.
Scott Dann
Nationality: English
Value: £6m
At £6m, Dann is the cheapest of the available English options but a lack of any real experience at international level may prove to be a problem against some of the more experienced strikers. Having first catching Wenger's eye with an impressive start to the 2010/11 season, Dann is thought to have been on the Frenchman's "to scout" list for some time. A blossoming partnership with Roger Johnson at the back of the Blue's line-up may be a stumbling block in persuading the Midlands club to sell yet stepping up from Championship football will no doubt be a selling point to the Englishman. Strong in the tackle and still young, Dann is not to be messed with. Yet at this moment in time, it seems there are more suitable alternatives in terms of experience.
Chris Samba
Nationality: Congolese
Value: £8m
With Spurs snooping around, the battle for Samba in intense. Though what the Congolese skipper lacks in technical ability, he more than makes up form in physical presence. Strong in the air, ruthless in the tackle, Samba can also play as an emergency striker - something that may prove vital given the current form of the woeful Marouane Chamakh. With six seasons of Premiership experience under his belt, Samba has the know-how to deal with most of the league's strikers.
Jan Vertonghen
Nationality: Belgian
Value: £11m
Vermaelen's former partner at Ajax, and for the Belgian national team, it's suprising Wenger hasn't moved for the versatile defender sooner. Capable of playing across the backline or in midfield, Vertonghen isn't scraed of shooting from range, utilising his rocket of a left-foot. However, two left-footers at the back doesn't seem ideal and playing in the Dutch league, will the Belgian be able to make the step up to Premier League football?
Per Mertesacker
Nationality: German
Value: £6m
A cut-price deal for a highly experienced international defender may prove to provide a twinkle in the eye of bargain hunter Wenger. The wantaway Werder Bremen skipper only has one year remaining on his contract at the Bundesliga club and offers a great aerial presence. Some have labelled Mertesacker 'clumsy' - a stumbling block against he nippier of Premier League strikers, but having playing at two World Cups and a European Championship, it's hard to argue the cause against the signing of the German.
No comments:
Post a Comment