Rafa Benitez today slapped a 15 million pound price tag on his favourite substitute, Peter Crouch.
That price, for a man he doesn't rate highly enough to accommodate in his starting 11, is pretty steep. Add that to his 10 million pound valuation of Gareth Barry and I'd say, he's having a laugh.
Liverpool would get a better player and be five million to the good!
That really would be good work by Liverpool and if they pulled it off, no one could really blame them but it really does stink for the other 16 EPL clubs.
If they want a good English player they have to pay through the nose (Darren Bent for example at 16 million) but the big four can pick off the cream of the other clubs at less than their value. The other 16 clubs often need the money and are forced to sell.
I can't knock it too much, my side Rangers are doing the same in Scotland but it was just something I noticed and felt like bringing up. In a way it's just business, in other ways it's just unfair but recently it's just football.
Chelsea of course had been doing the opposite and paying over the odds (they though have slowed down), usually the same result however, English players on the bench.
It remains to be seen if Aston Villa cave in and sell Gareth Barry but anything under 15 million would be a snip. It also remains to be seen if anyone is willing to pay 15 million for Crouch.
If no one pays the asking price, which I doubt they will, then it's another season on the bench for Crouch.
Just lucky it's not World Cup year!
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2 months ago
That asking price is a freakin' joke. However, I dont think Benitez is that clueless. Its just a extremely high starting point but even he knows he wont get £15M for him....
2 months ago
I think we all know he ain't daft. Don't think he really wants to sell him. It's Crouch pushing to leave.
2 months ago
he's had 9 games all season Rafa!!!
15 million for a player who's good enough for 9 starts out of 38 is a joke..
from 2 months ago
I didn't even realise it was THAT bad. He won't get that kind of money...surely!
2 months ago
Crouch is a good player, teams want him so they will pay that money. Strikers are always more valuable than midfielders. His goal / game ratio is as good or better than most. Just because he hasn't fitted into Rafa's game plan too often from the start dosent mean he isn't worth the money. Can I remind you guys of a player called Ole Gunner Solskjaer for a long part of his career he was a sub at Man U but was a great striker. Should he have been sold for 3-4 million because of not starting for Man U all year?
from 2 months ago
Agree with you Chris but I'm thinking of his career and we aint talking 3-4 million are we? The most expensive ever signing was a midfielder so it isn't always the case.
2 months ago
Crouch has 12 goals in 24 CL games and 14 in 26 internationals. He is only just 27 and has his best years ahead of him. Going by the likes of Bent, Carrick, and Hargreaves all going for 15m plus, I think 15m is a fair price in the current market. Jermaine Defoe went for around £7m, and his record is 3 goals in 26 caps. So I think Crouch is worth £10m absolure minimum, and I would be disappointed as a Liverpool fan if we sold him for less than £12m.
I agree that Barry is undervalued at £10m, but do we know that is what Liverpool offered? As I understand it they offered an undisclosed sum, plus Villa's choice of Carson, Pennant, or Riise. So it all depends on the valuations of those players as to exactly how much Liverpool have offered. Villa have said it was £10m, but I would imagine their valuation of the players concerned would automatically differ from Liverpools, and this was Liverpool's very first offer, so inevitably it was going to be low, you don't open bidding at a high price, well not unless you are a complete idiot anyway (not you Andrew, just anyone in general).
I think £12-15m for both players in the current market is a fair sum. They are the same age, with similar international experience (Barry has 18 caps). Villa are interested in Crouch according to the press, so if Crouch expresses desire to leave (you are correct that Liverpool do not want to sell him), then I could see a straight swap with Barry in the offing, with maybe a couple of mill to Villa as well.
from 2 months ago
I wasn't being too serious Simon but I'm with ya in what you say. I also heard the first offer was cash plus player but it seemed to die away.
A straight swap would be good for both parties but Villa I'm sure are keen on keeping Carson so would they want to give two players for one? I'm not so sure.
about 1 month ago
i'm an aston villa fan and hope barry sees he doesn't need to move to a 'top 4 club' as many do and live to regret it but you have said exactly what ive been sayin to my friends why would you sell a player worth 15 million because he isn't good enuff yet a player worth only 10 million is, it does add up does it? i used to like rafa but i think he's a tw## now its funny that when intrest comes in for gerrard it's 'he's under contract' and no ones aloud to say anything barry is under contract aswell so what makes him think he's different to everyone else.
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