Chris Durkin at Sint-Truidense V.V. (Belgium)

For those with B-R live, they say a replay will be "available shortly"
https://live.bleacherreport.com/soccer/soccer-tournament/events/st-truidense-vv-kaa-gent/69077

 

Durkin wasn't bad, was subbed at the half. Don't watch this game, though, unless you _really_ care. It was terrible. Gent is okay, but nothing special. St. Truidense has no defense whatsoever. They have some of the most indecisive attempts to breakout from the back. DeSmet never has an idea what to do, hesitates until someone arrives to press him, then gives them the ball immediately. The team as a whole rarely completes more than two or three passes in a sequence before losing possession, and it isn't like they are trying high-upside passes. They just suck.

 

Yeah, Gent were man marking all over the place and STTV had no answer. The team went down as one.

Durkin seems the same character tho his pass thru mid seems more self assured. He harries the ball carrier effectively when he gets into gear. He needs to continue working on his off the ball movement, especially in possession. Kinda hard to see if it's him or his team. Look at the goals which resulted from turnovers - 1st and 3rd. I stopped watching after the 3rd.

 

D.C. United in talks with Sint-Truiden about Chris Durkin transfer. Details here: https://t.co/DnipsbwWPx #dcu #mls

— Steven Goff (@SoccerInsider) April 8, 2020

 

Sint-Truiden says it made its "best offer" in last 24 hours. I don't know the exact figure but apparently not the $2 million set last year. "There is a gap between their offer and the option price," a DCU contact says. Talks likely to continue.

— Steven Goff (@SoccerInsider) April 13, 2020

 

Progress made today, I'm told. Still no deal but sides are getting closer. Sounds like the transfer fee has come down (originally $2 million) and the sell-on figure has gone up.

— Steven Goff (@SoccerInsider) April 15, 2020

The follow up tweet does not sound as grim.

 

Chris Durkin’s transfer to Belgian side Sint-Truiden is a done deal - only detail that remains is a signature.

Terms: #DCU will make another $1.2mil - in addition to the 200k they received initially. $1.4mil total.

Durkin stands to make approx 400k Euro/yr base in Belgium.

— Pablo Iglesias Maurer (@MLSist) April 16, 2020

h/t @ielag

 

For context, the last Forbes ranking of MLS team valuations had DC with an operating income of $1million.

 

#DCU stand to make another 25%, I’m told, as a sell-on fee should Sint-Truiden choose to sell Durkin in the future.

— Pablo Iglesias Maurer (@MLSist) April 16, 2020

 

Last week, talks heated up. Early this week, the sides make progress. Today, D.C. United & Sint-Truiden struck a deal in principle on @ChrisDurkin0's transfer. Financial details: https://t.co/YSS1QtqclY #dcu #mls

— Steven Goff (@SoccerInsider) April 18, 2020

Goff has the fee at $1.1 million spread over 15 months with a 25% sell on.

 

nice little paycheck

 

Still no final agreement for Chris Durkin's expected $1.1 million move to Sint-Truiden from D.C. United. "Negotiating/Finalizing transfer agreement takes time," said 1 person familiar with talks. Durkin planning to sign 3-year contract with Belgian side. #dcu #mls

— Steven Goff (@SoccerInsider) April 23, 2020

 

Should be a nice little earner for the lad. The rule of thumb is the player's salary is the transfer fee, divided by the number of years on the contract, so he'll be grossing just under 400k a season and pocketing about 220k after taxes and agent's fees. I doubt the sell-on fee would be incorporated in the salary, not from the start: more likely there'll be some kind of bonus if he's sold.

 

Seems very unlikely but I wonder if he gets a % of the transfer fee as well

 

In this case it's more than likely, since the transfer fee between DC United and Sint Truiden included a sell-on clause: his agent would be negligent not to have a clause covering that in Durkin's contract. If there isn't, the signing-on fee at his next destination will be eye-wateringly high.

I'd be pretty certain that there is. Sint Truiden have a home gate of 5,000 fans, yet they're paying $1.1 million in a transfer fee (in installments, over the life of the lad's contract) plus wages of approximately the same amount. No way they could afford that unless they or their backer plan on flipping him for $3 million-plus in the next two seasons.

Sell-on clauses are included when the parties agree that the player has very serious upside potential but the buyer can't/won't take on the whole risk up front. A 25% sell-on clause for a 20 year-old DM suggests that DC valued him at well over $1.5 million, probably $2 million, right now, and the Belgians agree with that, but a slightly pessimistic scenario - he stays fit and doesn't regress but also fails to develop as expected - leaves them with no profit. Durkin and his agent will be well-aware of these calculations so he's probably due a percentage of the transfer fee to wherever, most likely with a maximum amount set.

 

Good luck to the lad. I don't expect him to stay much more than 18 months with them. If he moves to the Top 5 in Belgium (Liege, Brugge, Anderlecht, Gent, Genk) and secures a place, we could see him in BL1 in about 5 seasons. Here's hoping

 

Cool. I thought the loan kind of got off to a bad start and watching him at the U20 World Cup I thought he looked like a bit of a plodder even at that level but I'm still rooting for the kid.

 

He's a good player but isn't the most athletic.

I think he struggles in formations when he is the lone d-mind in a 4-1-4--1 formation (or something like that). When he has more support in that area of the field (in like a 4-2-3-1 where he is one of the "2") he can do quite well.

 

I think it's interesting the way the game is trending. From my perspective, it seems like there use to be some players who were great athletes and some weren't but they were great footballers still and there was a place for them. That distinction seems to be going away. Now, the expectation is that every player is also a great athlete.

So, when I see a kid without top level athletic ability nowadays I really question how he will fit into the modern game. It just feels like it's not good enough to simply be a good footballer anymore, you must also be blessed with the crazy highest level of natural athletic ability.

What do you think?

 

Agree with that assessment based on the U20s. He gets turned and overcome the same way older Bradley does.

 

I think guys with middling athletic ability can still hack it, but in the world transfer market it's a devalued quality. And it makes sense that lack of athleticism would be a big mark against. You see it in every other sport. The question is how big of a hole is that market preference hiding good players? In baseball? Undersized pitchers with elite control. Undersized hitters with elite plate discipline and ability to put the bat on the ball.

Basketball? Rule of thumb? If somone is truly elite in one area (defense, three point shooting, rebounding, etc) then that skill usually translates.

For these guys the key is playing time. Doesn't matter the level. If they are going to make it they exceed expectations at every level. People end up taking a chance on them not because of amazing scouting but because it's clear they need to jump up a level.

Time will tell if Durkin can make the most out of the opporutunity. I'm not high on him, but at the same time I wouldn't be surprised if his brain helps compensate for the lack of legs.