From the official Everton web site. First time they've said the it could be for more than just cover. http://www.evertonfc.com/news/article.asp?id=5978
Wow, now that's a 180-degree switch, compared to what was in Connolly's article a couple of days ago. So how much would they shell out for him? Considering that McBride's presence could be the difference between a Champions League place and a UEFA Cup spot? I'd say open the bidding at $6 million USD.
You beat me to this ... I read it also and thought it was nice to hear that Moyes would like to sign McBride. Was interesting he made sure to mention he doesn't want to spend a lot on a 30 year old. Moyes has continually said he wants to continue with younger players. Moyes also knows probably as well as any other Manager in England about dealing with MLS since he's now managed to bring Brian on-loan 2 times and tried to buy him at least once. I'm just glad Moyes thinks Brian is Premier League quality but I somehow doubt McBride will be signed permanently... though personally I wish he would be.
By the way, I'll bet MLS ask for $6M (US) for him. I'll bet Everton are willing to pay $3M (US) for him. I'll bet they "could" settle for approx 4-4.5M but it won't happen. Just my bets...
Exactly-this is negotiating pure and simple. Of course they want him. The premiership is a big money league and anyone who can score consistent goals is a big money player. I am not 100% sure BM will continue to score consistently given his MLS scoring record and injury history but so far so good.
Hell, let's not foget that Eddie Lewis is still the most expensive yank to be sold from MLS... just keeping that in mind is all...
The question I have is whether MLS should sell now to Everton, or should they hold off until this summer and try to get a better deal perhaps with a different EPL club. I think the situation in Everton is good for McBride, even if Moyes is not particularly interested in odler players. If Moyes can make a decent offer (minimum $3M?), then I say let him go - the sooner the better.
Deminished Future Resale Value- Buying a 30 year old player for Millions today? Any player less than a superstar, you will most certainly not recover your money from another club at the end of this new contract period. In addition you pay out also to the player salary. That is a lot of money not to get back in resale at the end of the deal. Such a deal best be worth it in other compensating areas! Tough call, ...said player may yet still emerge as average EPL strike personnel. *With $3 million MLS could pay 60 young players for one year at $50,000 per player.
I think MLS would be smarter to arrange something with Everton now. I don't pretend to understand the transfer window rules, but I think the only option for the present is to extend the loan agreement with Everton and then conduct a transfer later. (Thanks in advance to whomever explains this correctly for me.) So, if MLS hopes to sell (i.e., get money for) McBride from an EPL team, the options seem to be: 1. Loan is not extended, McB comes back to MLS and plays until transfer to highest bidder in summer. Here, you run the risk of injury. Plus, as the memory of McB's EPL performance fades, the price willing to be paid is likely to decrease. Also, Everton--which we know is interested if the price is right--may be upset by MLS treatment, feeling that the deal should have been done sooner, or the fact that Everton invested in McB and paid MLS a loan fee should give them first consideration and/or a slightly more favorable price. 2. Loan is extended and bidding opens in summer. You run the risks of injury or of McB not continuing his hot scoring streak. 3. Loan is extended with agreement that Everton will buy McB for a pre-determined amount. Injury risks are there, as are worries about whether McB continues his hot play, but MLS probably can ask for more now. Plus, if MLS asks too much in summer, Everton, et al., will have a whole bunch of players to consider.
Here's the problem. MLS bases its value of its players on things that are irrelevant to the world market, like Brian's marketability to the American public and a bunch of stuff like that. I don't blame MLS for doing this. Obviously McBride is one of the few American players with any sort of brand awareness and there is more too McBride's value to MLS than what he does between the lines for the Crew. But, Everton, or any other Euro team, doesn't give a rat's ass about McBride's marketability or brand awareness. His value is predicated solely on on-the-field evaluations. So, to MLS, McBride really may be worth 6 million dollars. But, if say, Everton were the ones selling McBride - or any other team/league other than MLS - a 30-year old forward with a history of injury problems, regardless of his performance in the PL and the Wolrd Cup of late, is likely only worth about 3 million dollars. So, you've got a big gap. Three million dollar differences are not easily glossed over when it is twice as much or half as much as you want to get or are expecting to pay. I just see MLS sticking to its guns on this one and Everton then saying "screw off" and that is that. The only way I see MLS making this deal is if it wants to send a message - both to the world market and to the American players - that it is now going to be more willing to sell players and thus wants to appear reasonable or player friendly. But, after all the quotes I've seen of late from Garber and Gazidis where they are talking about keeping Donovan and Beasley, etc... while getting Stewart, Moore, etc... to come back, I just don't see MLS being in the mood to sell McBride just to appear player friendly.
iff the offer is 3 million and mls turns it down... ask for your money back on season tickets this league ain't going to survive
Take the 3 million....for goodness sake...take the 3 million.......McBride's "marketability/recognition" is on par with some dude on PBA tour...I like Brian, but the only individual soccer star worth anything (as individual) is Mia Hamm...and she's not worth as much as 2-3 years ago... MLS can sell tix with or without McBride....3 million pays for a lot of "future stars"...in fact, if I were MLS, I'd try to do one of these (3 mill. sale) each year...
Boro got Junino for $3.8m, I doubt MLS will get more than $3m for him. At his age $2.5m is a fair price.
I hope MLS is reasonable, but I'm afraid they will be clueless as usual and create a chilling effect on future dealings. How about 3 mil and Everton plays one friendly in Columbus per year for the length for Brian's contract???
Yes, Juninho was a 3.8 million pound transaction. I believe that's roughly 5.7 million dollars. http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=54701&cc=5901
David Moyes on McBride On thursday, World Soccer Weekly interviewed David Moyes. He talked extensively about Brian McBride and his desire to sign him to a permanent deal. You can hear the interview tonight on World Soccer Weekend (Sports Byline USA) and on Monday PM on World Soccer Weekly in NY and LA. www.worldsoccerweekly.com
Good points. If $3M is the best offer the league can get for Macca in a depressed transfer market in Europe nowadays, take the money and dash! By the way, it's been mentioned that Eddie Lewis' transfer to Fulham stands as the current record that MLS have made on a Yank Abroad move. Anyone have any presumptions on how much the league netted from that? Whatever that was, a sale of McBride should be able to break that.