Well, he's arguable ready for the first team (not the starting 11). He's already played for the senior Romanian NT, and has logged 388 absolutely spectacular minutes of first team football. He may be 16 years old, but by all accounts he's one of the best 16 year old players in the world. There's tremendous competition for his signature.
3 million is still a bit rich for a 16 years old (talent!). We need players who can immediately improve our game, like KPB. As for talents, we have enough of our own.
It depends, if he could contribute next season as a 17/18 year old, then 3 million might be worth it.
http://metro.co.uk/2014/06/11/liver...fer-offer-for-schalke-teen-max-meyer-4758429/ 8 million for Max Meyer? Surely we'd ask for more than that.
25 million euros is his release clause, no? I feel like someone would have to pony up that money if they want him. Of course those that can afford 25 million euors couldn't guarantee him minutes, so I don't think Meyer is a concern this summer.
Kicker is just bad. Even more so now, when all the good staff is in Brazil. I won't rule out that Szalai might leave, he might even be initiating it but I think it unlikely to happen. Can't see us selling him for cheap and hardly anybody will be willing to pay the 8m we did. Yes, the press reports the release clause at 25,5m € but there are some serious doubts if the number is right. I base it mainly on Heldt's statement at a press conference after Meyer signed the new contract. He told how he had trouble sleeping after some clubs were interested in signing Draxler shortly after he signed his new contract with the 45m clause. Heldt said he won't have trouble sleeping with Meyer's contract, which, at least to me, hints at a higher clause than even Draxler's. Don't know what is true. Don't think you can just dismiss the media articles because the number is mentioned so regularly and without anybody official disagreeing with it but I remain skeptical. Maybe Meyer has an escalating clause, f.e. it rises for every 30 Bundesliga matches or similar benchmarks.
It sounds like the 8 million pound figure being quoted for Meyer was actually supposed to be 18 million pounds. That's just shy of 23 million Euros. It sounds like these bids might be serious. I still think Heldt will ask for the full buyout amount, whatever that is. I dread having to go get a replacement. Draxler could play the 10, but I imagine we'd have to sign someone else. That's always a risky proposition.
I guess there is a possibility that Meyer might leave if the clause really sits at 25m and Liverpool already offered 22-23m. They would be stupid if they drop it because of the 2m difference. Don't know when Heldt would consider selling him, if the clause is quite a bit higher. I think once you pass 30m you have to seriously consider it. That is a shitload of money for an 18 year old. I'm a bit cautious here because we regularly seem to miss opportunities to sell players at the right time. They either leave later for a pittance (see Rakitic or Poulsen), get injured (Mpenza or Papa) or start to suck that you wish them gone. That said, I would keep him until they either pay the full clause or at least reach 40m, which nobody will be willing to pay. Draxler as the 10 would be fine. I've reached the conclusion that he is far better centrally than on the wings. We only play him there because our other wing options suck while we have good alternatives centrally. Wish we could have gotten Stocker instead of Hertha. Granted I've never seen him play, but he sounds pretty nice in the discriptions and especially at that price.
Ayew is rather overrated. I'd much rather have Choupo-Moting, who can also play striker in case Szalai does move. Do you guys see a spot for Christian Clemens next season? Avdjaj and Sane are also on the rise. Perhaps a loan out would be beneficial for Clemens to get more match practice coming back from injury.
Don't see much playing time for Clemens at the moment. There were rumours a while back that he might go back to Cologne but I haven't read anything new for some time. Heldt need to sell some players, if Choupo-Moting really signs. We can spare 2-3 players in the right positions. It's not just important for team chemistry but also for our youngsters to get enough playing time.
I imagine Sane is already ahead of Clemens in the wing pecking order, thus Clemens will almost certainly get loaned out. If we do end up signing Choupo-Moting, this is what our depth chart will look like: Striker: Huntelaar, Choupo-Moting, Szalai 10: Draxler, Meyer Wing: Draxler, Farfan, Sam, Choupo-Moting, Goretzka, Sane Double Pivot (8): Boateng, Goretzka, Hoger Double Pivot (6): Neustaedter, Ayhan, Kirchoff, Hoger, Aogo, Matip LB: Kolasinac, Aogo RB: Uchida, Howedes CB: Howedes, Matip, Ayhan, Santana Players not mentioned will probably not play at all, so I imagine they'll be loaned or sold. I also think we might sell Santana, if the rag rumors are true. We always have Kirchoff and Ayhan to cover there.
I don't know the Championship either. Just think a stint in England is a nice experience for him, especially in London. I'm sure he is getting paid pretty well at Fulham, too.
Btw the extension with Veltins for the naming rights of the Veltins-Arena have been finalized. We are getting roughly 6m per year for the next 5 years. That is a decent bump from the 4m or so we got previously. Suarez wouldn't help us, if he is banned for a couple of months.
How about that Jones guy. He scored a nice goal the other night An that Matip, he's a natural born goal scorer. I think I found our Szalai replacement.