I think it’s more a case of what do they want to spend as opposed to what they could spend. So, do they want to get into paying £85million? He’s just turned 27.
Do they want to be paying that kind of money for a player his age? If it doesn’t work that transfer, what do you do with them? You have a very big loss on your hands. It feels like a lot.
I think they’ll be reluctant to pay £85million, but not from not being able to do it, just from not wanting to.
To be honest, I suspect Sporting would sell him for quite a lot less than that. I think they’ll probably recognise that this is the summer to sell him. This is where he’s got peak value.
He could easily have a relatively disappointing season next season and next summer he’s 28, and we know the way football thinks about age right now.
Particularly for forwards at 28, his value is going to be considerably lower, so I suspect he’d go for £65-70million this summer, and I suspect he will. I think the only risk is Sporting overplaying their hand.
Stefan Borson
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