[Update 391] Roger Morgan on General Stuff

[SpurSince57]

Who: Roger Morgan
Date: 16th August
Site: SO

When asked whether:

1) Modric will join Chavs this window
2) we will sign a top class striker. I'm not worried it's just to get an understanding of why we get linked to soo many players without any final deal.

He replied:

1, I think that Harry is amenable to selling Modric to Chelsea if he gets the chance to spend the proceeds fast or if Chelsea put Drogba in the deal.

Harry prob won't be long here so Levy won't want to commit big fees and, more importantly, wages on players he thinks are 'Harry players' like Parker imho.

I think Levy intends to make Modric stay, at least until January, probably next summer, to make the point that we will not roll over just because a club with bigger resources thinks it can bully us into selling. I think Levy's view will hold sway and Modric will stay but it's only an educated guess.
I certainly hope that is how it pans out.

2 I think they will get a striker but fans will probably be split on whether it's the top class one we require. I can see how Adebayor would appeal to Levy if he gets City to pay a large chunk of the wages. Not sure City are happy selling to another Prem club but as the countdown to deadline comes we might be the best offer on the table.

I can see Palacios joining Stoke but not Crouch, who does not want to go there.

The reason we get linked to so many is that agents drive stories about their men across the media. It increases a player's profile hugely to be linked with top clubs.

If I was having a bet, I'd say we'll keep Luka, shift another four or five, bring in a centre-half, midfielder and two strikers by August 31, which will be a late night. Hope we don't screw it up again but transfers are a complex legal business.

Who we sign will be interesting because if Levy has lined up a Harry replacement - and it would be a mistake not to - you'd expect him to consult that chap about any imminent signings. Maybe this is why it seems to be a confused picture with Harry and Levy apparently at odds over targets.