A bit late on this one but as it’s Tribal Football I’m sure you can understand my scepticism.
That website has recycled a bit of speculation in the Daily Express and linked West Brom with a new year move for Bobby Zamora. While the paper reckons Roy has finally had enough with his misfiring striker, there is a more plausible explanation. While his absence from the matchday squad at West Ham was initially surprising – particularly as no explanation was immediately forthcoming – it seems he was injured and watched the game from behind the Fulham bench.
Plus would Fulham really accept £2m for Zamora having splashed out far more a couple of summers ago to bring him in from West Ham? And would this money give Hodgson a big enough pot to attract a real upgrade on Zamora come January? Also, you can’t rule out the possibility that the deal could form part of a permanent move the other way for Jonathan Greening, who is currently on loan at the Cottage.
This speculative deal would be nothing to do with Jonathon Greening’s loan. Greening is yours, it is set in concrete. It has been structured by Albion to be a loan with a definate transfer at the end of the loan period. The Albion Chairman has used this mechanism before as it is tax efficient and keeps a steady income coming. The Curtis Davis to Villa and Tomasz Kuszczak to Man Utd deals were structured this way.
Thanks for that John. Several Fulham fans had speculated about the tax aspect, but I didn’t realise it was concrete. Do you have any idea whether the agreed fee is around the £4m mark as suggested? Best of luck for the season – would be great to see you back in the top flight.
The fee agreed is more around the 5 million mark, bids starting from 2.5m to 4.5m had previously been rejected, but 5 million is thought to be the figure that our chairman settled for.
Cheers Ash.
Not sure what all the fuss about fees is about. £2m for BZ good deal when we only paid £1M form him in a deal worth a total of £6m for him and Pantsil
That’s interesting Alan as I thought that of the two the major outlay was for Zamora whilst Pantsil’s was comfortably the smaller fee. As Fulham announced the fee as undisclosed this will never be confirmed but it was certainly the way it was presented to me by some people who are supposedly ‘in the know’ at West Ham. If it was the other way round, it would make Pantsil’s performances since he joined much less surprising.
Dan – On AJ, he’s clearly been affected by the two serious injuries he’s suffered whilst being at Fulham. He was holding his shoulder in the game against Basel and again in the first half at West Ham. He hasn’t scored as many goals as we’ve expected, but then it’s because we are asking both forwards to do an awful lot of work defensively so he’s not always lurking on the shoulder of the last man as he used to do at Palace. It’s probably fair to say he’s lost a yard or so of pace since then.
I don’t think he is our record signing (even if we shelled out the reported £10.5m in one go). The fee for Marlet beats that.
I don’t know Dan. Johnson’s a poacher. He scored ten goals last season (and injuries and suspensions stopped him from playing a full season). His range of passing won’t be sufficent to play defensive splitting passes for whoever plays alongside him too often. AJ’s movement is excellent and frequently creates space for others as you say – soemthing for which he doesn’t get enough credit. If we told AJ to play on the last man, I suspect he’d be easier to mark out of the game and we’d lose a fair bit defensively with less pressure on the opposition midfield.
Dans a little tounge in cheek. BZ was supposed the more expensive but the reality of there worth now is without doubt reversed.
BZ can go as soon as for me.