Faddy Swoop Imminent

GrandOldTeam · January 11, 2008

Why are the official site speculating rumours?

Birmingham City boss Alex McLeish has today announced he is set to make a fresh bid for James McFadden.

Everton firmly rejected a £2.5million bid for the Blues striker from the West Midlands club earlier this week.

McLeish, who is also interested in Hibernian left-back David Murphy and Manchester City's Georgios Samaras, is set to ask the Birmingham board for more money as he tempts to prise McFadden away from Goodison.
He said:"Will I go back in for McFadden and Murphy? We will have a think about things.
"I am in daily discussions with the two Davids (Sullivan and Gold) and Karren Brady.
"We will certainly try and do something, yes."
Everton Chief Executive Keith Wyness has revealed the Blues are monitoring the situation closely.
"We have heard from several clubs regarding James McFadden's availability," said Wyness.
“We are monitoring the situation but our position remains the same and that is that James remains a valuable member of our first team squad.”
McLeish is keen to bolster his squad during the transfer window in a bid a climb the Premier League table.
McLeish continued: "There is also an interest in Samaras. We will be pushing on with one or two things.
"But I don't want to bring anyone in just to fill up the numbers in the squad. I could do that and then I would regret that further down the line and say we are no farther forward.
"I want to bring in players I feel I can move forward with. But I don't expect anyone to be in by kick-off time on Saturday."

Rob · January 11, 2008

test the water and see how he selling of faddy would go down?

I'm sat on the fence to be honest, one half says I'd take 5m then the other says... what can you get for 5m these days?

bit odd that the OS are featuring rumours though.

Bruce Wayne · January 11, 2008

They seem to be saying that he's up for sale, we'll sell to the highest bidder. Obviously from a sellers point of view, the more bidders the better.

That's how I see it anyway.

micknick · January 11, 2008

I dont think Faddy is worth any more than £4.5m- if Beattie was £4m then I would say £4.5m is a fair value i would sell him if that money was reinvested into the midfield.

Piijt · January 11, 2008

McLeish clearly wants him, let's wait and see just much he is prepared to pay to get his man.
Remember, Faddy paid a big part in the McLeish revival, he probably wouldn't have the Brum job if Faddy didn't score those goals.

GhostOfDixie · January 11, 2008

It is strange that the OS is printing this story. I suppose they would have liked to have printed a story about Fernandes signing, but maybe that's not going to happen just yet, so this is to deflect.

Sim · January 11, 2008

It would be sad to see faddy go in a way, a youngster who had all the potential in the world and is still young and very loyal, yet £5M would be good business for a bit part player, and we have plenty of strikers right now.

Cold Nate · January 11, 2008

It is interesting to note the change in tone from Wyness on Faddy:

Dec 19: "If any club made an approach in January they would be wasting their time."

Jan 11: "We are monitoring the situation but our position remains the same and that is that James remains a valuable member of our first team squad."

Sounds like it will get done with somebody as long as they give 5 million reasons why.

I still think we should hang on to him, but Cahill's great play in the 4-4-1-1 is making it harder to justify 5 strikers...

Pblueman · January 11, 2008

Sim said:
It would be sad to see faddy go in a way, a youngster who had all the potential in the world and is still young and very loyal, yet £5M would be good business for a bit part player, and we have plenty of strikers right now.

Sadly sim i have to agree with you on this point, i REALLY wanted faddy to be great had the potential but didnt work out. sad to say i'd take 5mil for him

inertia3112 · January 11, 2008

it strikes me that faddy must already have told mcleish he is happy to go to brum.
Faddy and mcleish already have a good relationship ans if it was a non-starter mcleish wouldnt be making repeated bids to the goodison heirachy.

so that tells me faddy has probably given up on us.

so that tells me its best for everyone if we can do business.

I think were gonna have to settle for £4m with add-ons to £5m/£5.5m maybe.

GhostOfDixie · January 11, 2008

Still a decent profit for someone who only turns it on now and again.

Gazdalf · January 11, 2008

He will go I feel. There has been too much speculation recently.

I believe he is going for a medical and this is already done.

Just a hunch really.

neonleon · January 11, 2008

yeah, its not usual policy, when you are trying to keep a player, to put on the Official website, headline news - Faddy swoop imminent?

Its like they are asking birmingham to come back in for him.

I don't think he's got more than 6 months left on his contract has he? - has someone got the definitive answer on this.

Looks like he'll be going, but I'd sooner see him stay.

Nice to have a potential miracle worker, waiting on the bench, and right now, the squad is paper thin (and gravesen is effectively over as a footballer), so god knows how we'll cope losing another body (especially one that can play in midfield)