Leighton Baines. What is an 'acceptable' transfer fee?

GrandOldTeam · July 8, 2012

Clearly, there's a lot of talk linking Leighton with a move away from Everton. Fees from Â£5m to Â£18m have been branded about.

What would you consider to be an acceptable fee?

Deloodid · July 8, 2012

I personally wouldnt accept a fee, the player wants to stay. reject all bids.

Phil Neville Superstar · July 8, 2012

I'd say around the Â£18m mark.

manxtoffee · July 8, 2012

Yay! I'm first..

Â£20M.
Â£15 is taking the mic big time. Cough up or get lost whiskey nose.

chicoazul · July 8, 2012

Depends how much of the fee we receive going to the manager to invest in new players.

I'd rather not sell him but something around Â£20m would be about right I reckon. I doubt anyone would pay it as he will have not much resale value due to his age like.

Deleted member 28206 · July 8, 2012

Â£20m.

Del · July 8, 2012

How much did Jordi Alba go to Barca for? Something like 12m

30m for Baines then

Goat · July 8, 2012

CHRIST!!!!

Did Kenwrong put you up to this?

I guess for me, there is no acceptable fee, I simply dont want him to go.

I realise this is a very shortsighted way of looking at it, but its just the way I feel.

If pushed, the 24m we got for Lescott was acceptable, but if we got something starting with a 2, I wouldnt feel like hanging myself, but if I read that we turned down 25m, I would be more than happy.

The biggest factor for me is this, Moyes used to get EVERY single penny to "re-invest" in the past, but the last few Seasons that trend has stopped, off the top of my head there is still around 18m of sales that Moyes made that havent been "re-invested".

Steve Darron · July 8, 2012

Deloodid said:
I personally wouldnt accept a fee, the player wants to stay. reject all bids.

You are 100% right, it is one thing selling a player who makes noises about wanting to further their career, but selling somebody who wants to stay tells other clubs that anybody is for sale!

RFUS · July 8, 2012

<Â£10m = Disgraceful
Â£10-15m = Weak
Â£16-20m = Average
Â£20m+ = Good

I mean it's tough because fullbacks generally don't go for as much, but he's got a healthy contract, he's in his prime and he's one of the best in the world. I think if he played for a team that didn't need money that alone would command Â£20m+. When you factor in that for us he's also more than a fullback, as he's a disproportionately large creative influence and our set pieces specialist, then that should add value too (in terms of his value to us).

In an ideal world you'd be looking at at least Â£25m, but we're Everton and this is 2012. I'd be surprised to see him go for more than Â£15m.

CahillsCornerFlag · July 8, 2012

I think if he goes it'll be Â£16m.

Wouldn't sell him for any less than Â£18m, but he probably will go.

RFUS · July 8, 2012

everton_de_vina_del_mar said:
How much did Jordi Alba go to Barca for? Something like 12m

30m for Baines then

I think Alba only had a year or so on his contract. Possibly.

kenada_blue · July 8, 2012

Between Â£15-Â£20mill

We're not in a strong position to command massive fees from top clubs IMO. 3 seasons ago when we were challenging top 4, maybe, but not now. Out financial position is well documented and its not as though he'd be going to a Spurs, Newcastle etc he'd be going to a club that's a true step forward in his career.

We need to sell. And one big money transfer is better that 3 small money ones to not gut the already thin squad.

CahillsCornerFlag · July 8, 2012

Also lads I just signed him on Footy Manager as Barcelona (well better than Abidal), for Â£18.75m.

If real life Everton hold out for that much, I'll be pleasantly surprised.

Did also net Barkley for Â£8m though.

BoysInBlue · July 8, 2012

MoutsGoat said:
CHRIST!!!!

Did Kenwrong put you up to this?

I guess for me, there is no acceptable fee, I simply dont want him to go.

I realise this is a very shortsighted way of looking at it, but its just the way I feel.

If pushed, the 24m we got for Lescott was acceptable, but if we got something starting with a 2, I wouldnt feel like hanging myself, but if I read that we turned down 25m, I would be more than happy.

The biggest factor for me is this, Moyes used to get EVERY single penny to "re-invest" in the past, but the last few Seasons that trend has stopped, off the top of my head there is still around 18m of sales that Moyes made that havent been "re-invested".

All of this.

A player is only worth whatever his value is to the team. Baines is one of the two best left backs in this country currently.

As someone said above, yes - it is 2012, an era when the likes of Andy Carroll goes for Â£35m. Why we should be short-changed for one of our best players and just meekly accept this is baffling.

Anything less than Â£20m would be very disappointing.