Mellis not for sale

From Sheffield Star....

Barnsley moved quickly yesterday to stress midfielder Jacob Mellis is not for sale.


Premier League Crystal Palace are rumoured to be weighing up a £600,000 move for the former Chelsea playmaker.

But a Barnsley spokesperson made the Oakwell club’s stance very clear.

“The club have not received any bids for Jacob Mellis.

The spokesperson added: “Nor do we want to sell a player who is an integral part of the squad and [manager] David Flitcroft’s plans for this season.”

Mellis, aged 22, has one year remaining on his current two-year contract at Oakwell and The Star under stands the player is seen as key to the Reds’ plans for the fast -approaching Championship season.

The former Sheffield United youth team player has represented England at Under-16, Under-17 and Under-19 levels – and last season made 41 appearances for Barnsley, scoring six goals.

http://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/football/barnsley/hands-off-mellis-reds-warn-palace-1-5860790

 

We should be looking to extend his contract if he's seen as an integral part of the squad.

 

He is integral, yes. Which makes you wonder why we haven't yet offered him an extension to his contract. Same goes for Perkins, Wiseman, Dagnall and Dawson. Unless we are waiting for Winter before negotiating, which never worked under the old regime. I would hope that the new board members agree with me, and that they either have already offered them new deals, or will be doing shortly.
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As for 600k, we'd get at least that much next Summer at a tribunal. And they paid £6m for Gayle.
I'd want at least £3m at this stage - we have no reason to be bum raped anymore. If he signs an extension, I'd ask for at least £10m going on the fees for top young Championship midfielders born in England and under contract.

 

I'd be surprised if we hadn't started to approach players about contract extensions.

 

Got to agree, there's no reason for us to sell him.

Good few million I reckon.

Remember when dee dars wanted a swap with COGba for Mellis haha

 

Correct, mate

I don't understand the logic of saying we haven't opened, or intend to open, contract negotiations with particular players based simply on the fact we don't know what's going on behind the scenes.

 

Re: Correct, mate

and also it would be very easy to turn the head of a young player with the opportunity of premier league football and money.

 

Yup

But my point (probably not very well constructed) is that just because we don't know if a new contract has been offered, or negotiations have been started, doesn't mean it hasn't happened.

 

Re: Yup

Absolutely. I've been impressed with how we've done business this summer. O'Grady was in the public domain because of his loan move and thought our comments were enough to show respect for the player, while demonstrating we weren't going to pay over the odds for a wantaway striker and a club desperate to sell.

Jennings and Nyatanga were completely under the radar and came into view a day or so before they signed and we announced the deals first officially on the website rather than trailing it to media journalists.

Same goes in the best part of re-signing players. I was cynical of a new era at first, and there are clearly going to be things that take time to get to grips with, but contract wise I'm sure manager and board know what needs to be done and will be more proactive than we used to be when it comes to players.

 

Re: Yup

very true Kev. I'd much rather just know the outcome than it be played out in public like a soap opera.

btw I took the plunge and after one season off I bought ST so I'm back ! So when I see the games I can proper whinge !!!!

 

Yay!

You'll still be miles behind me when it comes to whining & chuntering!

 

Re: Yay!

where's the fluffin' like button !

 

Re: Yup

The two new blokes have only just got their feet under the table, but there is an obvious change of attitude and approach visible already. Not everything can be done immediately, but these opening few weeks provide optimism for the future.

 

Re: Yay!

I've not had that facility for months now. Next time I see Gally & Hicksy, I'll buy them a drink and see if that works.

 

I'm pretty sure we can afford to say no to £600,000, would want at least 4 times that

 

£600k is a joke. It seems we're still seen as a club that just rolls over in the transfer market. Hopefully that is going to change now.

 

I think the conversation may have gone like this (if it has actually gone on at all):

Palace: "Hello there Barnsley, it's Crystal Palace here. We're interested in Mellis. 600 grand do you?"

BFC: "Don Rowing has retired"

Palace: "Basterd."



But seriously, as I said earlier, I would hope the new board members aligned with the vision of Flicker/Mellon/Scott would be well aware of our past shortcomings in terms of negotiating contract extensions (Howard, Butterfield prime examples). They've certainly been more forward thinking in tying up the renewals of Steele, Cranie, Hassell etc, despite a few initial problems. And they've paid good money for both O'Grady and Jennings - I don't see many other clubs in our division spending upwards of 500k this Summer.

So yes, and as Kev and others alluded to also, for all we know the negotiations are happening as we speak, or are at least planned well in advance of the dreaded January window.

 

Get yourself off to bed, young man

Weren't you on nights last night?