[h=1]Premier League trio chasing the next Kyle Walker[/h]from http://hereisthecity.com/2013/01/15/ld-fulham-southampton-and-wigan-chasing-the-next-kyle-walker/ Fulham, Southampton and Wigan Athletic are all chasing a highly rated defender from Championship side, Barnsley. Fulham have just had a £1.5 million bid turned down by Barnsley for right back John Stones. The deal didn’t go through because Fulham were apparently unwilling to let the full back return to his current club on loan for the rest of the season. The Daily Mail is reporting that Southampton and Wigan are lurking as a result with the Saints having already made formal enquiries about the England Under-19 international. It would be a massive gamble for any of the Premier League sides because Stones seems to be severely lacking in terms of professional experience. He’s only 18-years-old and has made just over 20 appearances for Barnsley. So it seems a little bizarre as to why Fulham wouldn’t let him go straight back to Barnsley on loan because he’s hardly likely to walk straight into the first team at Craven Cottage. Southampton or Wigan both represent great chances for Stones to develop as a player because both clubs have experienced managers with young players. Luke Shaw is the classic example at Southampton with Chelsea reportedly monitoring the Southampton defender’s future on a daily basis. Roberto Martinez at Wigan represents a great chance for Stones to accumulate a lot of first team games in the Premier League but again, Martinez may be reluctant to let him go back to Barnsley on loan because he could be used instantly at Wigan. Fulham presents the obvious chance to move to London for Stones and experience the city as a professional Premier League player. They are also in the best position to give him the best offer financially. This has to be something he thinks about if he’s going to uproot his life and make a drastic move down South. If this is a pivotal factor then Wigan obviously have the advantage. Spin the wheel and place your bets because Stones could end up at either three. However, Fulham appear to be in the driving seat because they have made a concrete offer.
Another media article that insinuates we'd have let him go for 1.5 if we could have loaned him back....If that's the case he will be gone this month for 1.5 as some club would no doubt let him come back here.
1.5 million, that should balance the book. Forget about making a bit extra. As long as we get the minimum amount in. were a fecking joke. How about keep hold of him until he is more experienced and sell for more cash. why do all our players go for the minimum possible.
This is just pure speculations going round and round. Club had no offers but keeps these sites and journos in a job
I thought we rejected the bid? How on earth a journalist in London knows we'd accept the offer if we could loan him back is beyond me.
Reading all the valuations Placed on the young lad's shoulders. I was wondering, if the lad is so valuable to us (and I believe he is), shouldn't his salary reflect that value & go hand in hand with that of a multi million pound player? Or, do we value him highly for a healthy transfer fee, but insist the value of his salary should reflect the fact he's only 18 years old and in his first season as a first team regular?
As the situation stands, I would say no. The adage being that you are only worth what someone is willing to pay and when they do, the rewards will follow. He is on his way to achieving such rewards, it's called paying your dues, I believe. And we are bottom of the league when all said and done. Saying that, should his head be turned and we were determined to keep him, we would have to think about an enticement. But what I can see in John Stones, he has far more humble values that most young footballers, no names mentioned (Jacob Butterfield.)
What a poorly written article, I can only assume that is reader contribution piece as opposed to one written by a professional journalist?
We really do need to stand up to the vultures and tell them where to go. If he was at Leeds or many other clubs they'd be talking about £5million minimum for him and we should be doing the same. I will be seriously hacked off with the club if they lay down and die again in the transfer market. We hold all the aces this time so lets make sure we don't get bullied into letting him go for a fraction of what he is worth.
The don would be the next out the club if he sold our crown jewels for that! Repeat after me Don ... £6mil +free loan bak +40% sell on +appearance bonuses + £1m full england caP bonus then you have done a great job and we can get to producing the next stones to keep!
Nail on the head. If he was at Wolves he'd already have a £5m price tag on his head. Little old Barnsley, there for the taking. Every time. The difference here is we don't have to sell, in terms of remaining contract. End of next season, injuries prevailing, £5m minimum
