A Paul Merson type signing

NeilInFrance

Well-known member
What would be the modern day equivelant?

When Paul Merson signed for Middlesbrough - in 1997 - he was a regular in the Arsenal team that had just finished 3rd in the Premier League and was an England international.

Note : we signed him July 8th - we knew how to get signing over the line in them days ;-) at £5m it was the biggest fee a 2nd division club had ever payed for a player.
 
Based on age and Chelsea finishing 3rd last season, Romelu Lukaku but its not as if he had a great season for them.
The transfer fee woud have the be over the £15m paid for Assombalonga to make it a Championship record
 
Hands up who never realised exactly how good Merson really was until he played for us?

Seemed a bit of a coup when we signed him, closer to a miracle once he started playing.
A miracle when he moved up and wasn’t travelling on the train everyday.

Just a shame he house shared with Gazza.
 
What was the previous biggest fee paid by a 2nd tier club at the time?

And what is it currently? I can't think of one bigger than us and Britt, but I may be wrong.

TBH, I don't think it could happen now. The CL group stages have distorted the market. I can't see a player like Merson, or of TLF's, calibre going to a club without the prospect of CL football this season or next.
 
What was the previous biggest fee paid by a 2nd tier club at the time?

And what is it currently? I can't think of one bigger than us and Britt, but I may be wrong.

TBH, I don't think it could happen now. The CL group stages have distorted the market. I can't see a player like Merson, or of TLF's, calibre going to a club without the prospect of CL football this season or next.
Ruben neves to wolves surely as I doubt we’ll ever find out the true value but I know it was high.

Officially it’s 15 m but

Neves had been valued as high as £30 million, yet his career path has suddenly taken an unexpected turn and the FC Porto midfielder has joined Championship side Wolves in a deal worth £15 million.

So that 15 mil is clearly rubbish.
 
Wasn't Merson on the periphery of the Arsenal team though? On a modern scale, would it be like us signing Ross Barkley?
 
Right now I’d rather find an Uwe Fuchs kind of signing

I’m hoping we have one lined up cos our balls in from the left from Giles are begging for it, just shows that when CW put Crooks up top today
 
Back
Top