Gary Lineker just had to tap out one exploding head emoji to ignite the debate.
Replying to breaking news of Newcastle United’s move for Burnley’s Chris Wood, Lineker expressed incredulity in a very modern way that an offer of £20million had been tabled for the striker.
He was prepared to double down when Magpies fans responded to the criticism like a call to arms. “I haven’t written him off. He’s a decent player, but at 30 it’s a mad fee,” Lineker wrote.
Judging by the reaction in football, he wasn’t alone. One recruitment specialist told i it felt like Newcastle are “planning for the Championship” – a harsh denouement given the transfer should be viewed through the prism of their relegation predicament and the chance they’ve taken to weaken a direct rival.
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“It’s one of those: you’re only worth as much as a club is willing to pay for you,” the New Zealand striker said when Lineker’s comments were put to him.
“If that’s what Newcastle feel I’m worth at this moment in time then that’s how it is.
“You never know, in six months’ time we may be looking back at this as a great deal and it will all be worth it. In that sense it doesn’t really bother me the number on the price tag, I’ve still get the same challenge and drive to work hard.”
It is one of those deals driven by football logic rather than financial planning. Wood will be 32 by the time his contract expires and no other club in world football would have triggered the release clause in his Burnley deal.
But for Newcastle, it feels like an excellent piece of business. Without a focal point for their attack until March, they need goals and wins. Relegation would cost that multiples of the outlay on Wood and the club’s philosophy in January is driven by the need to stay up and rebuild in the summer.
“Nothing else matters,” a senior source told i. A centre-back will be next in, with interest in Diego Carlos of Sevilla intensifying.
Burnley, meanwhile, have been left scrambling for a replacement and Sean Dyche left frustrated by the exit of his main offensive outlet. Wood sympathises but insists he had to step out of his “comfort zone”.
“For me there’s no bad blood with Burnley,” he said.
“I was comfortable, settled, and in my opinion you don’t achieve anything great doing that. I just felt it was the right time to challenge myself.”
from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/3qrEIip
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