In, Out, Shake It All About: January 2025 Transfer Window

[GhostoftheBok]

If it's correct that we've been knocked-back for a centre half, but advanced on Jellis and Randall, then it'll be interesting times.

Jellis would presumably mean Morley goes back to Wycombe. Randall would also need room making for him - Vic going and Lolos shifting up top, or CMG going on loan, perhaps?

It's pretty frantic stuff and needs to happen fast to salvage anything from the season.

Got to love the rumour mill.

[GhostoftheBok]

I don't get why anybody would rejoice in Dion leaving, but Bolton fans are strange and we have very short memories.

He's been the most likeable BWFC striker for many many years now. Works hard for the team and has scored bucket loads for us. Yes he's been guilty of missing big chances in big games, but every striker in World Football has done the same

Would also be odd to get rid of the guy who has been top scorer the last two seasons just as we're bringing in (hopefully) a playmaker.

[TANGODANCER]

I don't get why anybody would rejoice in Dion leaving, but Bolton fans are strange and we have very short memories.

He's been the most likeable BWFC striker for many many years now. Works hard for the team and has scored bucket loads for us. Yes he's been guilty of missing big chances in big games, but every striker in World Football has done the same

Knowing Evatt as we do, I very much doubt Dion is in any danger of departing Bolton.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Knowing Evatt as we do, I very much doubt Dion is in any danger of departing Bolton.

I suspect Evatt will want to save himself by raising funds, and if Dion is the only auctionable player (considering Morley can't now play for anyone bar us or Wycombe), then Dion may well be auctioned off.

Business-wise, Dion is also an asset of diminishing value. If he doesn't go this month, by summer he'll be in his final contract year and nearing 30.

I suspect I (we) would miss him at times, but I would understand it on some levels. I wouldn't rejoice in it, but we know how some people love to grab attention with extreme views.

[boltonboris]

It would be mad if we paid money for Randall after we couldn't get him on a free in the summer. Would raise another question about the viability of the transfer. Would he take a paycut to come to us?

[GhostoftheBok]

It would be mad if we paid money for Randall after we couldn't get him on a free in the summer. Would raise another question about the viability of the transfer. Would he take a paycut to come to us?

We bid £1.5m for him in the summer.

[officer_dibble]

I would miss Dion / I thought him and Collins could have been our best striker partnership since the days of mainly and Blake. And it shows he’s fallen out with Evatt - he’ll go and prove him wrong somewhere else.

[GhostoftheBok]

For whatever mileage it carries, the lads down Posh way who usually know what's going on think Randall will leave this month.

[boltonboris]

It would be mad if we paid money for Randall after we couldn't get him on a free in the summer. Would raise another question about the viability of the transfer. Would he take a paycut to come to us?

We bid £1.5m for him in the summer.

I thought he was out of contract and signed a new deal after being promised a hefty wage rise. In that case, with longer on his deal and a higher salary to cover, I just don't see it.

I have also never really been impressed when I've seen him, which admittedly isn't much

[GhostoftheBok]

I thought he was out of contract and signed a new deal after being promised a hefty wage rise. In that case, with longer on his deal and a higher salary to cover, I just don't see it.

I have also never really been impressed when I've seen him, which admittedly isn't much

Na, he had 12 months left on his contract. We started out offering about £800k. It eventually got up to a package that "could reach" £1.5m, but Posh wanted more up front.

Randall was desperate to come here, but Posh made him a number of guarantees to get him to sign a new deal so his value wouldn't go down. Randall then felt they'd broken their word and there was a huge blow up, which led to him being exiled from training at one point and dropped. Fergie made some not-so-cryptic statements in public and it looked like it might get really awkward, but they sorted it enough for him to be back in training and in the side.

The suggestion doing the rounds was that his contract has a release clause in it if Posh don't go up this term. If that's correct then they may well look to get more for him this window, as they look even less likely to go up than we do.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

I thought he was out of contract and signed a new deal after being promised a hefty wage rise.

Na, he had 12 months left on his contract. We started out offering about £800k. It eventually got up to a package that "could reach" £1.5m, but Posh wanted more up front.

And remember that as a rule, Peterborough automatically make players in their final year of contract available for transfer (eg Clarke-Harris). I'm not sure they ever got as far as putting Randall on the official transfer list but as noted, when you're run by Gobbo MacAnthony and Barry Fry, word gets out.

[boltonboris]

So we'd presumably have to pay more than what we offered in the summer and would have to pay him a higher salary, even though he's not playing well... As I said, it doesn't seem viable. In fact, it seems a bit desperate

[GhostoftheBok]

So we'd presumably have to pay more than what we offered in the summer and would have to pay him a higher salary, even though he's not playing well... As I said, it doesn't seem viable. In fact, it seems a bit desperate

Not necessarily. If the release clause rumour is correct (these things are usually leaked by agents) then it depends what that clause is. It won't be massive, because it was negotiated to allow Randall to leave.

Posh, as DSB implied, offered him the higher wage to get him to sign - it was supposedly the same wage he was expecting here.

So it may be the case that neither the fee nor contract will need to be radically higher. Perhaps more up front, as we're 6 months ahead now.

The big stumbling block is whether the bumper contract will mean Randall is owed loads of money by Posh. There's no indication at this stage (assuming the link is even true) that he's waving what he's due or formally requesting a transfer. However, if we've gone in we must feel he's affordable.

If Posh want him out then there's a deal to be done. If they don't there isn't. It really comes down to that.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

So we'd presumably have to pay more than what we offered in the summer and would have to pay him a higher salary, even though he's not playing well... As I said, it doesn't seem viable. In fact, it seems a bit desperate

Oh let's be clear Boz, we're well into the "desperate" stage. We're 10th in January and the manager's fighting for his job, so we need improving players more now than we thought we did in summer. Elasticity of demand, that's how markets work, right?

However, if (and it's an if) the non-promotion release clause is true, that also brings in its own economic factor. Posh aren't going up, so we're now in the last window before that trigger fee, whatever it may be; Randall's rapidly approaching his sell-by date and is plastered in the equivalent of a supermarket's yellow sticker. Do they want him hanging around like a bad smell for six months or does this remorselessly commercial club want to raise some capital?

EDIT crosspostyGhosty similar sentiment

[GhostoftheBok]

Add to DSB's post that Posh are currently starting their own rebuilding job - having just secured Fleetwood's RWB.

Randall's face doesn't fit. He's their top earner and hasn't featured in the last two games.

Posh are offering money they don't have for players at the minute, so sales must be imminent.

[The_Gun]

Paying more big transfer fees for peak aged players would seem fairly daft at this stage.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Paying more big transfer fees for peak aged players would seem fairly daft at this stage.

I'm uneasy about who's driving the car but Ian's made clear that he doesn't work in a vacuum - Markham, Ludonautics and the board have their say too. So you imagine the latter three would have at least considered whether Randall would work for a different manager.

[boltonboris]

Paying more big transfer fees for peak aged players would seem fairly daft at this stage.

I mean he's only 25 so even on a 3year deal he's still got value at the end of it. I just don't think he's as good as what this outlay would suggest, when we're already bloated in that department (albeit short right now, due to injuries).

Would Wycombe see that we've gone shit or bust in the midfield that we'd be desperate to recoup anything and lowball us for Morley?

[GhostoftheBok]

Randall on 3.5 years means 18 months from now, when he's entering his peak years (will still be 26), we have a 2-year-deal safety net.

[BWFC_Insane]

Paying more big transfer fees for peak aged players would seem fairly daft at this stage.

I'm uneasy about who's driving the car but Ian's made clear that he doesn't work in a vacuum - Markham, Ludonautics and the board have their say too. So you imagine the latter three would have at least considered whether Randall would work for a different manager.

Based on our recruitment thus far - none of them should get a single penny to spend imho.