According to the Bristol Post, Newcastle ARE interested in a deal to sign Bristol City star Joe Bryan but aren’t currently prepared to pay the club’s asking price – which has been confirmed at just £6m as an ‘up front’ payment.
They insist that we are ‘still in the running’ for Bryan – who looks set to leave this summer after refusing to extend his current contract – however it sounds like we’ll have to up our offer if we want to get it done.
This seems a VERY reasonable fee to me given he was one of the top performing player in the Championship last season. He may be out of contract next season, but £6m still represents very good business.
Here’s what the Bristol Live’s Aidan McCartney has had to say on the deal this morning:
“Seen a few reports suggesting that we have reported Newcastle United had pulled out of the race for Joe Bryan.
“That isn’t what we reported at all and the Magpies are still in the running to sign Bryan this window.
“The latest news is that they (Newcastle) aren’t currently ready to match the Robins asking price for the 24-year-old but things can change.
“City are thought to want £6m up-front for the defender.
“Newcastle have had a busy few days in the market and you have to expect they will up their offer if they really fancy Bryan.
“Potentially the sale of Aleksandar Mitrovic could open up funds..”
Yes ‘things can change’ – and I hope they do from our perspective – but this stinks of Newcastle United and the sort of time wasting that leads to us ‘missing out’ on these targets of Rafa’s.
The same has been suggested by The Chronicle’s Lee Ryder just yesterday, with him admitting the following when asked about our interest in the left-back during their latest Q&A:
“I think Bristol City want £6million up front for a Championship defender.
“Given Newcastle have just paid £3million for a World Cup defender I think you can see how they value players. The Mitro outgoing deal could unlock a couple of other deals for sure.”
I don’t get the logic here.
Yes Schar was a bargain, but you can’t use that deal as a benchmark against all others. You are not going to pick up 26-year old full internationals for £3m very often in this day and age!
Bryan’s 24, looks more than capable of making the Premier League step up and would be a cheap but effective option for us at left-back – with us currently have no competition for Paul Dummett.
I think it’s time we stopped messing around and paid the £6m to get this one ‘over the line’. If we don’t, someone else will.
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