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Transfer targets: are they worth the money?

Comment: 0 January 12th, 2012

January is a busy time for football. Aside from being in the middle of the season, it also features a month-long transfer window. Teams and managers carefully strategise to boost their overall team performance. As clubs try to position themselves to stage a positive outcome in the second half of the season, they attempt to get players who fit perfectly to the team’s system, as well as the budget.

Below are five players who have created a buzz. There are some who have been phenomenal while others simply did not live up to what was expected. We try to determine their current value according to their respective performances for the season.

DEMBA BA (Newcastle United)
Interested buyers: Liverpool

If we solely base his worth on performance, then Newcastle United’s Demba Ba should be worth around £20 million. The striker has found the net 15 times in 19 appearances with the Magpies this season.

That’s a considerable boost from the current fee of £6.6 million.

The only chip on his shoulder is that he failed the medical in January 2011. It was reason enough for Stoke City, buying him for £7 million, to pull the plug on the deal.

Reports say that Ba failed his medical due to a knee condition.

Now, managers are hesitant to splurge on the 26-year-old striker from Senegal because failing a medical normally hints on potential problems for the player.

The Magpies claim that their star has a £10 million release clause on his contract but Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp claims that Ba’s clause is around £7 million.

VERDICT: A gamble

BEST SCENARIO: Ba goes to Liverpool – a team in need of a potent scorer. He helps the Reds in the absence of Luis Suarez. When the Uruguayan returns, Ba can sub in for the struggling Andy Carroll. He doesn’t strain his knees but still plays an important part in a strong team

 

DIMITAR BERBATOV (Manchester United)
Interested buyers: Bayern Leverkusen

When the Red Devil is on the pitch, he delivers for the defending champions. In six starts, Dimitar Berbatov has scored six times.

In a span of 10 days, the striker has netted six times – including a hat-trick against Wigan Athletic on Christmas Day.

This gives enough reason to say that Berbatov is in form.

Unfortunately, the problem he has is the fair chance to display his brilliance on the pitch. United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has shown more belief in young up-start Danny Welbeck.

Though he is turning 31 by the end of January, Berbatov still proves that he has a lot to give for the club. When given the opportunity, he ensures that he makes the most of it.

He definitely isn’t worth as much as the £30 million that Manchester United shelled out to buy him in 2008 but paying a little more than half the price for a striker of Berbatov’s calibre is definitely a good deal.

VERDICT: Buy immediately

BEST SCENARIO: Berbatov is bought by his old team, Bayern Leverkusen. He still proves that he has the capability to perform even at his 30s. He is given the chance to play for 90 minutes and he can close out his career with the team that helped him become the prolific scorer that he is.

SALOMON KALOU (Chelsea)
Interested buyers: Arsenal

When Chelsea purchased the 21-year-old Salomon Kalou from Feyenoord, they saw a young kid with a bright future. Under the guidance of then-manager Jose Mourinho, they expected the native of the Ivory Coast to become a goal-scoring machine.

The £9 million fee they had to pay sounded like a steal.

After six seasons, Kalou’s worth an estimated £12 million. The only problem is no team is willing to pay that amount for the striker. They’re not even interested in giving him half that amount.

We simply have to look at his performances (or lack thereof) to know the reason why.

Kalou has only appeared four times this season, in the starting 11 only twice only to be subbed out later in the game. He has only scored once – against Everton in the Carling Cup.

Recent talks have linked the young attacker possibly moving to Arsenal. In a team that has one real threat to score (Van Persie) and a legend hoping to make a difference (Henry), it might be the perfect place for Kalou. Wenger wants him for £3 million – and at the rate things are going for the 26 year old, he should agree to the terms.

VERDICT: Don’t buy

BEST SCENARIO: Kalou goes to Arsenal for £3 million. While under the management of Wenger, Kalou realizes his potential and works hard for the Gunners. He performs best against his old team and shows the Blues that they missed out on playing an excellent scorer.

 

JORDAN RHODES (Huddersfield Town)
Interested buyers: Everton, West Ham

Most of you may not know the Terrier’s Jordan Rhodes, but you should be hearing about him soon. The 21-year-old striker has made his presence felt in League One.

Though he has yet to establish himself amongst the best players in the Premier League, Rhodes has been on a tear. He has scored at least once in the last five games of Huddersfield Town and has scored 60 in 103 appearances for the club.

If that wasn’t enough, Rhodes scored a phenomenal five goals against Wycombe Wanderers in their 6-0 victory.

If there’s a point to scrutinize against him is that all those are in League One – nothing compared to the competition in the Premier League.

Rhodes is currently worth around £650,000 but Premier League teams are considering the Scottish international for £5 million. This proves that top-flight teams know his capabilities and are willing to gamble for him.

VERDICT: A steal

BEST SCENARIO: Rhodes finally makes it to Premier League by signing with the Toffees. Under the tutelage of David Moyes, Rhodes develops even a better knowledge of the game. A few years with Everton will help him get recognition from the top teams in the league.

WESLEY SNEIJDER (Inter Milan)
Interested buyers: Manchester United (withdrew)

Wesley Sneijder can be placed on any team and can dramatically improve their performance. When he plays for Inter, they have an attacking midfielder who can easily create for himself or for his teammates.

Though his primary position is attacking midfielder, he can easily play central midfield and left wing. His brilliance in dribbling and finishing with both feet make him a nightmare match-up for defenders.

That’s why Inter asked for £30 million from teams who want to buy the Dutchman.

It sounds worth every pound except that Sneijder has had injuries that kept him off the pitch. Last season, he’s had four separate injuries that have sidelined him. This season, he’s had a calf strain that kept him out from September to mid-October and is currently nursing muscular problems that will keep him out of the lineup until mid-January.

You can only do so much when you’re not playing. Inter has found ways around his absence and proved it with a 5-0 thrashing of Parma on Saturday.

Teams that have been eager to get him like Manchester United have pulled out of the talks citing the expensive price on the midfielder. With Inter stating that they will not settle for anything less than £30 million, it seems like no one can afford that much of a gamble.

VERDICT: Too expensive

BEST SCENARIO: Sneijder’s injuries finally heal and he gets to play at a regular basis. He continues to help out Inter in the middle of the field. After a season of being injury-free, Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson tries to bid for the Dutchman at the price that everybody assume he’s worth – £30 million.

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