Mirallas to sign new long-term deal

Totally agree. If we were going to keep someone who doesn't cut the mustard I'd rather keep Cleverley. Mirallas has never produced consistently and he's in his peak years. He won't get better. Says it all about our supposed ambition.

He should be a squad player next season and I'm sure there will be times we will need him with European games. And I'd still rather have him than Calvert-Lewin on the left wing if push comes to shove.

Agreed that if he's viewed as a starter next season, then the Moshiri era is already a complete fraud.

I just hope the money hasn't been ring-fenced...

I would certainly have him in any squad going forward.

If we've done this because someone at the club thinks he's worth keeping, then God help us.

Sadly this season that has dipped considerably. Due to bad form or more defensive responsibility put on him by the manager?

I still think he's capable of creating and scoring in the right system and as such is a good player to retain, especially given the large number of games we'll have next season if we progress in the Europa League.

He's done exactly the same with 31-year-old Kevin Campbell wile them lot were coming home with two trophies. I told him that to his face, refused his handshake and still would.

I live the club more than the likes of that idiot. It should reflect in season ticket sales sooner or later, he's a loser.

It's commonly thought that Moshiri is a shrewd businessman; that being so, why would he let Bill and Bob loose with his fortune? Their track record during Moshiri's tenure is not good.

Mirallas being offered a new long-term deal is not the kind of news you expect to hear from a club on the up. He's inconsistent and often surly to the extent he's a liability.

Unplayable on his day; inconsistent? Sure, but no doubting his passion & his "chicken lad" impression was worth a year's extension in itself. I think he respects the club, fans and what he has in the local area, never thought when he arrived some time ago he would settle.

Pleased in the main with this announcement.

He's a real attacking player and that puts him in the minority at Goodison. I for one am glad he's staying and I'd like to see him get more games. I don't understand why some have expressed worry about this – you can make marquee signings and retain the players you value already in the squad. It's surely not an either/or.

I think he is good in the right system – but with too much tracking back, it doesn't allow him enough freedom on attack.

In monetary terms, player values are amongst the highest assets the club has. Mirallas may be worth £10-12 million in this climate.

What do you do? Preserve the value of the asset or write-off the dosh, allowing him to go on a free. I think it says no more or less about his long-term future than that.

I'm pleased to have him stay.

This decision is even more insane than giving Seamus Coleman, who may never kick a ball again, a 5-year contract that will take him to 33. What's he going to be like then?

Mirallas is already finished at this level, he's 29 and no one else wants him. He's not worth an extra days contract, never mind a long one.

At this rate, we'll have the same misfiring, disjointed failure of a squad in 5 years time that we're stuck with now thanks to these insane contracts that are rewarding failure.

No wonder the Everton have become an ambitionless laughing stock. End the gravy train for non-performers; Kenwright out NOW before he kills off our future, like he's done with our present and past.

The squad will have several departures this summer and few replacements will be marquee signings, so there needs to be a sense of realism on this site.

The club is not yet at the big table, so why should we expect grade A players to come here if Champions League sides are interested in them.

Or should Moshiri just spend all his cash on insane wages? I doubt that's how he got wealthy.

Insane wages are those wasted on old, bad players.

We need far higher quality in that position – someone in the Fabregas, Mahrez or Sigurdsson mould.

Has talent but needs to use it better.

I really can't understand posts saying this player or that player is not worth the wages/transfer fee. As long as the admission prices aren't increased, why should we be bothered?

Not being funny but Mirallas hasn't been at his best this season, and hasn't always looked interested, especially when not been picked, I believe his best days are gone.

Are we just happy to float around with players who are limited to 7th place finishes?

I agree he's maddeningly inconsistent but aren't most wingers?

How masochistic (and outright fucked up!!) is it to wish such negativity on yourselves, us, all in the pursuit of trying to be proved right???

Here is a player that has been with us for 5 plus years winning zero,; apart from the odd flash here and there what does he offer? Koeman said he wants quality over quantity. For me this signing stinks of we need the numbers for Europe next season.

Loan Deulofeu to AC Milan and sign Mirallas on a long-term deal? This stinks. I'm prepared for another... "We tried to sign xxxx for £50 million, we just couldn't get it through bla bla bla."

No money will be spent until Lukaku is sold – just like the previous summer with Stones. False dawn again!

If we only ever re-contracted stand-out performers, then we wouldn't have a big enough squad to finish a season.

I'm all for cutting "deadwood", Gibson, Kone, McGeady etc, but Mirallas will be a good squad player for the extra games we will have next season.

As for Coleman, he was promised a new deal before his injury and it's only right we honour it. You wonder whether he will come back as good when he recovers, well imagine he does and we pulled the deal for him because of his injury. Who would blame him then for thinking "Thanks for the loyalty (sarcastically), I'm off!"

He's a great guy and a top player and its only right we stand by him.

On his day, which admittedly should be more frequent, he can rip a defence apart, and he's a pleasure to watch with that combination of skill and aggression.

However, it is a case of damned if you do and damned if you don't. If Mirallas was allowed to run his contract down and leave for free, people would moan. He signs a new one, people moan, and we still don't have the full details yet.

Many seem to use anything on here to vent Kenwright hatred. I am neither pro or con Kenwright. There has been good and bad, but would this just be based solely on his decision? Would Koeman have zero say as to whom is on his playing staff? Would Moshiri be completely unaware of this too?

Mirallas I feel can be a frustrating player, but we now have resale value. Also, we're in Europe next season which, for those with a short memory, Europe is very very demanding on the squad. Mirallas can play left, right and through the middle too, pretty invaluable when you are going to pick up injuries and suspensions whilst trying to compete on 4 fronts. Also, we may have targets in mind, but whose to say the will come?

Also, for me the Coleman contract was a fantastic gesture for a player who has proved his worth time and time again. It is a great incentive for him to get back playing again. Everton have shown to be a class act their in a league that is increasingly becoming distinctly unclassy. If he doesn't come back, I am sure we have that covered too, financially speaking.

Also, as strange as the Gibson contract was, he signed and we ended up making a profit on him as far as I could tell as he could have walked for free. The few months wages were worth paying as, in an injury crisis, he could have been called upon, as surprisingly he has been fit most of this season. I seem to recall many being up in arms about that too!

I like Mirallas, I have two shirts with his name on it, but I feel he's only been playing decent lately to get a new contract. He will then return to his inconsistent level. I hope I'm wrong.

I hope he starts playing better due to a long term love and commitment to are club (tempered as it is due to possible World Cup duties). In any case, we'll definitely need a bigger squad for the Europa League and I hope he tears it up there.

You sir are a genius! I agree 100% with what you wrote...

I think we need to be positive about the club, our players & where we are going moving forward.

Are you missing the point here? His resale value at the end of his contract is nil. The value is during his contract.

I'm reasonably happy with it as we'll need squad players next season.

We either had to sell him now or offer a new contract, just like Barkley, as he only had one year to go on his current deal.

I don't think it's major news either way, so can't understand the fuss some are kicking up.

Name the clubs in for him that are willing to pay top dollar, Bill.

Name the clubs that have wanted to sign him since he came to us in 2012??? If you can name any at all, that number will clearly drop after he hits 30.

Also we play him mainly on the wing, ya know, a position where youthful speed is somewhat a factor... Sigh.

We deserve better than hoping an inconsistent player suddenly finds consistency.

Talking of Mirallas being a squad player shows just how low our expectations are of the first team squad next season.

I foolishly thought this summer we would buy some top grade players to replace the deadwood but, as usua,l we will probably get more mediocre players to partner the deadwood.

So much for the brave new world but Moshiri is obviously budgeting for 'seventh' – just like his trusted chairman!

I heard Jagielka being interviewed before he went into the Dixies last night, he was asked about Ross and Rom and he said if they leave then Everton is bigger than any one player.

So a busy summer for Walsh and Koeman. I think if we sell both Lukaku and Barkley I don't think the fans will be happy with 6 to 8 journeymen signings with the money they get from these transfers.

I don't think this move is indicative of our ambitions, the manager knows his limitations and I don't see Mirallas being any more than a useful squad player.

I think people are reading more into this because of the way the luvvie announced it at an awards ceremony. You know Bill, he has to put a show on. Relax.

Within a good window this may prove a cost effective way of beefing up the squad for the additional Europa League demands.

We won't know until its over, but to rush to judgement on every development between now and then is to create angst or euphoria depending on your opinion.

Let's wait and see.

A goalie / two centre-backs / creative mid / forward to play with, or two to replace Lukaku.

This is without left-back cover for Baines or any wide players

Now we should be letting decent players run down their contracts and leave.

Anyone who thinks we are going to spend the £150mil to cover this is misguided.

I see him as a squad player, mainly for the Europa League. He'd be a good senior player for that. If Jags and Williams don't move on, they should also play that part in the squad. If Mirallas is being given a new contract with the view of trying to get us into the top 4... we're in trouble.

As Chris @61 says we'll know the answers once the transfer window closes.

I completely agree. By my reckoning we will be losing 5 players who are on loan, plus Kone and possibly Valencia. We are missing Seamus, Bolasie, Funes Mori and possibly Lennon long term. That's a lot of gaps to fill. A lot of them are attacking and midfielders. Mirallas staying is part of that context.

I reckon we can get about 㿊M in fees for the loan players which will pay for one of the replacements maybe. So if we need say 5 to 7 players in, which I reckon we do, the idea of Rooney on a free might make some sense, or Martina from Southampton as a stop gap for Seamus.

Koeman has said we need to focus on 27- to 29-year-old players, players at their peak then who won't come cheap. He has also recently said that Baines is probably one of the players of the season, so possibly he's going nowhere.

It might also imply that someone will be sold... Barkley? His fee would pay for the likes of Sigurdsson.

But we won't know until its over, so probably best to avoid the bipolar reaction after every single deal between now and then.

As Mirallas isn't at the top of the list of players to discard it's best to tie him down in the hope of getting a few quid for him eventually.

From Mirallas's point of view, he probably can't believe his luck and will most likely perform no better than he has this season.

He's done; too many chances & failed to deliver... Please sell!

Bring back our loan players, add in quality from the teams that go down, and improve our existing squad to perform!!!

No-one of real top quality will come here at the moment, unless we pay obscene money (which we won't do).

Yes, he's frustrating and he can't defend, but if he's on the pitch we create chances. We have nobody creating chances at the moment and the last 3 games tell us we desperately need a creative player up top.

Everton players take part in Sure Striker challenge

I haven't heard of any clubs currently offering 'top dollar' but, once again, that's not really the point.

By tying him to a new contact we get a useful squad player and the guarantee that, if he were to go, we'd get some sort of a fee.

The alternative is to let his current contract run out so he can go for free and then we'd have to replace him with someone else which would cost a fee etc.

I'm far from his greatest fan but this one's a no-brainer.

Deulofeu leaving, Bolasie injured, Calvert-Lewin breaking through, Barkley to his natural position, Valencia on loan, Kone leaving etc

I wonder if this will soften things a bit for Lukaku staying at least one more season???

They should be shipping him out along with a bunch of others while they can still get a fiver for him.

Do they really need him for 10 minutes late in the game? He hasn't shown he can do anything special except be anonymous these days. He is no better than McGeady.

And in your fantasy land I'm sure there would be players lining up to play for Everton. "And in my world, the players would wash their own kits. Why the hell should the club do it when I do my own laundry!"

My God...

We will be playing on many fronts next season, including mid-week Europa League games. Yes, I anticipate there will be an interesting turnover of players this summer. Quite a number have already left the club under Koeman.

However, in addition to the natural attrition of aging players' contracts ending or being moved on, Koeman will be wise enough to understand he needs numbers as well as more quality. For that reason I have no issue that the club wishes to retain Kevin Mirallas.

He can frustrate, but I have in the past defended Mirallas. After he signed his last contract extension – between Roberto's 2nd and 3rd seasons – he was criminally under utilised by the manager whilst the team stank the place out all season.

I don't think he has performed at the levels or consistency he is capable of under Koeman this season, but his fitness and stamina levels appear to have improved, he tracks back better and – as he has always displayed – there is a bit of a nark and devilment in Kevin. Something our squad as a whole seriously lacks.

He may not always be first choice in the Brave New World we hope Everton is about to enter, but more than a useful squad player he certainly is.

Hardly the kind of announcement to fill the hearts of the faithful with hope of better things ahead... it suggests, more of the same folks!

Yes, I want to sell him. He has not contributed enough when looking back in however many seasons he's been an Everton player. And his attitude, well, it could be better, but doubtful that will change

Five-year extension for Ian Wilson. We won't sign a midfielder because Mike Milligan is family. Neil McDonald's fit enough for one game – he's like a new signing.

We will be trying to unload more than a few players in the summer but it would have made no sense to include Mirallas in any clear out. In fact, it makes total sense to keep hold of him especially with the Europa League in mind.

As regards a five year extension for Ian Wilson, you might ask why we signed Ian Wilson in the first place.

Who was the Chairman at the time? None other than Phil Carter? Who was the manager? None other than Colin Harvey.

Every regime has made mistakes in the transfer market. We have made fewer under Kenwright than most clubs and certainly fewer than we did between 1987 and 1999.

I'd sell and upgrade, at a profit too, no doubt. Why keep someone, who for five years, has shown bugger all when all things considered? Younger, better, or am I believing too much into Moshri-Mega-Bucks?

And while I am at it, I have seen posts on this thread and others mentioning Cleverley. He has signed for Watford months ago, or do I need new glasses and/or a lobotomy?

Pro Mirallas, Anti-Mirallas, Pro Moshiri Koeman, Anti Moshiri-Koeman.

Wouldn't the world be a lovely place if we could all just get behind the club and be part of the climb back to our rightful place at the top of the tree, enjoying the view from the banks of the Royal Blue Mersey?

As the saying goes "a thousand-mile journey starts with the first step" and I for one can see the progress at the club since Moshiri took over.

My bet is that in 12 month's time Davies will be the only one in the side on anything like a regular basis. Calvert-Lewin has been given his chance to claim a spot and failed dismally – thus the necessary retention of Mirallas!

Kev knows he is well liked by the fans, inconsistent or not, and given playing time on a regular basis I believe his passion for both the club and fans will further show his value as a class act, just saying.

Paul Burns (#26), I'll wager you're the only one here who thinks the club was wrong to do the honorable thing and and follow through on a new contract for Seamus that was agreed before he was hurt.

And speaking of wagers, regarding your acidic comment that Seamus "may never kick a ball again"... I've got a hundred that says you're wrong. Loser donates the hundred to Everton In The Community. Got the guts to take me up on it?

"What have the Romans ever done for us?"

"Roads?'

"Well, yeah but..."

"Sewers?"

"Well ,okay but..." etc.

I for one am glad to see the club doing what needs to be done to keep as many of its Belgians as is possible, since both happen to be better than the rest of the so-called strikers and forwards on the team. I find it odd that some of the posters citing his age and presumed decline in skills are the same who want to bring in a 31-year-old striker/forward who has clearly seen the best of his career and who would wreck the wage structure of the club. While Kev might not start for a top 4 club, neither would Rooney.

Play Super Kev in his normal spot and he will produce. Play him where he currently is with someone other than Ross "Black Hole" Barkley who can actually get him the ball and not run right into the same space Kev is headed towards, and he is a scoring threat.

A strong squad is going to be needed to try to win the domestic and Europa League competitions, and to do well in the Premier League. This just gets necessary business out of the way early and allows the club to focus on addressing needs rather than being hit suddenly with an unexpected hole in squad depth due to a club coming in for Super Kev over the summer.

I expect others will be signing extensions if they are deemed to be needed for the squad. Along this line and not to be unkind, but did someone really suggest Cleverley? Cleverley! Too much for me.

Did he expect a standing ovation for this 'exclusive, watch this space'?

Just how out of touch is he?

Nurse, where's my tablets...

Let's focus first on replacing the likes of Barry, Jagielka, Besic, McCarthy, Kone etc. Also we need a new right-back as Coleman won't play till 2018 and we can't have a stop-gap for half a season. Never mind another striker and creative midfielder.

I'm not sure what to recommend by way of medical intervention, but [dons tinfoil hat] I feel duty bound to let you know that Thomas Cleverley is still an Everton player.

Yes, he signed for Watford... but t'was only a loan deal. He's still ours; teary old Bill just can't let him go.

"The Hornets got their man on a permanent basis in March 2017, Cleverley putting pen to paper on a five-year-deal at Vicarage Road."

I'd add a suit of armour to that tinfoil hat if I were you.

Make the club look and feel small time, contract shit should be seen and not heard as my bellowing father would say.

This despite the weirdness of the announcement it is key to how we behave as a club doing our business. To date I thought it had been professional and low key.

Just hope this is not a foreshadowing of the summer to come, like a landed fish flopping hopelessly in a bucket.

Hibbert played his one game a season for the last five years; OAP Barry has a new deal; now Mirallas. This is a joke, the players mentioned are multi-millionaires already – we don't have to increase their wealth any more.

Would a top team like Spurs do this? Answer: No; that is why they are a top team, moving forward every season, while we are going backwards with a rubbish management structure that sanctions these deals!

Kenwright has been on the board since 1989, so for all but 2 of those years you mention so what's your point?

It's one thing to make a bad signing; it's another to keep giving him new contracts. Did anyone else find Kenwright's wording curious? "If someone wants to join us" – We can't force someone to join us against their will so why qualify his spending statement with that remark.

Unless blue smoke Bill is going to play the card "No point going after XYZ cause he said in a Belgian paper he wants a Champions League team. Joey Barton on the other hand is a true blue"

I'll try it 3 or 4 times again and then stroll off. "An enigma" someone said. "Shite and predictable" I say. Disappointing news, very disappointing. I was made up when he was agitating for a move under Bobby cos he's shite and I wanted him to go. Now he's staying... "Why?"

Cleverley's permanent deal with Watford was signed March 31. However, it does not take effect until July 1. So legally he is still under contract to Everton.

Doff the tinfoil. It's not a good look anyway.

Those complaining about this either have unrealistic expectations of Moshiri.. or are simply a bit daft.

Number-wise, one less worry for Koeman and more time to focus on building next season's squad. I would hope by now we'd have selected a few targets outside the obvious and often difficult Premier League market.

Let's go get ourselves a Dybala in Argentina, I say.

But as I've have been fond of reminding TW readers, next season we will ideally need close to two teams due to the Europa League spot we've (almost) achieved.

We have to stop thinking of every contract agreed, or offered, as being for the one player to fill that spot!

Ooh, I love this new era of thinking beyond only a first XI for any contract/purchase!

And as a sort of ps: Since Chelski became a thing, I've always hoped we'd find someone to "own" the club who would be financially able to incrementally, but unavoidably, bring us success on our own terms! Just to be able to say that we did it ourselves, and not by blindly throwing wads of money in all directions until we had all the mercenaries in our own camp!

But especially that by way of the youth we were developing, just like Man Utd did way back, we could make any progress a thing mostly of our own making!

That is, when it suits him. Why do we want a player who only turns up when he wants to? Bizarre.

Link

Mirallas after signing..

Link

Edit: Sorry about that, the word "wonderful" might be termed as positive... It should not be applied to Eugene without his specific agreement to it being confused with being identified as pertaining to being an Evertonian! Or whatever, clause pending, and so forth... ;P

I thought he was our only good performer against Swansea.

Mirallas can be as good as he thinks he is, on his day..., but he might need a good kick to his ass to shake him up enough to make him have a new reality-check!

As has been said above, sometimes it's his day and sometimes it isn't, but to me that's a function of confidence, rather than effort. When he comes out and gets immediately into the attack, he generally has a very good game. But if he's not involved early, he rarely comes in later.

Seems we missed that one back in March... and TransferMarkt still list him as an Everton player on loan at Watford. His contract ran through 2020... so what was the transfer fee? They list a value of €8M. Or did Uncle Bill just give him away?

Okay, I see now Sky reported it... undisclosed fee. Wouldn't ya just know it.

It might not even be set yet. One story reported that the transfer option was triggered by Tom's number of appearances. Maybe the transfer fee is linked to that as well.

It's a pity Mino Raiola was not his agent – we may have gotten £30 million for him!

If it is true this guy made £43 million odd from the Pogba transfer, it is disgusting.

I wonder can FIFA actually do anything other than issue a statement of concern?

Mirallas is a known commodity to Koeman given his years of playing top flight football. Koeman surely has seen what he has to offer. On the other hand, he has not seen what Calvert-Lewin has to offer over a stretch of games.

With nothing left to play for (6th versus 7th) doesn't it make sense to give others a run out to see if they need to be loaned out, sold, or added to the squad for next season?

Mirallas not playing has nothing to do with Koeman's opinion of him but a lot to do with his forming an opinion about others.

Something both Mirallas and Lukaku do that makes me wonder if it is a Belgian 'thing.'

They both appear to believe they can defy the laws of physics and push matter through matter, simply by using... the power of wishful thinking.

Their 'thought' process seems to be..

"I'm running wide with the ball...I will cut inside..I have cut inside...I won't look up..I will shoot..but there is someone standing in front of me...I can't get a shot past him he's a dead big centre-half...his feet are together..there's no way I can get the ball past him and into the net...but wait! The power of wishful thinking...I'll try putting the ball through him!"

Shoots, hits leg of defender standing six inches away, ball understands the laws of physics so bounces off defender away from goal. 'Attack' comes to nothing, player reacts as though he's just missed a golden chance (three better placed players curse, sigh, point to where ball should have been passed).

Oh and I am presented with a signed shirt for uttering my 1 billionth 'For fuck's sake Everton!!' since my first visit to Goodison in 1966 (wasn't that hard, remember I saw Joe Harper, Bernie Wright and Tiger McLaughlin).

Tony Bellew in an elf costume visiting the strikers of the other "top 10"? That might work...... :P

Yes, Kenwright was on the Board from 1989 but he was not leading on transfers until December 1999. So I would not give him credit for signing any of the team which won the FA Cup in 1995 or blame him for signing the likes of Brett Angell and many other duds in that decade.

Kieran (#112),

I don't think Mirallas can be described as a bad player. As regards Kenwright's remark 'if a player wants to join us' he also added something along the lines of 'and Ronald and Steve Walsh want the player, I can guarantee we will get him'. My interpretation of that was that money will not be the obstacle it has been in the past.

I live in Watford and the locals here say Cleverley's transfer was triggered by the number of appearances, so that was why he could sign outside of the transfer window. But of course he can't, so that's why it will take effect in July. I didn't know that, so apologies Michael.

The locals also say the fee was ٦ million, cheap at half the price you might say... nah, maybe not.

Surely you can't be correct since between them Rom has scored 164 times in his senior career thus far and Kev 99 times per the stats.

I'll take 263 goals from these two players and ask for three more Belgians to join them at the club. Can you imagine it? The total number of blocked and deflected kicks and goals would be astounding!

If the idea is to use him solely as a squad player, then why not make it a 2-year contract? His performances have never won me over, although I did enjoy his revenge mission against the red shite and the toothy one in particular!!

I know its the Mail, but didn't realise they operate in a parallel universe, too.

I hope that's Kenwright's intent and on face value it is. But I've been hoodwinked by him many times so for me I guess seeing is believing.

That's an interesting idea and I too would like to see that. Not £1,000/wk though, maybe £3,000. And make every goal £1m. Lukaku would have earnt £24m in the current season.

How much would he get if he signs a new contract with £200k/wk? About £10m plus goal bonus.

In return, he'd have to sleep in a cardboard box (if he was lucky), get up before he went to bed, and train on the local tip with a tennis ball (after which, playing with a football on Goodison's hallowed turf would be easy).

Oh just fucking brilliant.

Well! that's me having nightmares tonight .

Mirallas has been in and out of the team all season really and has been subbed a lot. I feel sure Koeman doesn't rate him.

He's got 30 goals for us in 144 appearances (Premier League) and 4 in 33 this season. None since WBA, 11th March. Not good enough.

I have no idea why Koeman uses Calvert-Lewin or Lookman over him; it's silly, and has lost us more than three points.

Sure, he's been inconsistent, but if we dropped every player who was inconsistent we'd have a pretty small squad.

While we're at it, can we keep Deulofeu?

Why would any supporter want to support a player who doesn't want to play for the club? If he wanted to stay, he would have signed at least a month ago. So he clearly doesn't have the love for the club he once might have had.

Just because he came through the ranks means very little these days. A blue is just a blue in some players' eyes until they see red or white or a different shade of blue i.e Manchester red or Tottenham white or Chelsea blue or Manchester City blue – suddenly the Everton blue is not so true anymore.

Barkley won't be happy to stay as competition is arriving and he will be dropped if he doesn't produce more often than not. He is going to be happy winning a medal but being on the bench of another club – get rid and move on.

Assuming Koeman saw this coming, I would've thought it might have been an idea to actually give him a run as a starter, like say 5 or 6 consecutive games, particularly considering our lack of options... but nope. So it's still unclear how useful he is. Baffling.

To those suggesting this is Everton protecting our investment etc like Gibson (???) that makes zero sense. He's 29 now with 1 year left. If we want to sell him then right now is the perfect chance to raise a decent fee. Extending his contract does nothing.

Ditto with Gibson. We offered him a new deal, presumably a signing bonus of at least a couple hundred grand, paid him to sit on his arse for 6 months (at presumably a minimum c £20k pw) then offloaded him to Sunderland. What'd we get for him? I'd be amazed if they paid over ٟm so all that effort earned us what? £500k at best. Utter waste of time.