Transfer News, Gossip & Speculation Transfer Rumours Etc part 2.....2024/25

[Chrisb]

No announcement of any newbies which is disappointing probably we might see them come Tuesday

There is still time today, you never know !

 

[Colchester and proud!]

SOUTHEND United boss Kevin Maher is still trying to add to his Shrimpers squad.


Blues remain in talks with Colchester United striker Tom Hopper plus a defender over a loan deal from a League Two side.
At least two other targets have also been identified and work is being done on the deals.

“We’re trying and we’d like to do so business,” said Maher.

“Whether that happens before the weekend I don’t know but there are things ongoing.

“Fingers crossed we can but it’s not always as easy as you want it to be, especially the later it gets in January as well.”

Blues head to Dagenham & Redbridge this weekend looking to bounce back from Saturday’s 3-0 defeat to Barnet.

And Maher is determined to get back to winning ways despite not regarding the contest as much of a local derby.

“I don’t think it’s huge in terms of a derby game but we want to win the game,” said Maher.

“We want points on the board but whoever we were playing this weekend that would be the case.

“It’s been a really positive week but now we want the three points and that’s the main message for us.”

Sounds like it is a money issue, Tom clearly wants to come to you but is not prepared to drop his wage demands too much or contract length required. He knows other clubs are interested and if not he can wait until the summer and still play for us on his current deal. If the defender on loan is the one we think it might be he will also be on a decent salary so maybe the two clubs can’t agree on the percentage of his wages to be paid as part of the loan deal. All guess work of course but it must be unsettling for everyone at present.

 

[Paulie Walnuts]

Sounds like it is a money issue, Tom clearly wants to come to you but is not prepared to drop his wage demands too much or contract length required. He knows other clubs are interested and if not he can wait until the summer and still play for us on his current deal. If the defender on loan is the one we think it might be he will also be on a decent salary so maybe the two clubs can’t agree on the percentage of his wages to be paid as part of the loan deal. All guess work of course but it must be unsettling for everyone at present.

Then stick him on a decent goal bonus and see where he is really at in terms of playing regular football to a decent standard.

 

[Colchester and proud!]

Then stick him on a decent goal bonus and see where he is really at in terms of playing regular football to a decent standard.

The thing is he can only score goals if others provide the chances for him, he might take a goal bonus as another incentive but he won’t if he can match his basic salary elsewhere, if he got injured the goal bonus would be £0!

 

[Holy Joe]

Sounds like it is a money issue, Tom clearly wants to come to you but is not prepared to drop his wage demands too much or contract length required. He knows other clubs are interested and if not he can wait until the summer and still play for us on his current deal. If the defender on loan is the one we think it might be he will also be on a decent salary so maybe the two clubs can’t agree on the percentage of his wages to be paid as part of the loan deal. All guess work of course but it must be unsettling for everyone at present.

Understanding if he has other offers - but it's gone from done deal to maybe not - has someone moved the goal posts?

 

[Blues4LifeDan]

I have to say, I too would be disappointed if this transfer doesn't come off after it being reported in the Echo and it being voiced all week.

 

[Medway Blue]

Sounds like it is a money issue, Tom clearly wants to come to you but is not prepared to drop his wage demands too much or contract length required. He knows other clubs are interested and if not he can wait until the summer and still play for us on his current deal. If the defender on loan is the one we think it might be he will also be on a decent salary so maybe the two clubs can’t agree on the percentage of his wages to be paid as part of the loan deal. All guess work of course but it must be unsettling for everyone at present.

If true, then this is kinda what I was talking about yesterday with it being a difficult balancing act.

I like the idea of Hopper coming in, and I think he has the potential to make a difference.

Might have a situation, though, where he wants something permanent and/or some security beyond the end of the season (perfectly reasonable), but SUFC only really regard him as a temporary solution until the end of the season (at worst), or have other striker targets that they covet more and think they could get in the summer.

If they are being careful not to muck up next season's budget, then they may feel that caving into any demands from Hopper for a contract beyond the end of this season might be risky, and perhaps even a dealbreaker.

I don't know the exact current state of play with negotiations, but that's a possibility.

Then stick him on a decent goal bonus and see where he is really at in terms of playing regular football to a decent standard.

Understand the thinking behind this, but I'm not sure why any working person with a young family and a mortgage would accept this, especially when he's been playing regular football on a decent regular wage a level above.

 

[kentblues]

Understanding if he has other offers - but it's gone from done deal to maybe not - has someone moved the goal posts?

It’s truly painful isn’t it. We stagger, at a funereal pace, through the tumbleweed, ever able to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, in the pursuit of that elusive “value” that has long been extinct in the world of football…

 

[Boreham Blue]

If he does sign today it suggests he hasn’t trained with us so unlikely to start

 

[Morty01]

I thought he had already signed

 

[Colblue]

I thought he had already signed

I think some of your posters said he had, but if it’s anything like our board, 99% of those who say they know what’s going on, don’t

 

[Colchester and proud!]

If true, then this is kinda what I was talking about yesterday with it being a difficult balancing act.

I like the idea of Hopper coming in, and I think he has the potential to make a difference.

Might have a situation, though, where he wants something permanent and/or some security beyond the end of the season (perfectly reasonable), but SUFC only really regard him as a temporary solution until the end of the season (at worst), or have other striker targets that they covet more and think they could get in the summer.

If they are being careful not to muck up next season's budget, then they may feel that caving into any demands from Hopper for a contract beyond the end of this season might be risky, and perhaps even a dealbreaker.

I don't know the exact current state of play with negotiations, but that's a possibility.


Understand the thinking behind this, but I'm not sure why any working person with a young family and a mortgage would accept this, especially when he's been playing regular football on a decent regular wage a level above.

Yes it is difficult, if Southend just see him as a stop gap solution Tom will stay with us until the summer and wait to see what crops up, or maybe there are other deals out there as Danny Cowley hinted at yesterday. He probably prefers Southend because he is local to the area and knows the club well, but if push comes to shove he may well check offers further from home. No doubt his agent is pushing all the buttons, lets hope Tom makes the right decision for him and his family.

 

[Tampa Blue]

If they are being careful not to muck up next season's budget, then they may feel that caving into any demands from Hopper for a contract beyond the end of this season might be risky, and perhaps even a dealbreaker.

A very valid comment again from you which makes sense, however, I hope COSU are willing to further subsidise next seasons budget as based on the poor performances and tactics this season I would be absolutely amazed if Season Ticket renewals are anywhere near this seasons which were buoyed by a wave of euphoria and optimism.

Sadly a well used phrase in football is that you're as good as your last game - well I know what that makes us sadly

 

[Colchester and proud!]

I think some of your posters said he had, but if it’s anything like our board, 99% of those who say they know what’s going on, don’t

Make that about 95%

 

[meerkat54]

If Tom is on Sainsbury wages, I think the gulf may be too big .
We probably are only offering a Poundland deal to Tom.
If the club can’t get this deal sorted, what are the chances of getting anyone come summer.

 

[kentblues]

If true, then this is kinda what I was talking about yesterday with it being a difficult balancing act.

I like the idea of Hopper coming in, and I think he has the potential to make a difference.

Might have a situation, though, where he wants something permanent and/or some security beyond the end of the season (perfectly reasonable), but SUFC only really regard him as a temporary solution until the end of the season (at worst), or have other striker targets that they covet more and think they could get in the summer.

If they are being careful not to muck up next season's budget, then they may feel that caving into any demands from Hopper for a contract beyond the end of this season might be risky, and perhaps even a dealbreaker.

I don't know the exact current state of play with negotiations, but that's a possibility.


Understand the thinking behind this, but I'm not sure why any working person with a young family and a mortgage would accept this, especially when he's been playing regular football on a decent regular wage a level above.

Hopper is 31 not 41 so I would be amazed if there was any fantasy that he would just want a 6 month contract. He has that already and no doubt we won’t be matching his existing wage either. Naturally if we expect him to lower his wage he will trade that for an element of security in terms of contract length. We may have found ourselves in Waitrose mistaking it for Poundland..

 

[Colchester and proud!]

If Tom is on Sainsbury wages, I think the gulf may be too big .
We probably are only offering a Poundland deal to Tom.
If the club can’t get this deal sorted, what are the chances of getting anyone come summer.

He is on a Waitrose deal, free coffee every day!

 

[Colchester and proud!]

Hopper is 31 not 41 so I would be amazed if there was any fantasy that he would just want a 6 month contract. He has that already and no doubt we won’t be matching his existing wage either. Naturally if we expect him to lower his wage he will trade that for an element of security in terms of contract length. We may have found ourselves in Waitrose mistaking it for Poundland..

My guess is Tom probably wants a 2 and a half year deal, that would see him through to 33 and then he can go from there with his decision. There are plenty of strikers doing well at 34/35 in the EFL currently so he still has time on his side, he is a very fit and strong lad, who will give it all for the club.

 

[kentblues]

If Tom is on Sainsbury wages, I think the gulf may be too big .
We probably are only offering a Poundland deal to Tom.
If the club can’t get this deal sorted, what are the chances of getting anyone come summer.

I know the farcical state of our transfer dealings may have prompted a desperation to be seen to be active. By why let this run so far when sure early on we would have tested salary expectations- anyone worth their salt would have thought hold on before we go further, what’s he expecting?

I therefore suspect other clubs have been alerted locally and are maybe offering more? For example (and I don’t know this) if Braintree were suddenly in offering more then Tom/his agent are going to say come on guys- you can’t match Braintree now? Really?

I suspect either it’s done or something has changed?

 

[Paulie Walnuts]

If true, then this is kinda what I was talking about yesterday with it being a difficult balancing act.

I like the idea of Hopper coming in, and I think he has the potential to make a difference.

Might have a situation, though, where he wants something permanent and/or some security beyond the end of the season (perfectly reasonable), but SUFC only really regard him as a temporary solution until the end of the season (at worst), or have other striker targets that they covet more and think they could get in the summer.

If they are being careful not to muck up next season's budget, then they may feel that caving into any demands from Hopper for a contract beyond the end of this season might be risky, and perhaps even a dealbreaker.

I don't know the exact current state of play with negotiations, but that's a possibility.


Understand the thinking behind this, but I'm not sure why any working person with a young family and a mortgage would accept this, especially when he's been playing regular football on a decent regular wage a level above.

So you are telling me a striker, who is paid to Score goals wouldn't accept a bonus on top of his wages to do what he is paid for which would mean a nice few quid if he does his job well?.

It is no different from sales people in the real world who are paid a bonus for doing what they are paid to do which is "sell".