richards30 said:
tolmie's hairdoo said:
A real sense City have played this just perfectly.
The fact Hazard's agent was forced to speak out yesterday and defend his client, insist interested clubs would not be asked for further monies, should tell us something.
In the space of a weekend in which Chelsea were taking part in a Champions League final, the subsequent celebrations, Hazard camp how somehow brokered in less than 18 hours what the likes of City and United have been working towards for three months.
An impossible feat. It would appear Chelsea are not at the table and the agent has backed both himself and his client into a corner.
He also knows that United won't and can't pay the ridiculous agent fees, so finally, it comes down to the boy.
Hazard has a lot of pressure on his shoulders at the mo, he should be cut some slack.
My only fear is the monetary compromise the camp are having to make allows United an opportunity to get him by default.
Especially if the agent wants to get back at City for calling his bluff, we don't know what the boy has been told.
but can utd afford the deal tolm?? surely we wont let them nip in?
What they can afford, and what they need to do, are two very different things, mate.
United could not afford to hand Rooney a new £250,000 a week deal, making him the highest paid footballer in Britain, but they did it, had no option.
I believe Ferguson was advanced monies last summer, and was also penny-pinching to try and get Sanchez at £25m.
I do believe the failures this season in the league and Champions League will be considerations.
However, having got rid of Owen, trying to sell Berbatov, they have slight wiggle room in the wage structure, but not much.
Getting Hazard ahead of City is just the impetus they need and will paper over the cracks. Ferguson is arrogant enough to believe his current team don't need overhauling.
I remain confident we are still in the box seat, but I can't get rid of this nagging feeling Hazard will personally bottle it and choose a lesser deal/pressure of United.
He knows he has been leaving for England for months, yet his agent says his client still needs another fortnight to make up his mind.
If Hazard still has a dilemma, maybe City are right to play it cool.