Ah OK but the general point still stands

Say we can sell him for £5m now and £2m next summer then, including his wages that is a cost of £86K per week to keep Howson for this season. Is he worth that to the club? Could we not use that money more effectively? Might it not be quite sensible to accept 5M if that is the best deal on offer rather than 'idiotic' as you suggested?

Of course the same logic doesn't apply to all players. That is the point. Howson is a depreciating asset. Any given transaction is context specific and complex.

Posted By: Knitted Jesus, Jun 30, 15:04:45