We were told that Jayden Philogene would not wait around and make a decision quickly on his future. That was more than a week ago, yet still, this football saga continues to drag on. If I were Ipswich Town, I would say enough is enough and move on because we are now around a month away from our new season back in the top flight of English football, and we cannot afford to wait and watch the paint dry.
In the modern era, transfer negotiations take time because you must appease the player involved and his agent, who wants a big chunk of the football cake! Jaden Philogene’s agent, Berto Camacho, was kicked out of Barcelona’s training ground after showing up unannounced and posing for photos. He had heard a rumour that the Spanish giants were interested in taking Philogene on loan with a view to a permanent deal, so he thought he should just jet out there and test the water. After he took a few photos of Barca players, he was asked to leave by the security staff.
And this begs the question, what on earth is the game coming to when agents dictate the passage of travel? When I grew up as a kid watching football, agents did not exist – or if they did, they played a very private role in all things football. These days agents are the scourge of the modern game, and by nature, they are narcissistic because they often think about themselves first and the player second when it comes to transfer fees and how much they can earn in the process. They are the modern-day mafioso of the football fraternity, and clubs are held at gunpoint by these despicable thugs.
Ipswich are close to signing Hull City defender Jacob Greaves, and this should have been part of a double-swoop involving Jayden Philogene but this 35 million pound deal is still on hold as Philogene deliberates over whether he should join the Suffolk club or instead go back to Villa, who have triggered their buy-back clause, or Everton who have money to spend again. In the meantime, Town are close to getting the Liam Delap deal over the line, as well, for a fee in the region of 15 million, and Town should start to look elsewhere if Philopgene deliberates further. Time is now of the essence.
Give him a deadline. This helps to focus the mind.
Exactly Mark say you have 24 hours to say yes or no to our 5-year offer and regular first-team game time, we have Greaves and Delap just waiting for your ok and a medical then we can move forward, we have got others lined up
Correct Mike. We do have others lined-up who would not be as disruptive as this guy. That said, it is his dodgy agent who is pulling the pursestrings.
That is how to do it Mark. We have approached this the wrong way.
The actions of the agents are often ridiculous shit, they think about the thickness of their own account bag instead of thinking about what is best for the player.
So very true Cherrypicker.
I agree, I think the length of time he has taken to make up his mind indicates what his main consideration is. To me this weakens considerably his ambition to join the town and therefore he could be a disruptive influence in what is a well settled dressing room. I would give him a deadline and then move on. I trust Mr Ashton and Mr McKenna’s knowledge of what is happening and have no doubt they will deal with it as appropriate for the benefit of the team. I’m sure they will have a plan ‘B’ but we mustn’t allow agents to govern the clubs very important pre season programme. His loss not ours if he does not come.
Agreed Chunky. I think he would not have fitted in because of his attitude so all’s well that ends well.