I got a bit of stick - some light-hearted, some not - on Twitter earlier this evening when I suggested people should be a bit guarded about the club's announcement re: Vicente and the contract extension.
I've spoken to a few people (they are impeccable sources - you can choose to believe it or not - regardless I'm not naming them) this evening who do know what is going on, and it would be rude not to share.
1. The contract extension option was always there as many knew.
2. The Albion have been attempting to negotiate a brand new deal with Vicente which would have been announced with great fanfare.
3. Things were going very well.
4. Things seem to have taken a turn for the worse. There may be third parties involved, in the form of other clubs, or Vicente's advisors could be attempting to maximise the return for their client.
5. The Albion have invested a significant amount of time, and not a small amount of money, in Vicente. He was on the scrap heap last Summer with very little interest in his services. In January there was no interest in his services. Since then, the club's medical and coaching staff have turned him around, as we all saw and took great delight in. As such, to let Vicente just walk out to another club would be, in short, madness.
6. The club have taken the contract extension to protect the Albion's interests. It is hoped that a deal can be done with Vicente, and we all get to enjoy him next season. But, if he chooses not to return, the club will get some decent compensation for all the work put in.
The club are in a win-win position here - we either get Vicente or we get a fee and a wages saving that can be spent elsewhere. There are some very exciting names on Poyet's shopping list so if we don't have Vicente any more, you can be certain we'll have some equally mouth-watering players in the stripes next season.
What happens next? Vicente has been told to report for training next week, so we'll start to get an idea on the next chapter of this tale on Monday morning.
I've spoken to a few people (they are impeccable sources - you can choose to believe it or not - regardless I'm not naming them) this evening who do know what is going on, and it would be rude not to share.
1. The contract extension option was always there as many knew.
2. The Albion have been attempting to negotiate a brand new deal with Vicente which would have been announced with great fanfare.
3. Things were going very well.
4. Things seem to have taken a turn for the worse. There may be third parties involved, in the form of other clubs, or Vicente's advisors could be attempting to maximise the return for their client.
5. The Albion have invested a significant amount of time, and not a small amount of money, in Vicente. He was on the scrap heap last Summer with very little interest in his services. In January there was no interest in his services. Since then, the club's medical and coaching staff have turned him around, as we all saw and took great delight in. As such, to let Vicente just walk out to another club would be, in short, madness.
6. The club have taken the contract extension to protect the Albion's interests. It is hoped that a deal can be done with Vicente, and we all get to enjoy him next season. But, if he chooses not to return, the club will get some decent compensation for all the work put in.
The club are in a win-win position here - we either get Vicente or we get a fee and a wages saving that can be spent elsewhere. There are some very exciting names on Poyet's shopping list so if we don't have Vicente any more, you can be certain we'll have some equally mouth-watering players in the stripes next season.
What happens next? Vicente has been told to report for training next week, so we'll start to get an idea on the next chapter of this tale on Monday morning.
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