Ugo U-turn surely points to Villa exit?

14 August 2000

Following hot on the heels of the news regarding Albion doing a deal with Villa over the 50% sell-on clause, a new joker enters the pack. Ugo Ehiogu has asked to be taken off the transfer list at Villa, saying that he'd like to see out the remainder of his contract there after all. His agent has told the world that the clubs interested in him have said they'll be just as interested in two years time when he's available under a Bosman.

Now I find this rather hard to believe. Ugo is certainly out of favour with Villa, their fans and their manager, and on the basis of past events there is more than likely to be spending the next two years stuck in the reserves. Two years from now, will the same clubs still be interested in a player two years older with limited first team action, almost certainly no International action - even if they are still looking for a centre half? No, it seems unlikely, doesn't it...

Consider this, though. Villa were refusing to sell Ehiogu because of the sell-on clause with Albion, which meant that by the time they'd given Albion their share and spent time and money finding a replacement, the sale simply wouldn't make sense. That, and the fact that they simply didn't WANT to give Albion a share of the money. Meanwhile, clubs take an interest in Ehiogu, proving to Villa that they could get £8 million for him if they wanted it.

Realising that the sell-on clause is stopping him leaving, Albion come to an agreement with Villa - which presumably Villa must be happy with, otherwise there would be no point in them agreeing to it. The clubs who were bidding for Ehiogu don't care about the deal, because it makes no difference to them - however, the fact that Villa have made the deal with Albion is a clear statement that they ARE prepared to sell him; in fact, that they WANT to sell him rather than lose him for nothing.

Ehiogu and his agents hear about the settlement and realise the same thing - that there's a strong chance that Villa will now accept an offer for him rather than letting his contract expire - hence denying him a juicy signing-on fee elsewhere. So what do they do? Quick as a flash, before Villa have time to accept an offer, they ask for him to be taken off the transfer list - which means that Ehiogu is now being sold at the Club's request, not his own, and will therefore be entitled to 10% of the transfer fee (which means at least £800,000). Presumably, they hope that the sale now has enough momentum to happen anyway despite the change in Villa's revenue - or at least that it might just push the price up by an affordable amount.

Cynical - or possible...?

Previous Stories:

  13 August 2000:  The Details...

  13 August 2000:  Villa settlement paves the way for Ehiogu exit

  10 August 2000:  McInnes signs up for Albion

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