Hughes: Coventry offer... confusion!

07 August 2001

Conflicting reports have emerged over the future of Albion striker Lee Hughes. The official Coventry City web site boasts:

"A fee has been agreed and the player is now in talks with Coventry and both sides are confident of reaching an agreement."

It goes on to say that the agreed fee is in excess of £5,000,000, which is in line with the exit clause in Lee Hughes' current contract and that Hughes is expected to have a medical this evening and seal the move.

However....

Albion themselves are playing down the reports - in fact, they claim to have rejected the offer. Today's media release states:

West Bromwich Albion Football Club announces that it has rejected an offer of £5,000,001 which it received today for Lee Hughes from Coventry City.

Chairman Paul Thompson said: "I believe Lee is worth more than £5,000,000 and therefore we have rejected the offer."

Lee Hughes' contract includes a clause which was agreed by the previous chairman of WBA which states, "The club is prepared to grant the player the opportunity of transfer providing that the offer received exceeds £5,000,000."

The Club has therefore discussed the position with Lee's advisors who have informed the Club that they would like to meet with Coventry City to see whether this is an opportunity that Lee might like to consider. WBA has therefore reluctantly agreed to those discussions taking place.

But can Albion do anything to stop Hughes leaving? An offer of £5,000,001 is, technically, in excess of 5 million and therefore it would seem that the Club are powerless to stop it from happening. The last legacy of Tony Hale...?

Early this evening, Chairman Paul Thompson spoke on local radio to confirm that Hughes was in talks, and that if he wanted to leave, the Club was powerless to stop him, despite him feeling that the £5 million bid was not enough. He would like to see a 15% sell-on clause as part of the deal with Coventry - although we don't seem to hava any chips to bargain with any more on this one.

If the move does go ahead, it will provide Albion with much-needed funds for strengthening in other areas of the team - particularly on the left side where long time target Aaron Brown will now be eminently affordable, and in the centre of defence where even longer term target Darren Moore should also be obtainable.

Rumours at the weekend regarding Dean Gordon do not appear to have come to anything - yet - but with over £4 million now perhaps becoming available in the transfer kitty, they may still turn out to be accurate. Albion's only problem now could be a lack of firepower with Roberts still out injured, and will mean more pressure heaped on the shoulders of new signing Scott Dobie.

Of course, there's always James Quinn...

Previous Stories:

04 August 2001: Dean Gordon heading for Albion?

04 August 2001: Defender on his way again

04 August 2001: Defender on trial

Hughes: Coventry offer... confusion!

07 August 2001

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