Will He, Won't He?
Date: 21/1/2004
Some mystery still surrounds the future of the Charlton international midfielder, Scott Parker. After Charlton apparently turned down an improved bid from Chelsea, rumoured to be in the region of £7.5million cash plus an extra £1,5 million in appearances, it has been suggested that the deal is dead. Charlton insist that the fee, rumoured to be £7.5million plus an additional £1,5 million in instalments based on appearances, is nowhere near sufficient to entice Charlton to sell probably their most influential player. Indeed, in a thinly veiled jest Charlton insist that the improved offer, containing the appearance clauses, is a definite non-starter due to two reasons.
Firstly, they jest that with Ranieri employing a rotation policy there is no guarantee when the appearance figure, that generates additional money, will ever be reached. Clearly Charlton don't, therefore, have much faith in their player - if he is as good as they claim (and they suggest that he is the best young midfield player in the country), he would have no problem reaching the 90 appearances necessary to trigger the full payment of the appearance fees. Secondly, a spokesperson indicated that budgeting for this additional payment would be nigh on impossible. Whilst in one breath suggesting that the deal is dead, there is the general feeling that Charlton might be enticed with an improved cash offer. Charlton state that they consider that this matter is closed - basing this on the fact that Chelsea are alleged to have stated that their latest offer was their final one. It would, however, be very naive to believe that Chelsea's statement (if indeed they did make it) was anything other than a negotiating strategy to try to force acceptance of the latest offer. If Chelsea are keen on Parker (formulating 3 bids since the summer would certainly suggest that), it is highly unlikely that they will let something as inconsequential (to Chelsea) as money become an obstacle. We fully expect a further bid to test Charlton's resolve. Before long.
Indeed, one particular tabloid suggests that Ranieri expects to clinch the signing of Scott Parker by the end of this week. The tabloid bases this theory on the case of Luis Saha, citing that Scott Parker may employ the same tactics to ensure he gets his prized move to Stamford Bridge. Strangely, the similarities between the two proposed moves are striking in some ways but not in others. Saha publicly stated that he wanted to go to Manchester United, Chris Coleman intimated that it would be over his dead body! Scott Parker has, we are informed, privately told friends that Chelsea would be his dream move. Alan Curbishley reacted by suggesting that he was not for sale.
In the Saha case, Manchester United made two high profile offers before apparently cooling on the idea of pursuing Saha further. Similarly, Chelsea are also rumoured to have made two high profile offers before supposedly declaring an end to the pursuit. Fulham placed a price tag on Saha that was supposed to frighten clubs off, much to the player's dismay. Charlton have just issued a hands-off warning rather than fixing a price at which negotiations might commence (although they have also suggested that even £15 million would not be sufficient).
United, knowing the player was keen to join them, refused to give up the chase and eventually got their man: he passed his medical yesterday. This chase occurred mainly behind the scenes. Whether Chelsea continue the pursuit behind the scenes remains to be seen. Certainly it should be pointed out that the only side that has been public in revealing Chelsea's bid was Charlton which, for reasons best known to them, splashed the story over their website. Are Charlton, in doing so, reassuring their fans that they are doing their utmost to hold onto him (before giving in)?
However, you can't help wondering just what effect all this is having on Scott Parker. When news of Chelsea's first offer broke, Curbishley reacted by removing him from the first team squad to play Everton. Curbishley suggested that the player's attitude wasn't correct and that he wasn't in a fit mental state to train or play with the South-East London club. Reading between the lines, this would more than suggest that Scott Parker wanted to join Chelsea, therefore continuing the similarities with the Saha saga.
It's well known that Scott Parker almost moved to Chelsea during the close season. Our sources suggest that Chelsea had secured an option on the player but after the injection of Roman's millions, didn't pursue it. Whether it is true that Scott Parker purchased a flash car based on this is not for us to comment on. However, over the past fortnight, it has certainly been frequently stated that Scott Parker had set his heart on coming to Chelsea
Quite how much he wants to join could, therefore, end up displaying the same parallels with Louis Saha as to a transfer's successful (for us!) conclusion. Parker himself has been very discreet about a possible switch. He is said, however, not to have handed in a transfer request to Charlton out of admirable loyalty to the club which has made him the player he is. If, however, he really wants to go to Chelsea, he might have to do just that. And to make it clear to Charlton that the danger they face is to have a disgruntled player on their books. In the end, that was what prompted Fulham to sell: Saha was making clear in public that he wanted to leave, and that he did not relish the prospect of staying at Fulham. So, if Parker wants to leave, he might have to make his current employers understand that.
With the transfer window having been open for almost three weeks, it isn't long until it is slammed shut again. With Ranieri suggesting that Lampard and Makelele need resting don't be too surprised if, behind the scenes, frantic negotiations are ongoing between the two clubs.
Scott Parker may still become a Chelsea player despite the statement by Charlton that, having rejected a second bid in the past fortnight, they consider the matter closed.
