I put this lads name into YouTube earlier and it started showing me some nice enough finishes, though some of the games seemed to be down the park from what I could tell.

By definition a signing like this is a gamble. Sorloth and Jach didn't pay off, and so we are already chasing losses on this particular market (by which I mean the young, foreign, never heard of him market).

Was having a discussion on another thread this week about how the 'hope value' of any young player is such a distorting influence on price. Does this kid cost £15m because he's actually worth £15m as a player right now, or because his value may, one day, end up anywhere between £0m and £40m, and so somehow that equates to £15m today?

If he stayed in Russia and got no better or worse for the next three years would he be worth more, or less than £15m? Probably less, as the hope value would have reduced? If he came to England and did OK (9 or 10 league goals a year for two or three years) would he be worth more or less than £15m? Probably about the same? How well would he have to do to be worth significantly more than the purchase cost? Dunno. It's an imperfect science and no mistake.

We do of course need a forward to chip in, even if he's not 1st choice every week. If it was as simple as that then note Burnley picked up Jay Rodriguez, who has a proven 1 goal every 3 games record in the top two divisions, for £5m now and £5m next year, which sort of puts the whole 'hope value / potential sell on incentive' of this Russian kid into some sort of perspective. Perhaps?

Needless to say, if we get him then I'll spend the next 10 days believing him to be the new Shevchenko until proved otherwise!

Edited by TheBigToePunt (31 Jul 2019 3.04pm)

What I'd say to this is that we need to remember what size of a club we are and what we can financially afford.

Many clubs over the years have taken a 'gamble' on players and it's proven to pay off. Depends on whether or not your glass if half empty or half full at the moment in relation to this guy.

I suppose some random examples (the first ones coming to my mind) are that Villa took a gamble on Benteke way back when and that worked out well for them. Man Utd took a gamble of Solskjaer as a player and he worked out well for them. Leicester City took a punt on Jamie Vardy although they weren't in the Premier League when they signed him, he was still a lower league striker but paid a lot of money for him.

These things can work out and we need to remember that he's only young and can develop.

There has been no further talk today so it's probably all just a rumour anyway!

Agree with most of the above posts, think it is very hard for players to be judged on youtube videos alone, and thats where people in the buisness do have an advantage as knowing people who know the players, their personalities etc counts for a lot. It's that judgement on `how much will this player improve?`. Will he wilt or flourish in a tougher league, in a new country, away from home etc.

Chalov has been at his current club since he was 8 years old. There are pros and cons to that.

The reality is any signing is a risk and whoever pays the bills (also where its easy as fans to say buy x, y and z....it's easier spending other people money than your own) is the one who has to make the call as to if the risk is worth the reward but have to consider it might not be. Yes some deals work out really well. Say Deli Ali to Spurs for just 4 million. He was in plain sight of everyone in English football and he flourished. And flip side remember Fernando Torres. Banged them in for Liverpool big money move to Chelsea, same country, same league...couldn't hit a barn door.

So Chalov could be a diamond ready to step up anf flourish or could flop. Question is, could we stomach him being a 14 mill Sorloth?

Edited by Mwncisee (31 Jul 2019 3.46pm)

Apparently bid rejected they now want £30 million

Apparently bid rejected they now want £30 million