We may sell Henderson - Sir Niall

AshbrookeLad · 9th December 2010, 11:07 PM

We may sell Henderson admits Quinn
Published 23:00 09/12/10 By Simon Bird

Niall Quinn has told England's Champions League clubs he will fight to keep Jordan Henderson at Sunderland – but has warned supporters it is a battle he may lose.

The young England midfielder is being monitored by a host of top clubs, including the two Manchester giants and Chelsea.

Quinn has a dream of seeing Henderson play a European game for Sunderland one day, but knows that a major offer for him could come in as early as January.

Sunderland lost out on a fortune a few years back when they turned down £16m for striker Kevin Phillips... and ended up selling him for a mere £1.5m a few months later after they were relegated.

“When Jordan was being linked with a few clubs, his father rang me and told me: 'This is nothing to do with us, Jordan just wants to play for Sunderland' and I had to tell him, of all the players at this club, Jordan really is the last one I am worried about," said Quinn. "I know Jordan just wants to play for Sunderland Football Club and he loves doing so.

“It’s not like we have a boy who was, say, a Manchester United supporter all his life and wants to play there one day.

“For me the big ambition would be to see Jordan leading us into a big European match, whenever that is, I don’t know. That would be the ultimate aim. But circumstances sometimes dictate that you have to do things another way and I have to be totally open and honest with people here and say that.

"If a ridiculous offer does come in for Jordan, or any of our players, I have to weigh up losing the player against the money we would get, and how we can spend it. It is a tough one.

“I am always mindful of the fact Bob Murray was offered £16m for Kevin Phillips - we have the letters - and he held on to him, were relegated and sold him 15 months later for £1.5m. That £16m would have meant the club stayed in the Premier League that year.

"But it’s a tough call and we have to be strong. I don’t want Jordan to go, but I am giving an example of the dilemmas you can face.

“That is why we must be open. The game has changed, it is not like the old days when you could say: 'This player is not going anywhere!' There are a lot of factors at play and I am not going to try fool anybody and come out with all this talk that Jordan will stay here for ever.

"It is impossible to say that.”

PTR · 9th December 2010, 11:11 PM

Suppose its quite simple, when the bid becomes so big that we think we can do better with the money than with the playey, the we accept.

That's the case with all players.

We could do with the new training facility, for one thing!

ayesane · 9th December 2010, 11:12 PM

hmmmm, oh well. That stinks of 'we've had some talk of an offer we deem too good'. Probably with United, they need some new energy in midfield.

I guess we need another midfielder in January. Gutted, i really wanted the lad to spend his whole career here, he's going to be some player at his peak.

Rawshack · 9th December 2010, 11:13 PM

Basically, if an offer we can't refuse comes in, we won't refuse it.

Ned Doig · 9th December 2010, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AshbrookeLad

We may sell Henderson admits Quinn
Published 23:00 09/12/10 By Simon Bird

Niall Quinn has told England's Champions League clubs he will fight to keep Jordan Henderson at Sunderland – but has warned supporters it is a battle he may lose.

The young England midfielder is being monitored by a host of top clubs, including the two Manchester giants and Chelsea.

Quinn has a dream of seeing Henderson play a European game for Sunderland one day, but knows that a major offer for him could come in as early as January.

Sunderland lost out on a fortune a few years back when they turned down £16m for striker Kevin Phillips... and ended up selling him for a mere £1.5m a few months later after they were relegated.

“When Jordan was being linked with a few clubs, his father rang me and told me: 'This is nothing to do with us, Jordan just wants to play for Sunderland' and I had to tell him, of all the players at this club, Jordan really is the last one I am worried about," said Quinn. "I know Jordan just wants to play for Sunderland Football Club and he loves doing so.

“It’s not like we have a boy who was, say, a Manchester United supporter all his life and wants to play there one day.

“For me the big ambition would be to see Jordan leading us into a big European match, whenever that is, I don’t know. That would be the ultimate aim. But circumstances sometimes dictate that you have to do things another way and I have to be totally open and honest with people here and say that.

"If a ridiculous offer does come in for Jordan, or any of our players, I have to weigh up losing the player against the money we would get, and how we can spend it. It is a tough one.

“I am always mindful of the fact Bob Murray was offered £16m for Kevin Phillips - we have the letters - and he held on to him, were relegated and sold him 15 months later for £1.5m. That £16m would have meant the club stayed in the Premier League that year.

"But it’s a tough call and we have to be strong. I don’t want Jordan to go, but I am giving an example of the dilemmas you can face.

“That is why we must be open. The game has changed, it is not like the old days when you could say: 'This player is not going anywhere!' There are a lot of factors at play and I am not going to try fool anybody and come out with all this talk that Jordan will stay here for ever.

"It is impossible to say that.”

Our chairman is both articulate and competant. We're lucky to have him.

NickLad · 9th December 2010, 11:14 PM

Who offered us 16 for Phillips like?

Have to say, money can be good for a club, but I don't think we absolutely need to generate it- i believe we have it. Is it worth trading good players alrerady at the club, good in the team etc.., for money? It has to be a spectacular price. I wouldn't swap seeing players play well in our team every game for money- if it could be helped of course.

Gaz · 9th December 2010, 11:15 PM

I'm sure all of our players are for sale at the right price, doesn't mean to say someone will match what we want for them.

AshbrookeLad · 9th December 2010, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NickLad

Who offered us 16 for Phillips like?

Villa I think.

Cointreau Drinker · 9th December 2010, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NickLad

Who offered us 16 for Phillips like?

Villa

Iceman · 9th December 2010, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NickLad

Who offered us 16 for Phillips like?

Have to say, money can be good for a club, but I don't think we absolutely need to generate it- i believe we have it. Is it worth trading good players alrerady at the club, good in the team etc.., for money? It has to be a spectacular price. I wouldn't swap seeing players play well in our team every game for money- if it could be helped of course.

Aston Villa