CombatClaret wrote:So If Pope knows he'll be number 1 and Heaton wants to leave, why drag it out for another season instead of getting cash now?
If it's inevitable as you make it seem then surely now is the best time to get it sorted as everyone gets what they want.
I'm just playing guesswork like everyone else. Pope signed a new long term deal, Heaton only offered 1 year extension - that to me infers (and it's my opinion) that the club see Pope as the long term keeper - whether that's from the start of this season or the next (or the one after that!) thats how I see it.
I was only saying that if Heaton is ultimately going to be replaced by Pope, then he can leave at the end of next season for free (again my opinion) if he wont sign a new contract - he wants 3 years, we wont give him that because the club have future planned for his replacement. I dont want to cash in on him either, I want him to stay longer, and keep the No 1 spot this season and maybe the next (if he'll sign the extension) - but we cannot predict his form or whether he'll get injured again and if Pope is the long term solution then that's what the club will want to ensure is in place, as they have done.
Selling him would not be good - he is the current No 1, and to sell him to a rival would be daft.
The extension the club have offered is where they see him being transitioned into the No 2 spot as far as I can see. So do we offer 3 years at £50k+/week when we are planning for him to be dropping to No 2? or do we see out his contract and let him go for free? or do we sell now because we want the cash and dont want a "disruptive" player who wanted a better deal in the dressing room? I think Tom is the model pro, and wouldn't be a problem being No 1 seeing out his current deal...