Well connected reporters like David Ornstein today reported that Chelsea have made a third offer for Wesley Fofana, the Leicester defender.
The Blues apparently don’t want to go above £70m, while Leicester want significantly more than that.
It still seems doable, but it’s going to require a lot of negotiating over how large and how easy to attain the bonuses included are.
Ben Jacobs’ take on it is that this gradual progress is all natural, and that this is all part of standard negotiations. Chelsea aren’t bidding low, just creeping up gradually to get the best deal.
I have said many times, judge the number and structure. Bidding ‘high’ but with lots of instalments or add ons that aren’t attainable isn’t as appealing. Leicester have rejected the bid. Chelsea still see Fofana as a priority.
— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) August 23, 2022
Chelsea also know there is plenty of time left to go back. It’s a tactic to play off how unsettled Fofana is. They were never going to leap to £85m or even close. That’s not how negotiation works.
— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) August 23, 2022
We’re not so sure we agree. In the end, we’re sure we will buy the defender, and we will end up paying £80m or so.
Yes we will have shaved a few million off compared to the original asking price, but we will have missed out on having Fofana in place for the first 4 or 5 weeks of the season, which could potentially cost us invaluable points.
