Albion’s hopes of persuading Zoltan Gera to figure in their bid for Premiership stability are fading.
The 29-year-old Hungarian international is out of contract and sitting on the biggest pay day of his career as he weighs up a clutch of offers.
Albion have made their’s and are still officially optimistic that Gera will extend his stay beyond the four years he has already spent at The Hawthorns.
But confirmation that Portuguese club Benfica are one of the clubs hoping to tempt Gera away has intensified speculation that he is leaving.
The player himself said over the weekend: “I am aware of Benfica’s offer and I can only be glad. I have other offers and I will wait for the best deal. I do not close the door on anyone.”
Reports that Everton were a medical away from siging him were rubbished by his agent Sam Stapleton on Saturday and sources at Goodison have since confirmed that manager David Moyes had subsequently dropped his interest in the player.
Of the three players out of contract - made up by Kevin Phillips and Martin Albrechtsen - Gera is arguably the figure manager Tony Mowbray would most value next season.
His form during the promotion triumph was outstanding and he is nearly five years younger than goalscorer Phillips, whose future is another yet to be decided.
Meanwhile, another of Mowbray’s speciality deals - a low profile signing - has made an uncertain start with Derry City chairman Pat McDaid describing the opening offer for target Pat McCourt as “derisory.”
Although Albion have not been named by Derry, there is little doubt over the water that they are the club leading the chase for the 24-year-old former Rochdale winger.
“The offer had been rejected because we feel it is derisory - it’s insulting to the club and the League of Ireland in general,” said McDaid. Albion chairman Jeremy Peace is not known for his generosity in transfers. But there are claims that Albion have competition with another Premiership club.
20 Comments
would love zoltan to stay but if he goes he goes,,i trust mowbray to find another gem so no big deal really,,PLAYING IN THE PREM THE MOWBRAY WAY,,IN STYLE OF COURSE,,,OOOOOOOOOH YES.
another poor read from the e & d. you guys did this in the build up to our promotion push, i’m sure if there is any news about gera and phillips then statements would be made, until its actual facts, keep your negativity to the wolves threads please.
also i’ve noticed we’ve got another low key pre season, i thought we’d be playing glamour teams, like barcelona or madrid, teams with similar qualities to ours.lol. boing boing.
you cant blame him thanks for the service,if he had been fit last year we would have gone up a year early,kp wants 20k per wek over 2 years plua fees that equals 2 million seems like a good deal how much would he cost to replace 10 million plus wages,and who would come! good luck zoltan,hope tesh is fit soon!!
Although Peace has been exceptional when it comes to transfer business it is a little disappointing that one of our better players has been allowed to run his contract down, but hey we are living in a football world where the players hold all the power and money is king. Oh what all us supporters would give for salary cap!!!
The other side of the Phillips coin is that at the end of those 2 years and £2m he walks away and is worth nothing. Do you therefore spend that £2m on a hungry young foreign loan or a lower league prospect instead? Kev has undoubted quality and I’d love him to stay but there’s two sides to an argument and I can see both in this case!?
Thankyou E&S for your again, positive spin on things. Where’s the quote where Gera said that staying at West Brom is still an option?
Would be sorry to see him go, but that’s football today.
I know we are good but the lure of a club like Benfica must be strong.It has been fairly evident over the past few months that Zollie woulf be considering his options and who can blame him.
We just have to trust that the ever pragmatic Tony will have something up his sleeve.
I must add that I think KP should be given the two years he craves To have him on the bench as back up would be very reassuring when a match needs that spark.
I think it’d be a real shame to see Gera leave the Hawthorns, but if he does choose to go, I wouldn’t blame him. He’s been fantastic for the club, but if he goes, players like Tex, Morrison & Kim would get more of a chance.
As for Phillips, our chairman is generally astute. And how many 37 year old strikers with bad knees are there in the Premier League? I’d like Kev to stay, but as others have said, not the end of the world if he does go.
Whilst I’d love to see Zolly stay for another few years, you couldn’t blame him for taking a BIG payday if it came his way - most likely from Newcastle.
He’s been loyal to us in the 2 Championship seasons where he could have gone to Boro for mega-bucks and IMO he’s repaid us for standing by him through his injuries.
And, lets face it, he’s 29. He’s not getting any younger.
And, we’ve got a ready made replacement in Morrison.
All-in-all - great if he stays, but good luck to him if he goes.
He knows you aint gonna stay up thats why…
Going to Bolton to be with the bloke who originally signed him.
according to teamtalk he has been offered contract by Benfica
10 - as your name says, stay loyal to your team pal. They need you. We don’t.
peace back to his usual tricks in the transfer market.Its embarrassing.
I would prefer Zoltan to stay and Kevin to go, but make him a fair offer and don’t be held to ransom. No player at the Baggies is that big that they cannot be replaced. Mowbray seems to buy well so if any go I feel confident Tony will get a good player in.
10- Zoltan could sign a 1 year contract if that were so, but he stayed at the Hawthorns when we came down last time. MM to be the first Championship manager to go next season.
No.13. JP has sold off folks who wanted to go for megabucks. Was it 9M for Davies,6M for Kamara? In their place we got Barnett, growing in stature by the game, and Bednar, a team player and goal scorer. Total around 5M, on lower wages too. JP will shell out when he needs to. Just don’t take him on at poker.
Don’t Blame him as things aren’t all that rosey at Sandwell. Far from it!
let the money grabber go.post 11 ur the mug who phones teamtalk up
Hope he stays, but se what happend last time around when all the big players left us. We will be ok with or without Gera. Same with KP. Alby…..??? Not much talk about him is there ?
let’s not get too negative - he’s just had a little ‘un, he’s sttled, being at the albion has never hurt his international career, and i’m sure his mrs won’t love the idea of moving with a young baby, particularly if learning a third language becomes essential.
the club should offer him an improved deal with a get out clause if we get relegated.
stay at the baggies, Zolly - you know it makes sense!
Lets be honest…if you could play for a team in the Champions League…who wouldn’t.
Good luck to Gera
we ran his contract down because he was injured for a season and we didn’t think he’d come back
meanwhile…
Mowbray will buy players we have never heard of for 2 pints of Guiness [well sounds like they are holding out for 3] and they’ll be a revelation
Remember, Mowbray isn’t into last contracts or big pay days so we simply won’t spend the money.
BO