Aquilani

[Lee]

True mate, that's the issue.

Surely though if we're going to pay him £4m(?) per year for the last two years of his contract, can't we just release him and Milan can give him a £2m signing-on fee or something?

We're in a **** position because everyone knows that he wants out.

[Tee]

On the basis of this ****ed up deal I can totally understand now why FSG did not even consider Rafa for the Managers job. An absolutely shocking bit of panic buying it seems.

[Chazza]

With Milan seemingly the only club interested they hold all the cards here as they know the situation and they wont be looking to pay anymore than they can get away with

If he is only (I say only) offered 30k a week at Milan then he will want a pay off on his existing contract to cover the shortfall

If we play hardball then Rodgers has to be certain he can play and we can make use of him otherwise he is a ****ing expensive reserve

[Lee]

It's a ****ing **** up isn't it?

Just a complete mess. Like you say Milan and Aquilani hold the cards so we're likely to take a massive hit for this.

And yeah you can't pay £80k per week for a ressie!

I just want him to go really.

[Kenneth]

On the basis of this ****ed up deal I can totally understand now why FSG did not even consider Rafa for the Managers job. An absolutely shocking bit of panic buying it seems.

[Tee]

Yep, and to compound it he was out with a long term injury when he signed. You just cannot make this **** up.

I bet we end up paying him off to terminate his contract.

[Chris]

Yep, and to compound it he was out with a long term injury when he signed. You just cannot make this **** up.

I bet we end up paying him off to terminate his contract.

He'd only started 27 league games in the previous 3 years aswell! A lot due to injury and some because Pizarro and Perrotta were preferred. What he'd done to be worth £17m, I dont know, he'd hardly been on the pitch in years!

[baitman]

so, worst case scenario...

he is on 4m a year, with 2 years still to go. he is contractually owed 8m.

if we negotiate his early release from the contract, we might be able to compromise a 4-5m pay off, and then let him go for a free.

its as good as we are going to get. a **** up of a situation, and whoever sorted this loan arrangement wants ****ing

[Kenneth]

Bring him back and play him, see if he cam cut it. If it works, we'll be able to sell him, if not, release him in Jan, only a couple of million difference, and it might just work out.

[Fan65]

Regardless of his past he is a very good player.

Surely if Milan want him then he's wanted as an integral part of their planned squad for next year. If it's that they wont buy then in that case let him go on loan for full /best part of his wages, if Milan won't deal then they'll have to look elsewhere and locate another classy midfielder to fill the role in their squad which won't be easy or cheap.

Milan will want him as much as we don't so it could be all about a compromise deal with us holding the cards, they want him, he wants them and we have him, yes we could end up wasting money keeping him in some capacity but then Milan could end up wasting money on a replacement target.

It's like a game of poker, the biggest balls win.

[Bender]

Regardless of his past he is a very good player.

Surely if Milan want him then he's wanted as an integral part of their planned squad for next year. If it's that they wont buy then in that case let him go on loan for full /best part of his wages, if Milan won't deal then they'll have to look elsewhere and locate another classy midfielder to fill the role in their squad which won't be easy or cheap.

Milan will want him as much as we don't so it could be all about a compromise deal with us holding the cards, they want him, he wants them and we have him, yes we could end up wasting money keeping him in some capacity but then Milan could end up wasting money on a replacement target.

It's like a game of poker, the biggest balls win.

if that was the deal then we would have sold him by now and not keep sending him to milan...Milan hold the cards there screwing us

[Darkon]

I'd rather we pay him 4-5 mil in wages for a year and have a squad player than paying him half that to go on a free. Present him with that option and surely Aquilani would terminate without a pay-off if a contract was on cards elsewhere.

[Bender]

but if the stories about him being homesick are true then there's no point in trying to keep/persuade the player to stay

[Darkon]

Nope, but there is a point in trying to avoid paying him to leave. If he is really that homesick I'm sure he would be happy just to get his contract torn up.

[RedReet]

Nope, but there is a point in trying to avoid paying him to leave. If he is really that homesick I'm sure he would be happy just to get his contract torn up.

Exactly, if he's that homesick then he should be willing to pay us to go home.

Paying his wages for a year and potentially paying a replacements wages over the same period makes no sense to me on any level. Either make him stray and play, homesick or not, or tell him to ****ing buy out his contract!