dboy wrote:If he was going to be free at the end of the season, then why not wait 'til then, and deal with him instead of Bulls.
You've been mugged.
Young players don't go for free even at the end of their contracts. If a 19 year old player has spent 2 years in a clubs scholarship programme and then 3 years in their Academy programme then there is an automatic transfer fee of just short of £40k when they come out of contract.
It equates to £100 per week spent in the scholarship programme and £175 per week spent in the Academy programme.
This assumes that the player is offered a further deal with their parent club on a comparable or increased wage.