Sunderland could buy out James McClean’s sell-on clause

[legendz]

http://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/sunderland-could-buy-out-james-mcclean-s-sell-on-clause-1-4388158

SUNDERLAND have reportedly inquired about buying out the sell-on clause Derry City have on hot property James McClean.
The League of Ireland club are believed to be entitled to 15 per cent of any transfer fee Sunderland might get for the sale of a player who has set the Premier League alight since earning his league debut in Martin O’Neill’s first game in charge in December.
And that clause could net the Candy Stripes a relative fortune if the 22-year-old continues his meteoric progress.
Sunderland have no plans to sell McClean (left), who last week signed a new and improved contract which is set to keep him at the club until at least 2015. He is seen as one of the Black Cats’ stars of the future under boss O’Neill.
But Sunderland are understood to have made tentative inquiries about the Irish club’s buy-out clause, as they look to protect their investment.
Derry have refused to comment on speculation about the sell-on clause, but they are likely to have a big decision to make if preliminary discussions go to the negotiating table.
Should McClean achieve significant success at Sunderland and then move on in a big-money move, the Irish club could be looking at a seven-figure windfall.
But any offer Sunderland might make would guarantee them funds in the near future rather than the long-term and it would also avoid the risk of losing out should the winger suffer serious injury or fail to live up to his early potential.

Thoughts? Surely Derry had the clause for a reason and should back that. Sunderland are hardly looking to by out the clause for no reason, especially so soon having got McClean to sign a new contract. They've left players go for big money. I think Derry should leave it as it is.

[dcfc_1928]

http://www.derryjournal.com/news/new-contract-for-james-mcclean-but-city-refuse-to-budge-over-sell-on-clause-1-3669134


New contract for James McClean, but City refuse to budge over sell on clause

JAMES McClean continues to enjoy a never ending rollercoaster ride at the Stadium of Light, but while the 22-year-old signed a new contract on Friday last, the “Black Cats” are believed to have made tentative enquiries to the “Candy Stripes” in an effort to buy-out Derry’s sell-on clause should the winger move on!

ARTHUR DUFFY reports

And since that deal was thrashed out with the player’s agents, Sunderland are now interested in buying-out Derry’s 15 per cent agreement given the player’s recent rise to stardom on Wearside.

While the Brandywell club last night refused to discuss the approach from the “Black Cats,” it’s believed Sunderland may be prepared to pay the “Candy Stripes” an additional £500,000 up front in an effort to buy-out Derry’s 15 per cent sell-on.

However, while no-one at the Brandywell was prepared to comment publicly on the issue, reliable sources have suggested that the Derry Board of Directors have opted not to get involved in the proposed negotiations.

But the tentative enquiry does not come as a major shock and now that McClean is believed to have had his wages trebled as part of the new deal, Sunderland believe they potentially have a top quality player on their books, one who could well net them in excess of £10 million in a future transfer deal.

And should McClean leave Sunderland bound for a top tier club for a similar figure, then Derry City would receive the tidy sum of £1.5 million as their part of the deal!

In fact, the sale of the Creggan Heights man last August has proven to be hugely profitable for the Lone Moor Road club. Sunderland initially agreed a straightforward transfer fee of £350,000 with significant add-on clauses.

In terms of competitive appearances, the “Black Cats” agreed to pay Derry £10,000 for every “full competitive appearance,” up to a total of £100,000 and that target has already been reached!

In addition, the player’s decision to declare for the Republic of Ireland also carries additional finance for the “Candy Stripes.”

Derry will receive a total of £75,000 should McClean make 15 international competitive appearances during his contract at the Stadium of Light and that figure has been broken down to three payments of £25,000 each time he makes five appearances.

And . . . wait for it, there’s more . . . . should Sunderland finish in the top eight places in the Premiership this season - or any season while McClean is there - Derry would receive another £100,000 provided the winger has played in 50 per cent of the games - that’s 19 of 38 fixtures.

Interestingly, the “Black Cats” currently occupy eighth place in the Premiership and if Derry were to achieve that target this season, then James would need to play in six of the remaining eight league games having already enjoyed 13 league appearances.

[PartySaint]

Cash is King. If Derry can get maybe €250,000 out of Sunderland I think they should take it. There is no guarantee he will be sold to a bigger club for a good fee

[Mr A]

And no guarantee he will continue his good form and maintain his current value. Whatever you do it's a gamble.

If I was a Derry fan (I'm not by the way) I'd be wondering whether it would be worth cashing in and putting most of the money towards facilities development. i appreciate things are a bit up in the air at the moment with money possibly on the way from the NI government.

[Ezeikial]

Cash is King. If Derry can get maybe €250,000 out of Sunderland I think they should take it. There is no guarantee he will be sold to a bigger club for a good fee

Sunderland would welcome your involvement as a negotiator for Derry, seeing as how you would accept €250,000 or less, when reports indicate an opening offer from Sunderland of stg£500,000.

You can be sure that there is a price at which Derry would accept a buyout and any initial refusal to negotiate is presumably part of a Derry strategy to extract the highest offer possible from Sunderland. Whether this proves to be enough to tempt Derry is another matter.

Offers approaching stg£1m (which would pitch a transfer value at about stg£6.7m) would be more realistic and hard to refuse.

[legendz]

But the tentative enquiry does not come as a major shock and now that McClean is believed to have had his wages trebled as part of the new deal, Sunderland believe they potentially have a top quality player on their books, one who could well net them in excess of £10 million in a future transfer deal.

And should McClean leave Sunderland bound for a top tier club for a similar figure, then Derry City would receive the tidy sum of £1.5 million as their part of the deal!

In fact, the sale of the Creggan Heights man last August has proven to be hugely profitable for the Lone Moor Road club. Sunderland initially agreed a straightforward transfer fee of £350,000 with significant add-on clauses.

In terms of competitive appearances, the “Black Cats” agreed to pay Derry £10,000 for every “full competitive appearance,” up to a total of £100,000 and that target has already been reached!

In addition, the player’s decision to declare for the Republic of Ireland also carries additional finance for the “Candy Stripes.”

Derry will receive a total of £75,000 should McClean make 15 international competitive appearances during his contract at the Stadium of Light and that figure has been broken down to three payments of £25,000 each time he makes five appearances.

And . . . wait for it, there’s more . . . . should Sunderland finish in the top eight places in the Premiership this season - or any season while McClean is there - Derry would receive another £100,000 provided the winger has played in 50 per cent of the games - that’s 19 of 38 fixtures.

Interestingly, the “Black Cats” currently occupy eighth place in the Premiership and if Derry were to achieve that target this season, then James would need to play in six of the remaining eight league games having already enjoyed 13 league appearances.

From that, if that is factually correct, is that the best business done by an LoI club? Sunderland have sold the likes of Henderson for £20m. McClean has been far more affective that that player was either last year or this year.

[PartySaint]

Sunderland would welcome your involvement as a negotiator for Derry, seeing as how you would accept €250,000 or less, when reports indicate an opening offer from Sunderland of stg£500,000.

You can be sure that there is a price at which Derry would accept a buyout and any initial refusal to negotiate is presumably part of a Derry strategy to extract the highest offer possible from Sunderland. Whether this proves to be enough to tempt Derry is another matter.

Offers approaching stg£1m (which would pitch a transfer value at about stg£6.7m) would be more realistic and hard to refuse.

Didn't even notice the £500,000 figure, my point is still the same, I think Derry should take money now

[Charlie Darwin]

That Derry Journal article is very odd. Strange to see exclamation marks in a serious news piece like that.


Cash is King. If Derry can get maybe €250,000 out of Sunderland I think they should take it. There is no guarantee he will be sold to a bigger club for a good fee
That would be quite a foolish piece of bargaining. McClean may or may not be sold by Sunderland, but odds are if he does it'll be for more than 2 million. Unless Derry need the money, they have no reason to settle for anything.

[nigel-harps1954]

You'd have to agree with the above statements, if Derry were in fact given £500,000 then they would be absolutely foolish to reject such a fee. Imagine the immediate upgrades that could be done to the Brandywell with that sort of money with enough left over to healthily live for the rest of the season.

[gormacha]

A bird in the hand etc. If the money offered for the buy-out is reasonable, and if it was my club, I'd take the cash.

What would be a reasonable amount? 15% is the sell-on. You'd have to settle for no more than that, and probably a bit less, of an imagined fee, as its being done in advance of a transfer and doesn't incur the opportunity cost of waiting nor associated risk. Doing the maths, I'd settle now for anything approximating 10% of a presumed transfer fee. Trouble is of course, what would that fee be? I wouldn't see him fetching any more than about £6m if he were sold in the morning, but others will surely say he's worth more, and others yet that he's worth less.

I'd bite their hand off at £600,000.

[legendz]

Sunderland would only make the offer if it was of benefit for themselves. They are not a charity and only care about the bottom dollar. People have ridiculed Cork City for the Doyle fee. Derry City have been brave in the past to play UEFA games in the Brandywell when other clubs have gone for big pay days in bigger grounds. I hope Derry make the right call. I think they'll make over 4 times £600,000.

[Charlie Darwin]

I hope Derry make the right call. I think they'll make over 4 times £600,000.
You think McClean will sell for close to 20 million?

[legendz]

You think McClean will sell for close to 20 million?

Based on some deals that club have done and the way McClean has played so far, it can't be ruled out. Look at the money Henderson has gone for? I've kept an eye on how that club has done there business during Quinn's days and of late. Do you really think they'd be look to buy out the sell-on clause unless it was of benefit for them. Like and club across the water, they are vultures. They see an opportunity to make a profit and know Derry could be tempted. Business is business. Ellis Short the owner is a good businessman. It's the way money is made and profits are increased. Time will tell.

[Charlie Darwin]

Henderson is English though. The only Irish players to go for that kind of money were Duff and Keane. Keane was one of the Premier League's highest ever goalscorer, so you're basically saying he'd command the same fee as Duff in his prime.

[legendz]

http://www.breakingnews.ie/sport/soccer/sunderland-losses-slashed-545086.html

Sunderland have recorded an overall loss of £7.8m (€9.3m) as they prepare for the implementation of UEFA’s financial fair play rules.

The loss for the year ended July 31, 2011 represented a 72% reduction (£20.1m) on the figure of £27.9m12 months earlier, the club has confirmed.

However, an increase in operating expenses, largely the result of the addition of 14 new players to the first-team squad, contributed to a net operating loss of £31.2m.

Chief executive Margaret Byrne said: ``We have to make sure that we are financially sound and prepare the club for the implementation of Financial Fair Play rules.

“Our financial results show that we are heading in the right direction on both fronts.

“We have seen significant strengthening of our playing squad with the acquisition of 14 players during the period, culminating in a 10th place finish in the Barclays Premier League, which was always our aim.

“We have also seen a growth in our commercial revenue, from areas such as concerts and sponsorship, which is something that is key to us achieving our aims.”

Turnover for the period increased by 21% to £79.4m, a rise of £14m. However, operating expenses, which include player wages, rose to £110.7m, including player amortisation costs – which reflect the book value of the playing staff – of £29.1m.

Of the 14 players arriving at the Stadium of Light during the reporting period, 10 of them, including Asamoah Gyan, Connor Wickham and John O’Shea, were permanent signings and four on loan.

Finance director Angela Lowes said: “Our financial results reflect a period of development for the business as a whole, both on and off the field.

“It is pleasing to see growth in some areas and the figures certainly give us a platform to build on for the future.”

Read more: http://www.breakingnews.ie/sport/soccer/sunderland-losses-slashed-545086.html#ixzz1qKdryUCz

It's all costs for the club and about money, profit and loss. The offer is simple being made because they think they can take advantage of Derry. It's so obvious, it's not a discussion. The question is will Derry accept or not? I hope they make the right decision unlike many other clubs.

[Nesta99]

From that, if that is factually correct, is that the best business done by an LoI club? Sunderland have sold the likes of Henderson for £20m. McClean has been far more affective that that player was either last year or this year.

A free spending Liverpool paid over the odds for Henderson at 20mil. Anything over £700k Derry must take. I cant see McClean ever commanding a fee of £10mil (although would be fantastic if he turned out to be that good), Sunderland are obviously looking to save on any future sell on and with losing 15% of a £10mil sale i would imagine they'd accept a buy out of 7-8% of that level of projected sale?

[gormacha]

Steven Fletcher at Wolves - a good PL goalscorer in poor teams (Burnley, Wolves) is valued at approx £5.5m. Talk of McClean being valued at anything substantially above that is ridiculous. On what? Three months evidence?

[Sonny]

That Derry Journal article is very odd. Strange to see exclamation marks in a serious news piece like that.


That would be quite a foolish piece of bargaining. McClean may or may not be sold by Sunderland, but odds are if he does it'll be for more than 2 million. Unless Derry need the money, they have no reason to settle for anything.


The Derry Journal is just a collection of the daily work primary school kids do in their news copy.

[horton]

The Derry Journal is just a collection of the daily work primary school kids do in their news copy.
That's not completely true, they are quite fond of the old "copy and paste" jobs, passing off others work as their own! Their sports journo once stole an article from our matchday programme, without a credit to the true author.

[Sonny]

That's not completely true, they are quite fond of the old "copy and paste" jobs, passing off others work as their own! Their sports journo once stole an article from our matchday programme, without a credit to the true author.

Yeah but he was then given detention for copying!!

[freewheel30]

Out of curiosity, how likely is McClean to win the PFAI Young Player award at the end of the season? If he were to win it I can't imagine Sunderland not receiving substantial offers for the player during the summer, almost by default.

It's interesting to note the fees paid for recent winners of it, even without the likes of Fabregas, Ronaldo.

Jermaine Jenas £7m
Scott Parker £10m
Ashley Young £15-20m
James Milner £24m

But would they definitely sell? I suppose the fact they're going back to Derry suggests they would.

Would McClean definitely want to leave?

[Charlie Darwin]

I'd say it's unlikely. I think the voting on the PFA (I assume that's what you mean) awards takes place in January, as far as I know.

[gormacha]

I'm a big fan of McClean's, but I don't see how a player who has only played twelve first team league matches, and made his debut a week before Christmas, could be in the running. I'd rule Gylfi Sigurdsson out on the same basis, or else I'd think he was a challenger. I suspect Phil Jones is in pole position to win it. That's by the by. I still think his value is c.£6m

[SwanVsDalton]

That's not completely true, they are quite fond of the old "copy and paste" jobs, passing off others work as their own! Their sports journo once stole an article from our matchday programme, without a credit to the true author.

Isn't Artie Duffy, Journal sports ed, also the match-day program editor? He certainly was for a while. Still should've credited if so, but just saying the guy has (had) a significant stake in the program make-up.

Just to say on McClean - guy is built for Premier League football and is only going to get better. Even if his talent and fitness suddenly disappear (unlikely barring catastophic injury) he has a sell-on in the next 2-3 years of at least (bottom, bottom level) £5 million. I don't think closer to £8-£9million is so unreasonable, particularly given the dearth of really top quality young left wingers in the Premier League. Secretly I think he could go for an absolute fortune (with a slight, obvious bias).

With that in mind £750,000 is the base minimum Derry should look at imo. At that point might as well round it up and go for six figures. I wouldn't be against them holding on the sell-on though - the Premier League's sell on fees for touted young players are ridiculous. We're almost certain to get at least £500,000 from any sell-on at this point, so might as well hold on to it and see how far James can go. Not much percentage in just selling out - if we can afford to hold out, that is...

[El-Pietro]

Out of curiosity, how likely is McClean to win the PFAI Young Player award at the end of the season?

unless an LOI side signs him I'd say near impossible. I mean hes had a good year....

[freewheel30]

Kinda reminded now of Ali G and the USA becoming USAiiiiiiiiii :o

[legendz]

http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/derry-city-set-to-gamble-on-mcclean-bonus-3063180.html


Cork City installed a 10pc sell-on clause in the transfer which brought Kevin Doyle to Reading. However, the cash-strapped Leesiders accepted a figure in the region of £200,000 to buy out the clause when they hit serious trouble in November 2008.

The following summer, Doyle joined Wolves in a £6.5m deal that would have netted £650,000 for the Leesiders under the terms of the sell-on clause.


Is there any instance where a club was offered the clause being bought out, accepted the offer but the player was then sold for less?

[El-Pietro]

we didnt get close to £200,000 as it happens. Tom Coughlan was a disaster

[sundance kid]

While o'neill is in charge you'd expect Sunderland to at least be in the Europa league spots every year. He's a very premier league type player, so i don't see the serie A, or la liga clubs putting big offers in. So that would make it unlikely that McLean would be tempted by anything outside the "big 5" of utd, city, chelsea, spurs, liverpool. From those clubs only liverpool would strike me as a club he could go to in the short-mid term, so i think it'd be a big risk to turn down 500k now if they are offered it.

[SwanVsDalton]

From those clubs only liverpool would strike me as a club he could go to in the short-mid term, so i think it'd be a big risk to turn down 500k now if they are offered it.

Some of Sunderland's outgoings in the last few years:

Kenwynne Jones to Stoke - £8 million
Darren Bent to Aston Villa - £18 million
Jordan Henderson to Liverpool - £16 million
Martyn Waghorn to Leicester - £3 million
Greg Halford to Wolves - £2 million
Michael Chopra to Cardiff - £4million
Dean Whitehead to Stoke - £3 million
Danny Collins to Stoke - £2.75 million

I don't think it's unfair to say the likes of Stoke, Everton (with more cash), Newcastle, a resurgant Villa or perhaps even Fulham or Swansea could have a look at McClean if he was available.

And if they were to buy it's fair to say he'd be worth more than the likes of Waghorn, Whitehead and Chopra, particularly given his youth and the general lack of quality left wingers.

Given 500k is 15 per cent of just over £3 million, surely the above scenario shows there's more percentage in keeping hold of him. Unlikely we'll get much less than 500k but a great chance we'll get much more - and that's without considering his potential should his astronomic rise continue.

[sundance kid]

Some of Sunderland's outgoings in the last few years:

Kenwynne Jones to Stoke - £8 million
Darren Bent to Aston Villa - £18 million
Jordan Henderson to Liverpool - £16 million
Martyn Waghorn to Leicester - £3 million
Greg Halford to Wolves - £2 million
Michael Chopra to Cardiff - £4million
Dean Whitehead to Stoke - £3 million
Danny Collins to Stoke - £2.75 million

I don't think it's unfair to say the likes of Stoke, Everton (with more cash), Newcastle, a resurgant Villa or perhaps even Fulham or Swansea could have a look at McClean if he was available.

And if they were to buy it's fair to say he'd be worth more than the likes of Waghorn, Whitehead and Chopra, particularly given his youth and the general lack of quality left wingers.

Given 500k is 15 per cent of just over £3 million, surely the above scenario shows there's more percentage in keeping hold of him. Unlikely we'll get much less than 500k but a great chance we'll get much more - and that's without considering his potential should his astronomic rise continue.

Fair points, but O'Neill has a great record of getting absolute loyalty from the type of player McLean is, so i think it'd have to be an outstanding offer for O'Neill to sell. It might take O'Neill going first for Sunderland to consider selling him.

[legendz]

McClean will be at Sunderland next year, if the does well then though, it's where interest could be taken up in summer 2013.

[TonyD]

As someone earlier said, Sunderland must have a reason for doing this now. They are not looking to give Derry free money, so they must think there's a decent chance McClean will go for substantial bucks in the next 2-3 years. It's all a judgement call of course, but I think Derry would be foolish to jump at an offer too early. Of course there's a price at which it might make sense, but it is a bit of a gamble really. Stick, or twist ? He could go on to rocket in value, or they might be looking to offload him down a Division next year. (Stating the obvious I know!) Personally I'd hold out for while.

[MariborKev]

As someone earlier said, Sunderland must have a reason for doing this now. They are not looking to give Derry free money, so they must think there's a decent chance McClean will go for substantial bucks in the next 2-3 years. It's all a judgement call of course, but I think Derry would be foolish to jump at an offer too early. Of course there's a price at which it might make sense, but it is a bit of a gamble really. Stick, or twist ? He could go on to rocket in value, or they might be looking to offload him down a Division next year. (Stating the obvious I know!) Personally I'd hold out for while.

Note the "could". I highly doubt there has been an approach from Sudnerland. A similiar article appeared about decade ago when Owen Morrison was playing for Sheffield Wednesday and "apparently" Liverpool were certs to buy him.

Nice way to fill a page, but the chairman has confirmed there has been no contact.

[gufcfan]

How James McClean has changed the focus of the Sunderland attack (http://footballfollower.com/football-blog/james-mcclean-changed-focus-sunderland-attack/#.T3bNOsjcxGw.reddit)

[horton]

Note the "could". I highly doubt there has been an approach from Sudnerland. A similiar article appeared about decade ago when Owen Morrison was playing for Sheffield Wednesday and "apparently" Liverpool were certs to buy him.

Nice way to fill a page, but the chairman has confirmed there has been no contact.

If there was no contact, where'd the story originate from Kevin?

[MariborKev]

If there was no contact, where'd the story originate from Kevin?

I wouldn't be surprised if it cames from the player's agent.

[Mr_Parker]

Tweet from Joel Taggart a BBCNI sports journalist.

"Derry City chairman Philip O'Doherty has said he's been told that Man Utd have expressed an interest in former Brandywell star James McClean"

[marinobohs]

Tweet from Joel Taggart a BBCNI sports journalist.

"Derry City chairman Philip O'Doherty has said he's been told that Man Utd have expressed an interest in former Brandywell star James McClean"

This rumour mentioned on SKY Sports news this morning with (estimated) price tag of 12 million. Maybe nothing more than agent generated twaddle but unless Derry were desperate for cash (as was example with Cork/Doyle buyout referred to) I suspect they will not be in any rush to deal.
Think it would be better for McClean as a player to stay another season at Sunderland - guaranteed playing time etc but always a concern that "second season syndrome" might slash his possible value.

[Dodge]

we didnt get close to £200,000 as it happens. Tom Coughlan was a disaster

Well you signed him 2 years previously from Pats for nothign, so you did quite well out of it...

[legendz]

http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/9863/45623235116646825417410.jpg

[El-Pietro]

Well you signed him 2 years previously from Pats for nothign, so you did quite well out of it...
he was out of countract when we signed him wasn't he? probably should have tied him down Pats

[Dodge]

he was out of countract when we signed him wasn't he? probably should have tied him down Pats

He was advised to sign amateurs forms with us. just like Reading were advised that he had a buy out close in his Cork one. Thats how football works

[El-Pietro]

He was advised to sign amateurs forms with us. just like Reading were advised that he had a buy out close in his Cork one. Thats how football works
oh right. Ok so I wasn't complaining about Pat Dolan here. I was saying that we got far less than 200k for Doyles sell on clause. That has nothing to do with Dolan

edit: we got less than 100k actually

[marinobohs]

oh right. Ok so I wasn't complaining about Pat Dolan here. I was saying that we got far less than 200k for Doyles sell on clause. That has nothing to do with Dolan

edit: we got less than 100k actually

Was there not rumours that Dolan was his agent or adviser and orchstrated the buy out knowing Corks dire position ?

[Dodge]

oh right. Ok so I wasn't complaining about Pat Dolan here. I was saying that we got far less than 200k for Doyles sell on clause. That has nothing to do with Dolan

Well he wouldn't have been at Reading at all if it wasn't for him, and he was Doyle's 'adviser' up until recently (still might be)

But my point was that you got roughly €200-250k in total for him, which isn't bad considering you signed him from another team for nothing, and had him for 2 years.

[El-Pietro]

Well he wouldn't have been at Reading at all if it wasn't for him, and he was Doyle's 'adviser' up until recently (still might be)

But my point was that you got roughly €200-250k in total for him, which isn't bad considering you signed him from another team for nothing, and had him for 2 years.
right except none of that has anything to do with this topic really does it. We arent discussing whether Cork City got a fair price for Kevin Doyle (lets not even bring up Shane Long) but whether selling the clause made financial sense.

Given that Doyle signed for Wolves for £6.5m roughly 6 months later and we would have been due 10% or £650,000 for that, selling the clause for less than £100,000 plus a behind closed doors friendly in Reading didn't really make sense.

lets call it even, you robbed the league from us, we robbed Kevin Doyle from you

(oh and in total it would come to less than £200k)

[John83]

[image removed for size]
"United do not possess an out and out left-sided midfielder."
Why do people read that drivel?

[Charlie Darwin]

I don't think they do though?

[John83]

I don't think they do though?
Is it not Nani and Young and Park's favourite position? Granted, they'll play any of them on the right as often as not (and Park in the middle in a pinch), but they've Valencia there too.