Reports this week had suggested that Queens Park Rangers attacking midfielder Luke Freeman was now of interest to Middlesbrough, West Bromwich Albion and Sheffield United who all have money to burn for varying reasons of their own.
The original report was carried by the Mirror and featured on their daily transfer ticker and fans were certainly uptight about the fee being listed as only £3million for the 26-year-old.
With five goals and 12 assists in the Championship season of 2017/18 there’s no way that we should be entertaining a bid that low, especially in the current transfer market and fans were adamant we should draw a line under selling off our better players for less than their deemed worth.
Obviously, fans looked to previous sales of Charlie Austin and Alex Smithies as a more recent example and for Freeman, the fee of £10million as a solo price was deemed to be far more appropriate if we had to offload him for Financial Fair Play reasons.
One fan made the point directly to Tony Fernandes.
So in recent transfer windows we’ve sold.
Austin – 4m
Smithies – 3m
& now potentially Freeman – 3mA combined 10m. Joke
Whoever is in charge of transfers needs to be sacked ASAP
If we were any other club each player would’ve gone for a minimum of 10m#QPR @QPR @tonyfernandes
— Matt (@Matthew9695) July 31, 2018
To his credit, he actually responded and fans won’t like part of his message but they’ll be hoping he holds true to the claim made about Freeman.
Austin has 6 months left on his contract. I stand by smithes. And we have got two good goalkeepers to replace him. Freeman not for sale.
— Tony Fernandes (@tonyfernandes) July 31, 2018
And I also like the look of Seny from what I’ve seen. So promising signs regarding keepers.
& thank god that’s all cleared up. Couple more & I believe we will do very well this season, better than what people think
— Matt (@Matthew9695) July 31, 2018
That was where the conversation ended – at least at the time of typing this – but having responded did win our owner some applause from others.
Least it’s cleared up, disagree with what he said regarding smithies tho but fair play
— Matt (@Matthew9695) July 31, 2018
My intention wasn’t to give him a hard time. Just wanted some answers as to why we let go of our best players on the cheap?
I agree tho I assumed that Freeman was going to go but at least it’s all cleared up ????????
Really looking forward to this season
— Matt (@Matthew9695) July 31, 2018
That news re Freeman has cheered me right up this morning TF. Top man ????
— Freddie Briars (@freddieb2011) August 1, 2018
You've got another one here Mark with the same thoughts. I've not been this excited for a season in a long time. Lot's of youth, no fear in their play, nice blend of experience, club operating within it's means, couple more to come in. People only focus on negatives #QPR
— Terry Arnold (@TerryArnoldDXB) August 1, 2018
That's all the confirmation i needed. If you say Freeman not for sale… that's good enough for me Tony. ????????
— Ryan (@RyanFrancis89) August 1, 2018
The comments went on and on, but it’s fair to point out others knew that money talked and that standpoint might change if somebody comes in with a bid in the region of £10million. Even if that does change down the line, the interaction is to be applauded with the rumour mill in full flow at this time of year.