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Joel Griffiths of the Newcastle Jets celebrates. AAP Image/Paul Miller
A-League clubs can often be accused of naïveté when it comes to their transfer dealings. It’s why the Melbourne Victory deserves a bouquet – and not a brick – for its rejection of Borussia Dortmund’s bid for young goalkeeper Mitch Langerak this week.
The move prompted some hefty criticism from the 21-year-old’s agent, John Grimaud.
Langerak is part-way through a multi-year deal at the A-League club, and would not be one of the club’s top earners.
Grimaud accused the club of taking advantage of Langerak’s elevation past New Zealand international Glen Moss as the Victory’s No.1.
‘”Mitch has done well for Victory and they have been good for him, but he is being punished now for believing them when they said they would look after him. They told him they would not stand in his way if a good offer came in for him,” Grimaud told The Age’s Michael Lynch yesterday
“How can they not regard the chance to move to Borussia Dortmund, one of the biggest clubs in Germany, as a good offer?”
For who, John? Mitch or the club?
Because the rumoured bid of between $400,000 and $500,000, plus future percentages of transfer fees, is chump change for most European clubs. To put it in the German club’s currency, it’s roughly $300,000 Euros, give or take.
Dortmund spent $5 million Euros on Paraguayan international striker Lucas Barrios and a further $1 million on midfielder Dimitar Rangelov prior to the 2009/10 season.
If Dortmund wants Langerak that badly, it can afford to go a bit higher.
It’d be fair to state that the Victory would have trouble pricing Langerak out of the reaches of the European giant, a former UEFA Champions League winner and a club on track for a place in a continental competition next season.
Melbourne does not have a history of holding back its players, albeit by protecting its own interests at the same time.
Michael Theoklitos – the man Langerak has succeeded – left for his ill-fated stint in England with the club’s blessing.
Adrian Leijer (now back in the navy blue) and Danny Allsopp both secured overseas moves from the Victory when their estimations were met.
Too often A-League clubs have been hasty in accepting bids from circling foreign sides. Likea mark pulled into an alley by a mugger, they’re quick to cough up the goods.
While the Brisbane Roar did need the money, ask any fan if $1.4 million AUD was enough for three of the the club’s brightest sparks (Tommy Oar, Adam Sarota and Michael Zullo).
Or if Adelaide United supporters believe the loss of defender Sasa Ognenovski was worth just $350,000?
It was refreshing to see the Newcastle Jets dig in their heels over the sale of Joel Griffiths – ironically Langerak’s opponent last night – to make courter Beijing Guoan dig deeper itself.
Every player has a price, and most playing in Australia would jump at an opportunity to play overseas.
No-one could blame Langerak’s disappointment at the rejection of Dortmund’s bid.
The kid has a big future. Langerak has only recently began to shrug the “raw” tag after becoming the Victory’s first-choice shot-stopper this season.
Just watch the Victory’s 1-0 win over Kawasaki Frontale on March 31 for evidence of his potential.
But his club is well within its rights to hold out for what it thinks is fair value.
The Victory has nurtured Langerak and handed him the opportunity on the big stage. He has in turn rewarded the faith.
Both parties – not just one – need to be appeased for the youngster to move on.
It doesn’t matter who comes a’ knocking.
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