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McGhee Talks Continue
Friday, 7th Aug 2015 15:51

TWTD understands that the Blues are continuing their pursuit of Hearts defender Jordan McGhee.

Town have had two offers for the 19-year-old right-back or centre-half rejected by the SPL side, the latest in the region of £250,000.

Hearts are holding out for £500,000 and we understand talks are ongoing between the two clubs. A deal involving an initial fee somewhere between those two figures plus the usual top-ups seems likely.

Hearts manager Robbie Neilson says his club is determined to get what he believes is the right price.

"They put an offer in which we believe was nowhere near his value," he said. "Jordan has a great future here. He's a big player here, he's a Scotland U21 international and captain.

"So if he is going to go, it's going to be for a lot of money. Jordan has a great future here. He's a big player here, he's a Scotland U21 international and captain."

"Every player has a price. I don't want to sell him but if someone comes in with an acceptable value then we will look at it. But the offer that came in is nowhere near the value of a player of his calibre. We don't need to sell."

Speaking yesterday, manager Mick McCarthy confirmed that a player in the mould of McGhee is his priority, although he wouldn’t be drawn into discussing specific targets.

“If I could get a versatile defender from somewhere who could play left-back and centre-half or right-back and centre-half, who can cover a couple of positions, that’s something I’d be looking for,” he said.

McGhee came through the ranks at Tynecastle and has won Scotland caps with the U15s, U16s and U18s as well as the U21s.

Having broken into the Hearts first team late in 2012/13, McGhee has gone on to make 33 starts and 11 sub appearances, scoring four goals.

East Kilbride-born McGhee has already attracted interest from Premier League clubs, with Aston Villa and Swansea City recently linked, and in 2013 Juventus were reported to be keeping tabs on him. In January he signed a new Hearts contract which runs until the summer of 2017.

Meanwhile, Town are reported to be one of a number of clubs showing interest in former loanee Richard Stearman.

According to the Daily Mirror Wolves have turned down a £1.5 million bid from Fulham for the 27-year-old with the Blues, Hull City and Burnley claimed to be keeping an eye on developments.

McCarthy is a big fan of Stearman, who was at Portman Road for the second half of 2012/13, but with Town seemingly closing in on the addition of McGhee, a move for another similar but more experienced player - who would see himself as a regular starter rather than a squad player - would appear unlikely.


Photo: Action Images



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skyblue23 added 15:54 - Aug 7
Pay the fee, get him in, get him playing.
10

SamWhiteUK added 15:58 - Aug 7
Why bother negotiating? 500k is not beyond us
8

coyb99 added 16:01 - Aug 7
Really hope this deal goes through- exactly the kind of player we need. As much as I like parr and chambers, RB is not the most effective position. Similarly I like the look of Emmanuel but there is no way a 17 year old can play every game in this league. Mcghee is highly rated by lots of people up north, and for his potential I would consider the money mentioned in this article a great investment for a decent price.
7

toxtethblue added 16:02 - Aug 7
Bid 380k with top ups (which we will be happy to see as will show he has been a success) taking it to 500k. Either that or just meet their valuation. May be the difference between premier league and championship ie £80million...
7

SamWhiteUK added 16:06 - Aug 7
Emmanuel is 19 isn't he? coyb99
0

SamWhiteUK added 16:06 - Aug 7
Ok, never mind. Don't know who I was thinking about. Probably McGhee!
0

taximan added 16:12 - Aug 7
and how many of you clamouring for this player have actually seen him play ??

he isn't first choice at hearts so he certainly wouldn't be at ipswich !!!!!!!
-2

joepublic added 16:16 - Aug 7
I like it that we are now a tough club to deal with financially but we have left the RB role late to sort out.

Hopefully we get our man without other clubs moving in. This lad looks to have good potential and their asking price does not seem like crazy money.

COYB
1

GeorgeITFC24 added 16:21 - Aug 7
I'd love to see Stearman back! Just pay the fee and get him in!
3

Michael11 added 16:34 - Aug 7
Why are we haggling over an extra £250k? Just pay it and get the lad in that Mick wants. As highly rated as this lad may be, I'm slightly concerned that he's a centre back who can play right back. We already have one of those. I'd prefer an out and out right back who's not just filling in out of position.
5

lukey130490 added 16:35 - Aug 7
Is stearman not a CB who can also play RB? Sort of like our current RB?
4

JackDeVos added 16:48 - Aug 7
Went to see hearts play last weekend whilst up north, was told he isn't first choice and only came on for the last 5 minutes so unable to give an opinion.

Worth a gamble as he is young with potential.
1

paulcooperisgod added 16:53 - Aug 7
Pay the money and throw in TABB
2

ElderGrizzly added 16:56 - Aug 7
All these people saying "give MM the player he wants" - Mick decides the fee paid for players, not Evans.

Evans takes advice from Mick on the level of fee to be offered and what is reasonable for that player. If the fee is above what Mick feels is realistic, we'll walk away. That is Mick's decision, not that of Evans.
1

ElderGrizzly added 16:59 - Aug 7
Michael11 - you mean like Parr or Emmanuel who we have on our books already?

Even if McGhee arrives, he's a squad player and a centre back who can play right back.

And unless Smith is injured, Chambers is out first choice right back. He has been for 2 years and will be again
2

dirtyboy added 17:07 - Aug 7

"what's an extra £250k"

Erm...only say....the salary of half a dozen full time staff at the club....oh, of course, that's irrelevant because we have £8m in the bank...oh ...hang on...no, I forgot...did Evans pocket that or are we only £80m in debt now?

It's as though some people think it's like playing a computer game.
12

muhrensleftfoot added 17:36 - Aug 7
I think ITFC and MM's policy of refusing to pay extortionate fees is absolutely correct. However £500k for a highly rated 19 year old with the experience he already has, should be a no brainer. Not only will it add what we really need to the team, surely after a dozen decent games for us, his value will more than double & after a season or two it could be 10x more. Look at Cresswell and Mings. This would be a great financial investment as well as being a good player for us.
4

Michael11 added 17:44 - Aug 7
@MarcusEvansReborn

No. Parr's not a natural right back either, He's a left back who can play right back. Emmanuel is only 17 so you can't really put too much expectation on him just yet.
6

parhamblue added 18:04 - Aug 7
It's a battle of the money hungry Jocks and the tight Tyke. They may well get their comeuppance - reading their forum posts was hilarious as they clearly had no idea who we really are.
Stearman looks much the better bet, did very well for us previously at right back and has the experience needed for a Championship challenging side, complementing a young prospect and a full back who can play either side.
2

ElderGrizzly added 18:33 - Aug 7
@michael11 - but Parr is at least a Full back and a naturally right footed one at that.
McGhee is a centre back, who can play right back but suffers from a lack of pace according to the reports on him.

I agree on Emmanuel- i just hope people don't judge him after one game
2

jas0999 added 18:57 - Aug 7
Sounds as though he is for sale. Let's get the deal done.
3

ArnieM added 20:52 - Aug 7
I reckon he'll be joining us next week.
1

muccletonjoe added 21:29 - Aug 7
I think he will be here by next Saturday
0

Len_Brennan added 21:43 - Aug 7
I guess Mick/ME are looking at Knudsen costing £350k with his experience, quality & proven ability as a regular at a decent level and are benchmarking McGhee.
2

Blue_Again added 21:52 - Aug 7
Chuck in some gravy and chip and a battered mars bar I we should get him
3


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