Another good quag post by Parma ham over on oinkun, no idea how much he knows...

Sunderland actually enquired for Matri. They were quoted a figure far beyond what they expected and requested a loan option with a view. Unsurprisingly - given the open need for cash to offset purchases - Juve Directors rejected this out of hand. Sunderland, trying to show that were/are only after bargains (and not a soft touch after Giaccherini) then enquired at what price they could get Quagliarella on loan with a view. Juve didn't reject that out of hand, but only (really) as a double bluff to show that they are "flexible" and that Matri's value can't / won't be dropped drastically. Juve - as advised some time ago have been (too) open about their "reduce 6 to 4" striker strategy for the 2013-14 season. West Ham also sounded out Juve about a loan plus deal for Quagliarella, but didn't follow it up and didn't give the impression that they had cash to spend. As noted our bid is a strong one that others are unwilling to match and that we have no real strategic need to increase. Juvecare more likely to blink first in this context. If other clubs come in we'll lose out, but it appears to all that this is now less likely and (ironically) Juve directors now fear us pulling out. Signings of RVW, Hooper and (interestingly) Redmond have all been given nodding approval and the fear is (from them) that we don't absolutely need Quagliarella. The issue remains whether Quagliarella will move abroad (risk, but trendy), take a last minute mid-team Italian loan (fairly unsatisfactory for all, bad economics for Juve, poor image and concretised decline for Quagliarella, or the nightmare "Iaquinta" scenario, where he "squats" and picks up his pay check until contract expiry. Conte has made it clear he won't play unless (several) injuries intervene and there is no suggestion from fans that Quagliarella is the type to go mouldy in a World Cup year, where he is still talked about for the azzurri ( maybe even team, certainly squad, Italy are importing strikers and don't have lots of strong ones currently). Anyway - as Homer Simpson might say "yay! Default!"......we might just be the least worst option for all...

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Posted By: glasgow, Aug 11, 21:51:07