And the race begins.
Leicester City, Nottingham Forest, and West Ham all look set to battle it out for Bristol city's prized asset Nicky Maynard, but what is all the fuss about?
According to reports Leicester tabled a bid between £2.5 and £3 million for Maynard which was subsequently rejected by the Robins. Bristol signed Maynard from Crewe in July 2008, for £2.250 million. His first season at Ashton gate was mediocre considering his rather high transfer fee (By championship standards), despite an impressive debut Maynard saw himself struggling to break into the first team, and netted only eleven times in forty-two games when you are talking figures did his first season justify a price tag in excess of £2 million? One could argue not, but the world of football works in strange ways. The following season no-one could dispute that Maynard displayed that he had quality in abundance, Scoring six goals in his first seven games including a wonderful thirty yard strike against Coventry which gave Bristol a share of the spoils that day. Maynard went on to score 21 times in all competitions in a impressive second season for the Robins, and started to reward Bristol for the money they spent claiming him. Unfortunately during the pre-season of the 2010-2011 season disaster struck for Maynard, a severe knee injury saw him sidelined for nearly 7 months further halting his career, however it was clear that his quality was still present due to his encouragingly brisk return to form following his injury, he went on to score six times in thirteen appearances despite a lengthy absence. As the bidding war commences who will take the risk of digging deep for this clearly talented, yet Injury troubled striker? If the reports are true that Leicester did indeed have a £2.5 to £3 million bid rejected, and Nottingham Forest plan to offer £4 million, then it is clear that Bristol will want serious money for their star man, however has Maynard produced enough evidence that he could replicate his goal scoring form in a top championship team, or in the premier league, and to warrant a price tag which could rise to £4 million? Only time will tell.
This brings us swiftly to our next name, Craig Mackail-Smith. Having spent the majority of his career playing in lower leagues Craig undoubtedly had his best goal to game ratio in the season just passed, netting an impressive thirty-four times in fifty-five appearances for Peterborough, however is he worth the £3 million that Leicester City have reportedly offered for him. Craig had his first taste of championship football in the 2009-2010 season with Peterborough, the season unfortunately ended with relegation for the Posh and Craig contributed with eleven goals in forty-seven appearances. From scanning over his career stats one might suggest that a price tag of £3 million is far too steep for a striker who has had the majority of his success at lower levels. However who is to say that in a squad of above average standard championship players that he wont score regularly? Craig certainly seems to have a natural ability to score goals, thus in theory when given chances he should be able to take the opportunities created for him. A good comparison to Craig is Danny Graham, the once Middlesborough player has now returned to the premier league with Swansea city. For the majority of his career he fleeted between the premier league, championship, and league one and it wasn't until he arrived at his sixth club Carlisle did he find he feet and settle, eventually proving that he could score enough goals to warrant his place back into the premier league. Despite not starting in a premier league outfit Craig has come a long way since the early days of Dagenham & Redbridge in the conference, similar to former Leicester City player D.J Campbell, and has certainly warranted a shot at playing with the promotion favourites in the championship.
Whether his price tag is just is up to him to prove next season, who ever gambles and takes the risk with these players could be hugely rewarded, if the gamble fails then who is going to prevent teams asking for over the odds prices for their 'star assets', since Andy Carroll's move to Liverpool clubs have been given a licence to slap huge price tags on their prized players and it could have a more negative effect on players careers than we actually think, not to mention the buying clubs wallet. Ten years ago signing a second devision striker who has had one prolific season and possibly a couple of career threatening injury problems would be almost unheard of, so what has changed?
