That's Reading (as in a book) rather than Reading (the club) as Mark Rowlands looks at what Derby County will do next
Let me start by being bold. Ferrie Bodde will line up for massive Derby County in the first game next season. No idea who they are playing or where and to be honest I don't care but Ferrie will be playing for them. There is too much water under the bridge on this occasion and we wouldn't want Ferrie to become a modern day slave now would we?
So I am certain of that much and I don't place any emphasis on Derby's constant "We're going elsewhere" or "We are no longer interested" statements. You don't chase a player for eight weeks and then decide that you want someone else. Especially with just four weeks to go. And especially when - by your own admission - you haven't even really given them much consideration because your number one target is at Swansea. And you want him. Desperately.
Sure, Derby fans can lap up the words of their manager and Chairman but the sensible amongst them (and amongst some of the realy beauts there are some very switched on Derby fans) realise that the club want Bodde. And Swansea want their valuation.
Rumours suggest that the last valuation was potentially worth in excess of the £2m quoted but when that figure is made up of add-ons there is never a guarantee that it will be accepted. Yes add-ons have become the norm in many transfer deals but to the stupid out there that doesn't make it any more likely to be accepted. If we want £2m guaranteed then we want £2m guaranteed - start there and then add the add-ons if you are so inclined. Bristol City tried it with Trundle last year but found that if you want a player then pay what the selling club wants and you get the player.
Adam Pearson tells today's Derby Telegraph “As the Bodde situation rumbles on, we have to have viable alternatives to that, which I think the manager has identified, so those conversations have to happen"
But as I said above we know that is just the classic final moves in a game of negotiation. Or Poker if you like. On one side of the table you have Mr Jenkins who wants a £2m figure and on the other side Mr Pearson who has offered slightly less. Is there a happy medium? Mr Jenkins thinks if he waits Mr Pearson will get to his figure whilst Mr Pearson feels that Mr Jenkins will buckle and let him have the player cheaper. Which he probably would if the Swans were pushed for cash. But they are not. So we hold one ace there and we hold the best ace of all with the players registration. Which we own.
Mr Jenkins has come in for some serious flack in his six years in the Swansea Chair for some of his transfer dealings but over the past two years he has come through with some style and is now one shrewd football Chairman who knows what he wants and, on more than one occasion, gets what he wants as well.
As I said at the start Ferrie Bodde will be at Derby in time for the start of the new season for sure but one thing I am confident is that our Mr Jenkins will come out of the deal with the bigger smile on his face knowing that he didn't give into the silly games.
And the fee will be quoted as undisclosed so that Derby fans can think they won the game. But we will know better.