July 9, 2022
The brief from today:
Brentford make a record signing
Brentford have signed Scotland defender, Aaron Hickey, for a club record £14million plus add-ons, which could take it to £20million. While the willingness from the London side to push their transfer budget to such lengths is notable, it’s the player that prompted that who deserves recognition. It isn’t just his football ability that is commendable, the 20-year-old Hickey has done what a lot of British players shy away from: he went abroad and played in Italy’s Serie A for the past two years. He didn’t just make up the numbers at Bologna, he was actually a key performer for them scoring five goals and assisting one from the fullback position. Those numbers, specifically the goals, made him the third highest scoring defender in Serie A last season. Hickey started with Scottish side Hearts, before his transfer to Italy, and despite his young age already possesses substantial experience. Brentford clearly respect his resume—and see more potential for growth—considering the transfer fee combined with the four-year contract he has been awarded.
Hickey becomes Brentford’s record signing
Differing accounts
In a case of they said, they said, Strasbourg defender, Alexander Djiku’s, agents have come out to defend themselves today after a failed transfer to German side Hoffenheim. Earlier this week it was reported, because of Hoffenheim’s claims, that a deal for Djiku fell through because his agents asked for more commission at the last minute. Despite the Ghanaian defender already passing his medical, and a €6million fee agreed between the two clubs, Hoffenheim decided to back out of the deal. Djiku’s agents are now giving their version of events, claiming that it was in fact Hoffenheim who changed the terms at the closing. The agents state that the originally agreed 10 percent commission suddenly dropped to 7, and they were given an ultimatum to accept it for the transfer to be finalized. In addition, they also said that although the verbal agreement with Djiku was confirmed on Thursday, Hoffenheim never followed up with anything in writing. All of this caused the agents to feel pressured to agree to the deal, and this was when Hoffenheim opted to walk away. Whoever is right, or wrong, Djiku will have to find a new club if he wants to leave Strasbourg before his contract ends next summer.