Derby County have had two bids for Jeff Hendrick from Burnley.
The newly promoted Premier League club originally bid a measly £3m for the Republic of Ireland midfielder, before returning with a bid of £5.5m – both were rejected.
In the current financial climate, with Premier League clubs set to benefit from a record television deal worth £5billion, and players moving for upwards of £30m, both offers for Hendrick were arguably derisory.
Especially considering Watford rejected a bid of £30m for Troy Deeney, and Jordan Ibe has joined Bournemouth from Liverpool for £15m.
Hendrick starred at Euro 2016, and the midfielder looks set to become a key player for Martin O’Neill’s side for the next few campaigns.
At just 24-years-old, Hendrick also has the potential to develop further and become an established Premier League player.
However, one BBC journalist thinks Derby rejecting a £5.5m offer from Burnley is a sign that “football has gone mad.”
BBC reporter Pat Murphy tweeted the news that Derby have rejected bids for the player.
Jeff Hendrick back training for @dcfcofficial Wed & club don't want to sell him. Burnley 2nd bid only about £5.5m.Pearson wants him 2 stay.
— Pat Murphy (@patmurphybbc) July 18, 2016
And Christian Fraser, a senior news correspondent for the broadcaster, responded that the bid was “a fair offer in any market.”
@patmurphybbc @dcfcofficial wow. ‘Only about’ £5.5 million? For Hendrick. I’d say that’s a fair offer in any market. Football has gone mad
— Christian Fraser (@ChristianFraser) July 18, 2016
However, Murphy and others were on hand to inform Fraser that, in the current market, the bid for Hendrick goes someway short of his market value.
@ChristianFraser @dcfcofficial Not fair offer in today’s market influenced by the TV deals. Value inflated after Euro16 as well.
— Pat Murphy (@patmurphybbc) July 18, 2016
@patmurphybbc definitely a low fee when they spent that on each of show pony Butterfield and fat lad Bradley Johnson who’ve been garbage
— Mike Richardson (@boroboymike) July 18, 2016
@patmurphybbc @ChristianFraser @dcfcofficial when Leeds sold Cook for 7m, how can you offer 5.5 for an international!
— Vaughan Richards (@Vaughanyboy) July 18, 2016
@Dbagguley84 @patmurphybbc @ChristianFraser @dcfcofficial nowhere near mate, but when he’s going for that Hendrick should be a lot more!
— Vaughan Richards (@Vaughanyboy) July 18, 2016
@ChristianFraser 2/3 years ago £5.5 would have been a great offer, but today’s market. I think Derby are holding out for £7 Mill
— Sean (@sean_brom) July 18, 2016
