Glenn Whelan faces huge decision on his footballing future in the coming days.
The Ireland international played 30 Premier League games for Stoke last season. 42 games in total, caps for his country included.
He was stable and steady in The Potters’ midfield, as he has been since he arrived at the club from Sheffield Wednesday in 2008.
He earned praise on Match of the Day, early last season, for his screening across the back four and his ability to pick the right pass much more often than not. Stoke players respect the Clondalkin native an awful lot and their fans feel likewise:
Is Glenn Whelan the most misunderstood player in Irish football? We speak with @MattSandoz1 https://t.co/bZXYswGEDg pic.twitter.com/Jb8mxj2cqR
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) November 12, 2015
Still, Stoke are happy to let him go this summer.
Darren Fletcher is coming in to replace him and Stoke chairman Peter Coates will allow Whelan to leave, for the right price. Aston Villa have offered £500,000 but Stoke want double that.
Were Villa to get Whelan in – popping him into a starting XI with John Terry – for even £1m, it would be a steal. One imagines they are not asking for too much out of thanks to Whelan for his years of service. Speaking about the Dubliner on Tuesday, Villa boss Steve Bruce commented:
“We made a bid a couple of weeks ago and nothing has changed. That is where we are.
“I think we need to have a little bit more steel and determination and aggression, especially in the Championship. I have left that with the powers that be so that could be the next one hopefully.”
Villa want him but Whelan should not rush to Birmingham just because Bruce is waiting with open arms.
Whelan has also been linked with a move to Burnley and there are several other Premier League sides that could do with his services. Watford, Crystal Palace and Swansea to name but three and each of the promoted sides – Brighton, Huddersfield and even Newcastle – could do with such a proven performer.
At 33, were Whelan to drop down to the Championship he may never return. If he feels he is capable of maintaining his standards in the Premier League, his agent should be able to line up a few decent offers.
From a selfish, Irish point of view, Whelan would be much better served staying on in the Premier League. There are important qualifiers ahead and his chances of making a World Cup squad [if Ireland get there] would be greatly improved were he still operating in England’s elite league.
The one clincher for Whelan, though, may be the prospect of securing one last decent contract.
He turns 34 next January but Villa will offer him at least a two-year deal on wages that could well dwarf that of many Premier League sides. He last deal with The Potters was said to have netted him €30,000 a week.
Villa are desperate to get promotion – as the Terry signing highlights – and they would be willing to compensate Whelan well were he to drop down a division.
We reckon the Premier League is the obvious choice but we may well see the Irishman breaking up attacks and screening defensives in the Championship next season.
