Alan Shearer cost Newcastle United £15m in 1996. Now they are being quoted the same price for a Brentford striker.
It was 20 years ago and there has been significant inflation but the money Championship sides are asking for their players is bonkers.
Norwich City scared off Leicester City with a £20m valuation of Ireland’s Robbie Brady while Aston Villa splashed out £14.6m on Ross McCormack from Fulham.
Goalscorers always seem to be at a premium and finding someone who can net you 20+ league goals could ultimately be worth the financial punt.
Newcastle United look well set for a run at automatic promotion this year but Rafa Benitez will have duly noted how his side lacked the poacher’s instinct to nick a goal against Blackburn Rovers. Newcastle dominated just about every match stat aside from the only one that counts. 25 attempts on goal but a 1-0 defeat all the same.
The Geordies are not the only Premier League hopefuls in need of a consistent marksman and that is what makes Scott Hogan such an attractive package. The Irish qualified striker, who should make a decision on his international future in 2017, has scored 13 goals in 24 games so far this season.
Add that to his seven goals in seven games [only two starts] at the tailend of an injury-hit 2015/16 and the 24-year-old undoubtedly has an eye for goal.
For Brentford to expect £15m for the Salford native is quite a stretch. Hogan was signed for £950,000 in 2014 and was out of football for 16 months after rupturing his cruciate ligament. He is back nine months from that career-threatening injury.
£15m is what Benitez’ side have been quoted though, according to The Newcastle Chronicle, and Brentford would be more than happy to hang onto their man. They may be down in 14th but they are only nine points off the promotion playoff places.
Were Hogan to go to Newcastle and justify an astronomical price-tag, it would definitely put him on the radar of England boss Gareth Southgate.
