Matt Mills refuses to hand in transfer request

Its narking me BIGTIME off that a championship defender is the only god dam defender we are linked with ! , I dont want an unproven player as none of us do , yes we want young english or british players but actually i want just 1 signing no matter where he is from to make me lick my lips with excitement , Bassong would do that or Bougherra , but i see Blackburn are weighing up a 6 million move for Onouha from City , LETS BEAT THEM TOO IT , hes a class act !

Well, as promised I visited Vital Reading and Y-19 Royal was kind enough to share the following regarding Matt Mills........ "Personally, I do rate Mills highly. He has come along so well the past few months, as before he showed some signs of vunrability but apart from that, top class. Big, strong and has that crucial element of aggression that the best centre halfs have. Also a fantastic leader on the pitch, I'm still suprised he hasn't struck a referee yet considering how much he argues with them! On your point of making the step up, I'm not sure. I suppose he is at the tender age of 24, when I would say the majority of centre backs reach their peak at around the 30 mark so its about giving him time. At this moment in time I don't think he is ready but in a few years time, I think the Prem could come as bread and better to him. I think the £4m valuation is fair considering he is our captain and such a key player. If you do sign him, I wish him and you guys the very best of luck this season. I think I am one of the only people that rates Mick McCarthy as a manager, very shrewd man. Glad to see Doyler and Hunt doing well for you guys! So, straight from the source and hardly music to the ears amongst those of us who are concerned the player is unproven at PL level. As I said in my reply however, we need two central defenders and whilst there has been 'talk' of Johnson and Bassong we are unlikely to splash out for both. Considering we have let Mancienne and now Mouyokolo go it seems certain we are going to indeed sign two. I imagine that continuing to balance we are not going to push the boat out spending upto 16 million on the two players mentioned above, more likely we are prepared to pay 8 for one, and close to 4 million for Mills. The left back void still needs filling and the talk continues of our interest in brining in another midfielder. I hear you OddJob- it is becoming depressing reading the papers each morning. I do believe though that the next signing will spark the third, fourth and fifth. I think our business will be tied up quickly but it probably needs that first signing to show other targets we actually mean business and for ourselves as a club to know which one we go for next.

Based on a free compared to spending 4 million? perhaps so. I think Mills has a good future ahead of him but do we have to be the club to iron out the mistakes? I rate Upson- it is upto the club to dictate whether they are going to go down that road for the sake of a couple hundred thousand here or there on the players they really want or whether they want to sign players who will walk through the door knowing full well they were second choice. I have said all along that there has never been a better time than now to stamp our authority on this malarky. They either want it or they dont. In my opinion if we threw the pounds up in the air to bring in Johnson and Bassong for probably 15/16 million we would cake walk to at least 12th.

So Leicester have apparently had 4mill accepted by Reading. That means it's now 4mill plus to get him.That's a walk away price then.I got the feeling the consensus on here was that we were trying to meet them between 3 and 4. Over 4 is a different thing all together.

A season ticket is a hefty investment, especially if someone wants to take their kid(s). The club could not have asked for better attendances so match that investment and push the boat out a little bit. Premiership status must have brought us 50-60 million over the past two years. The club should not under any circumstance end up in a third relegation battle and unless they bring 3 quality defenders in they are going to struggle again, simple as.

If we sign 2 CB's and one of them is Mills, then fine as long as the other has proven credentials. If he is the only defensive signing, then yet again we have to trust to luck. That said, If we only make 1 signing I would prefer him to Upson or Dunne, but not Johnson or Bassong...Johnny Evans...not sure about.

Well those replies tie up nicely. OldGold I agree that if Mills is the only signing we are taking a big gamble; never know- this time next year he may well be celebrated as the best young defender in the division and worth at least twice as much. From what I can gather Ferguson has ruled out selling Evans (?). At this point I would be more than happy to take either Johnson or Bassong, I think either would greatly improve things. Oddy- if that actually happens then we shall just install you as the one and only transfer guide. I won't even discuss transfers! Promise. Would I take the scenario? Not sure- we would be paying around 10.5 for Johnson if that were the case. Blake can score so we would be giving up a player still with ten years ahead of him and replacing him with one at the tail end of his career. What are peoples thoughts on Keane? His record speaks for itself. The mutual appreciation shall never die but I must admit if not the moves, then the comments 'always supporting Liverpool/CEltic etc' may take the gloss off any homecoming. Surely at this point in his career Keane has to wonder how he wants to be remembered. A year at Bolton? The next at Blackburn? He could do a lot worse than seeing out his career right where it started.

I think 7mill plus SEB is paying over the odds for Johnson. I'd agree that it equates to between 10 and 11 mill in cash. To a championship club he's good for 20-30 goals a season, if fit.If Leicester's bid for Mills is to be believed, then how much would they be prepared to shell out for as prolific a championship goalscorer as Blake?And if he goes and Doyle and Fletch get crocked? Valuing him at 3mill to a championship club seems like under rating him, whilst at the same time giving the Blues their asking price, which I think we were mostly agreed was over the odds.I'd like Johson but if we're going to get shut of SEB, then let the bidding commence and the market can get us full whack for him.