If AJ goes who will replace him?
By Ryan G • Jul 8th, 2008 • Category: News |Over the past few weeks Andrew Johnson has been linked with no less then seven Premiership clubs. However, David Moyes came out last week stating: “Andy Johnson is not for sale – it is that simple. He is a highly-valued member of my senior squad and I look forward to seeing him when the players report back for pre-season training.”
Despite Moyes reassuring fans that Johnson wasn’t going anywhere the rumours just won’t go away and now it is reported that Wigan and Sunderland are prepared to bid £10 million for the England international.
If Johnson does go then who will who will be his replacement? It is extremely doubtful that Moyes would let Johnson go without having certain targets lined up to replace the 26 year old.
The names that are being spouted to replace the former Crystal Palace striker at the moment include Diego Milito, Louis Saha (no thanks) and Darren Bent (no thanks). All three strikers would cost around the same amount that Johnson would be sold for (£10 million).
Diego Milito plays for Real Zaragoza and is an Argentine international with fourteen caps. In the 2006/07 La Liga season he was third top scorer with 23 league goals. The 29 year old is currently club captain but it is understood he would like to leave Real Zaragoza as they have just been recently relegated from La Liga.
Louis Saha plays for Manchester United and is a French international with 18 caps to his name. The 29 year old has hardly played for United over the past two seasons as he has had horrendous injury problems.
Darren Bent plays for Tottenham Hotspur and is an England international with three caps to his name. The 24 year old hasn’t had the best of seasons with only scoring six goals in 27 appearances in his debut season for the north London club.
Looking at all three striking options there doesn’t seem to anyone who would significantly improve Everton’s firepower upfront if they replaced Johnson. Milito is already 29 years old and if he came to the club it would limit the amount of pace the Merseysiders would have upfront.
Louis Saha has been plagued by injuries throughout his career and would be seen as too much of a risk, though when fully fit he would be one of the leading forwards in the Premiership.
Darren Bent would be the best replacement for Johnson if he went. They both have many similar attributes with great pace and a good eye for goal. However, what would be the point of selling Johnson for around £10 million just to buy someone similar for a couple of million more?
He isn’t going anywhere, and why on earth is Bent being touted as a suitable replacement – similar striker rate for a club that ended up relegated, but much lower when actually moving to a club where every single cross and through ball isn’t aimed at him. Well, you’ve covered it in the article but its blows the gasket!
Andy Johnson should not be sold full stop.. Also we are picking out possible replacements like Saha, Bent,Milito but why would Bent come heer anyway?. He is in London on a fat wage and if Robbie Keane does leave Spurs then he will fancy his chances a bit more there and I agree anyway, apart from being a bit younger than AJ is he actually that much better?. I dont think so..Saha we dont need..We already have Vaughan who occupies the treatment table most of the season and Milito wants a move to Genoa and I ask myself also if we did sign him then we would have no pace in the team anywhere once again, it would just be like going back to the Beattie days.. I think the ideal replacement moved in January of this year…Jermaine Defoe.. He is similar in style to Johnson and if anything is a litle bit more prolific..The type of player who cannot really do it at international level but is a very good goalscorer in the Premier League and has been for years and Portsmouth got him for cheaper than we would get Darren Bent for..Missed opportunity??
I’m not familiar with the Real chap, but the other two would not have anywhere near AJ’s work rate, and this would be really missed as the Yak can be a lazyB.
To sell AJ would be suicide!
why do we have to sell aj for it,s a shambles its midfielders we need desparately so come on moyes start doing something blimey we will have missed out on some good midfielders we have to start doing something soon the likes of pompey and manshitty will be overtaking us for that 5th place if we dont act soon dont sell aj were down to the barebones as it is. 🙁