Riise's free

[Big Martin Jol]

Something that confuses me slightly is our apparent willingness to let Riise leave immediately on a free transfer despite being under contract.

According to transfermarkt he's got an estimated value of around €2m. That's not an insignificant amount of money for a club like Fulham - it's the difference between our offers and the reported selling price of players like Enoh and Bent.

The reported reasoning behind his possible departure is that we want to get him off the wage bill, but if we assume he earns somewhere in the region of £30,000 per week then it costs us €1.8m a year to keep him on the books.

If that's the case then surely it's more cost effective to keep him for a year than get rid of him for no fee? If we're getting rid of last season's first choice left back to save money then it makes sense maximise any returns from his departure and possibly fund moves for other players.

The only reasons I can think of for his free transfer are that a) the club feel that there may be no willing buyers at that price or that b) there is an agreement with Riise to let him go for nothing if the club end their agreement early.

[Jack Fulham]

Why would anyone spend £2 Million on a declining full back that turns 33 next month. Transfermarkt values are irrelevant. If we're not going to play him, get him off the wage bill as he will be one of bigger earners considering the clubs he has played for.

[Alan]

I can only guess that we're going to sign another LB, & JAR would move to 3rd choice...

[Andy S]

Who knows and does it really matter. He did little for us last season and even insisted that if he wasn't playing he didn't want to travel to away games

[MJG]

Because by giving him away we save 2m we would have given him in wages. Trouble with the shortsighted signing of oldies is no sale on value. Look at how many players we let go for nothing.

[jmh]

Who knows and does it really matter. He did little for us last season and even insisted that if he wasn't playing he didn't want to travel to away games

This is a misrepresentation.

[Big Martin Jol]

Who knows and does it really matter. He did little for us last season and even insisted that if he wasn't playing he didn't want to travel to away games

I think it does. If we're shying away from certain purchases because the fee is too great/cutting costs then releasing a contracted member of the starting eleven for nothing makes very little sense to me.

[PaulJ123]

really hope we get Cresswell from Ipswich in

[Northern Cottager]

I hope he goes. He's an idiot on twitter being so open about going or staying.

If I stay at Fulham I made a bet with @sjsidwell , 4 goals in the league.. Good luck to me!!!

[TheManOnTheBus]

I think he only talked about it on twitter after Jol confirmed the discussion at the press conference post-Parma. 

[FTID]

He has a clause in his contract that lets him go for free.

[MasterHaynes]

Why would anyone spend £2 Million on a declining full back that turns 33 next month. .

QPR????

[Me-ate-Live, innit??]

Riisa Free ??? I really wish we were.

He is probably the reason why there has been no news on signing, they need to get him off the books
He does not know how to jump quietly  and knowing our luck,   he will still be with us in September costing an arm and a leg and causing us to concede goals

 

[Berserker]

I don't know why he keeps changing his hair colour. He should be like sidders and embrace the flaming glory.