Can people please stop suggesting Danny Drinkwater. What makes you think the guy would do anything here?!?
In current state, and last few years nothing. But, we have a good track record of taking in players when they're low on confidence, have personal problems and manage to get them back on track so it wouldn't be a terrible transfer. A gamble for sure and I still think wages hold us back but if we could get him anywhere near those Leicester days, it would be quite the coup.
For what its worth, I don't think it'll happen and I doubt Parker is really interested at this stage.
do we have a good track record? I’m struggling to think of one
I think there's an argument to be made that Mitrovic is one of the better recent examples.
I've never really bought into this - he was still flying at international level and known as a fantastic player. He didn't fit Benitez's system which relies on a very mobile, pacey forward working often in isolation. Any 'anger issues' were likely a result of frustration with this (and he was what, 22?).
There is a case for Danny Murphy and possibly Zamora but, to be honest, it was a long time ago and there have been far more examples (such is the law of averages with these things) where it hasn't worked out. Markovic being a very recent (and possibly more accurate comparison giving recent playing time, etc) example.
True. with Mitro though, we definitely completely rebuilt his reputation/perception. Everyone lauds him as a professional now rather than some angry red card waiting to happen.
I wouldn't put Markovic in that bracket really, he's not really done anything to warrant being troubled, a club just way overpaid for him. Not really his fault. But I do agree, there's probably as many guys we tried and didn't get back on track as we did, probably more. We're just a good, family club and I think it helps a lot of players. Might be wrong, but if Drinkwater was to ever get his career back on track and defeat his demons, a club like Fulham would be his best chance.
regardless, won't happen. I think he'll pick up high value cheques for the remainder of his career and be like Rodwell. Hopefully I'm wrong though but he isn't worth anywhere near the 110k mark someone mentioned above. He wasn't even at his height at leicester imo.