Stuart Pearce is convinced Premiership clubs are being
asked to pay too much for potential.
In the week when Aston Villa have forked out £9.65million to land
England Under-21 striker Ashley Young from Watford, Pearce's
Manchester City side will face up to the other highly talked-about
youngster in this transfer window.
Although Gareth Bale is expected to be in the Southampton line-up
visiting City in the FA Cup fourth round tomorrow, it is by no
means certain the 17-year-old will still be at St Mary's once
Wednesday's deadline has passed. Bale has been courted by Tottenham
and Manchester United, with Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger also
expressing his admiration for the Wales international while
distancing himself from making a firm bid.
The asking price is thought to have reached £10million, an
incredible sum for a player who has yet to make 30 senior
appearances. And, while Pearce is among those who marvel at the
youngster's talent, he feels fees for players of potential are too
high.
'You are paying £4million in player value and £6million for the
potential,' observed Pearce. 'In my opinion, you are talking about
prices that are too high. 'We have watched Gareth, as have many
Premiership clubs. He has caught the eye and has the potential to
go on and become an extremely good player. 'But I would put him
slightly behind Ashley Young because he has not played in the
Premier League.'
Although it appears inevitable Bale will leave Southampton, if not
this month then in the summer, Pearce believes the player must
recognise the benefit to be gained from regular football before he
quits to join a bigger club, where he may spend most of his time on
the bench or in the stands.
'Players are not stupid,' he said, recalling his formative years as
a non-league star with Wealdstone. 'They have seen lads go to big
clubs with squad rotation and know they will have to sit out
matches.
'The experience of playing matches is invaluable. If I had come
through the ranks at a professional club, I would have played a
fraction of the games I actually did between the ages of 16 and 21.
There is no substitute for playing first-team football.'
Pearce will recall Joey Barton for tomorrow's clash, while Trevor
Sinclair misses out through suspension.
