Carlos Carvalhal claimed West Brom were not a ‘top club’ – just as reports suggest Sheffield Wednesday are trying to get Callum McManaman on the cheap.
If you want to encourage a club to let you sign one of their players on a bargain deal, it is probably not the wisest idea to insult them publicly.
And though Sheffield Wednesday boss Carlos Carvalhal will not have meant to rub West Brom up the wrong way, his claims that The Baggies are simply not worthy of Euro 2016 winning compatriot William Carvalho may not have gone down too well at The Hawthorns, as reported by the Birmingham Mail.
Therefore, this may not exactly help Wednesday’s hopes of nabbing loanee Callum McManaman for less than £2 million, the newspaper adds.
West Brom have been heavily linked with an ambitious, marquee swoop for one of Europe’s top young midfielders in recent weeks, offering Sporting Lisbon £26million in January and harbouring hopes of finally getting a major coup over the line in the summer.
Think before you speak
However, Carvalhal believes the imposing 25-year-old, who has been courted by the Premier League’s biggest and best in recent years, could do a little better than Tony Pulis’ eighth-placed team.
“William Carvalho is a player for a big club, a top one. West Brom are not a top club,” Carvalhal said in quotes reported by the Birmingham Mail.
“He has the ability to be in a team with [bigger] goals. But, if he comes to West Brom, he’ll join the Premier League which is a great stage and where almost every player would like to be.”
On reflection, it is difficult to argue with Carvalhal’s stance. Although, with Wednesday hoping to avoid paying over the odds for McManaman, they could maybe be better served keeping The Baggies sweet.
McManaman has only started twice in a disappointing loan spell at Hillsborough, meaning The Owls want to avoid an extortionate transfer fee if they are to sign him permanently.
Therefore, maybe those comments could come back to bite Carvalhal.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
