By this time there were constant rumours about a move to a big Premier League club and Tottenham Hotspur had an £8million bid rejected for the player. Ipswich are said to be demanding £10million with Roy Keane saying he would be “lynched” if he sold Wickham. The hype surrounding Wickham is justified according to ex England and Ipswich defender Kevin Beattie:
“The boy has everything, strength, skill, the lot. It would not surprise me if he were partnering Wayne Rooney up front for England in a few years time. He impresses me that much.”
After scoring 6 goals in his first full senior season, he joined up with the England Under 17s for the European Championships in May. Wickham had scored a 21 minute hat-trick in qualifying against Azerbaijan, and he came into his own, playing as a lone striker, in the semi-final against France. He sealed a 2-1 win for England with two angled shots from the left hand side of the penalty area, and he followed that performance up by scoring the winning goal in the final against Spain, passing three defenders before slotting past the goalkeeper. Wickham said afterwards:
“It is an amazing feeling to get the winning goal for my country. This has topped everything I’ve done this season.”
This season though, Wickham has struggled for fitness and form so far. He picked up a knee injury which kept him out until September and manager Roy Keane has invariably used him as a substitute this campaign. With all the interest surrounding him though, Wickham says he is keeping a level head:
“To be reading in the papers that I’m worth £10m or that Premier League clubs are interested is a bit of an experience in itself. I’ve got a good head on my shoulders so it’s not going to make me get big-time or anything like that.”
It will be interesting to see whether Liverpool attempt to bid for the player in the near future.
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This week it is former Liverpool WAG Claudine Keane.
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CLICK ON THE IMAGE OR HERE TO SEE CLAUDINE KEANE’S GALLERY
1st of all he wants to play for Gunners or Spurs.
2nd : We hve Daniel , Ngoo. Coming Up and 10mil is too much.
3rd : In our current squad we hve Ngog performing really well.
4th : We need reputed young talented clinical striker. If we r ready to spent 10mil fr ths raw talent. Thn y cant we try for Louis Suarez for 23mil, he is 24yrs, has shown what he is capable of. So buy him come Jan and save our season Roy.
In your dreams boyo!
“At £10m, is this much heralded youngster worth a gamble?”
NO!
life is also a gamble… same thing we have done with c ronaldo. Do you think suarez and other star players will come to us to play europa league? Do you belive we will reach up to 4th spot this season with roy?
We need to find such raw talent and be ready for next season, thats the reality.
paying 10 mil for a 17 yr old youngster who wud’nt make the first team straight away and who has been injured and out of form lately is too much of a gamble…
i’d rather buy honda for the same amount..