I WON’T STOP STARS MOVING
Pulis resigned to losing duo
TONY PULIS claims he will never stop his players moving elsewhere to better themselves.
And the Middlesbrough boss insists that if Adama Traore and Ben Gibson (right) quit the Riverside, then they’ll leave with his blessing.
Premier League newcomers Wolves are set to trigger an £18m release clause in Traore’s contract while Burnley have tabled an improved £13m offer for Gibson having had their initial bid rejected.
Pulis is resigned to the pair leaving by Thursday’s transfer deadline. He just wishes the deals had happened weeks ago.
The Boro chief admits the side he sends out at Millwall today will bear little resemblance to the one he hopes will emerge as genuine promotion contenders this season.
The club spent more than £40m in a desperate bid to reclaim top-flight status 12 months ago. Pulis doesn’t have such funds available now and wishes any big-money exits had come before now.
The 60-year-old, a manager since 1992, is no lover of the current transfer window.
“I saw it coming, the club have seen it coming,” he said of the imminent departures of Traore and Gibson.
“It’s so frustrating that it is last minute. Everyone waits and waits thinking they will get the best deal. It builds up to a tipping point. Personally, I think we should go back to the old system which continues all the way through.”
Following on from Patrick Bamford’s £10m move to Leeds, Pulis is aware that many fans won’t be happy to see two more big players leaving, but he’s unapologetic about his stance and his footballing philosophy. “I had this issue with the people at West Brom when I signed Jonny Evans for £6m,” he said.
“The big thing was I thought I could improve him and eventually I felt he would go back into the top six. “We couldn’t stand in his way. I am a great believer that stopping someone from moving on is not the right thing. At the start of last season, Arsenal and Manchester City offered really good money for Jonny and the chairman decided he wasn’t going to sell.
“But being a professional manager, it’s very difficult to stop individuals playing at a higher level as long as clubs are compensated.
“There has to be that respect for players, giving them the best opportunity. To have someone at the football club who is not happy can be damaging.
“If Ben goes, I think we have the ideal replacement in Dael Fry.”
Youngsters Lewis Wing, who was playing for Northern League outfit Shildon 18 months ago, and teen Harry Chapman are in line for debuts at Millwall with summer buy Paddy McNair, Danny Ayala and Rudy Gestede all doubtful.