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Does £15m count as a "hefty fee" in today's Premier League? The Telegraph seems to think so. I guess we will see if Crystal Palace agree with that sentiment.
"Chelsea will demand at least £15 million for Loïc Rémy in a move that could put a big dent in Crystal Palace's hopes of signing the striker."
Palace's record transfer fee paid is barely half that at £7m, which is how much they gave to Wigan for James McArthur last summer. Factor in Remy's wages (another £5m or so annually), and suddenly the financial commitment does look potentially daunting even with all the new TV money pouring in. Would Pardew be willing to risk that much on a 28-year-old, regardless of goal-scoring pedigree? Possibly not.
Of course, there are other teams interested in Remy as well, if we are to believe the rumors. Others like West Ham United or Southampton or perhaps even Lyon could easily afford a £15m striker. They have all done it before. So while Mourinho may be "reluctant" to sell, the rumored price tag is nowhere near the realm of untouchable. If somebody's willing to give us 50% more than what we paid to get Remy last summer, it would appear that we're willing to let him go. (And that's assuming Remy doesn't start pushing for a transfer, in which case we could lose some leverage.)