OPINION
Newcastle United have benefited from their stubborn stance regarding selling Matz Sels as the reported fee received from his sale is higher than they previously demanded.
The Magpies confirmed on Thursday, via their official website, that they had successfully sold the 26-year-old goalkeeper to French side Strasbourg.
For a large portion of the summer Sels appeared to be looking very likely to join Belgian side Anderlecht who he spent last season on loan with.
The Chronicle even reported in May that the shot-stopper had agreed to take a huge pay-cut on his Magpies salary in order to help seal his exit from St James Park.
With that report even claiming that while Anderlecht and the Magpies were yet to agree a fee, they soon would.
However that never happened.
In fact The Sun reported in June that even though the Magpies were only seeking £2.25million for their keeper’s services, the Belgian giants were refusing to pay more than their £1.75million bid.
This stance saw the potential move fall through.
The Magpies could have easily lowered their demands as it was clear to everyone that they were keen to get Sels off their books as it was very unlikely that he’d be featuring for the club in the 2018/19 campaign.
This was because Sels previously failed to impress in the 14 appearances he was allowed to make for the Magpies as he managed to conceded 13 goals in his outings.
Some clubs would have panicked about keeping him on their wage bill when he was surplus to requirements and worried about whether his value would go down if he was left to rot at the club.
Yet the Magpies remained stubborn when it came to their valuation of Sels and have now been proven right to do so.
According to the Chronicle, Strasbourg paid £4million to sign the 26-year-old and it proves that the Magpies were right to hold out when it came to getting the most from Sels’ sale.
Not only is £4million greater than the price they wanted Anderlecht to pay, it means they only lost out on £2million from their original £6million investment in the keeper.
Therefore it seems the Magpies have benefited from their stubborn stance when it comes to selling their players as Sels’ reported fee is better than previously hoped.
