Breaking News:Tony Mowbray Makes An Announcement That Might Cost Him His Job In Few Days…
Tony Mowbray has joked that Jordan James could be worth in excess of £30million by the next transfer window after Birmingham City resisted the temptation to sell their most valuable asset in January.
Blues rejected a series of derisory bids from Serie A side Atalanta and James stayed put. Mowbray now wants to develop the 19-year-old to ensure his value rockets before the summer transfer window.
Thirty-odd million, it’s got to be?” quipped Mowbray when asked about James’ valuation. “I don’t know. I would never say what he said. But we did have a conversation about how he compares himself to Wharton.”
Needless to say, James is worth considerably more than Atalanta offered. Mowbray added: “I don’t think you can argue against that really.
He’s a young international footballer that plays most weeks and scores goals. I think the club are making the right choice.”
Mowbray is using Adam Wharton, who transferred to Crystal Palace from Blackburn Rovers for a fee rising to £22m on deadline day, as a barometer to measure James’ value. James is five months Wharton’s junior but he has made 37 more senior appearances (88-51).
James has won eight full caps for Wales, whereas Wharton is an England under-21 international. And James’ haul of six goals in 27 Championship matches this season is considerably better than Wharton’s two in 26.
Mowbray added: “He can score a goal, first and foremost. For a young boy, he knows where the net is.
I like his ability to put his foot on the gas and change pace through midfield, he has some power in his legs. He’s a confident boy who doesn’t get pushed around.
“He has lots of good attributes but he has things to work on as well. He has to scan more and be aware of what’s around him. Everybody’s passing can develop. He has lots of aspects of his game to grow and get better at.”