The Fletcher Irony and the Vokes Conundrum!

Burnley stand to gain from a sell-on clause, should Wolves decide to sell Steven Fletcher following their relegation to the Championship last season. The former Burnley striker is thought to be strongly on Sunderland`s radar but would they be willing to accept Wolves asking price?

Wolves are thought to have put a £10m price tag on the 25 year old, Scottish international's head with some media reports suggesting as much as £14 million. It is unlikely though that the club would accept anything less than £10 million due simply to the sell-on clause negotiated with Burnley when they brought the striker to Molineux for £6.5 million in June 2010. It is thought the sell-on clause could be quite lucrative for Burnley with reports that the club could be owed between 10 and 15 per cent of any future profit on the player.

Strangely the sell-on clause may well have both a positive or negative effect when you consider we are also interested in bringing another Wolves striker to Turf Moor. It is no secret Eddie Howe would like to sign former loan striker, Sam Vokes on a permanent deal and it now looks like the sale of Fletcher or not could be influential in our chances of signing him.

On the face of it, receiving money for the transfer of Fletcher will only help us financially secure the services of Sam Vokes but then if Wolves lose one of their key strikers would they then be reluctant to lose another forward? Vokes may well be given a new lease of life at Molineux if Fletcher departs so there lies the irony. On the other side of the coin, the fact the sell off clause exists could put Sunderland off due to the asking price thus giving the Clarets a better chance of signing Vokes. So that is the conundrum!

Probably I suspect that Burnley FC will be hoping that Steven Fletcher is sold. They will then at least receive the additional dosh even if that means their prime target Sam Vokes could become more difficult to prise away from Molineux. The money would still be there even if that meant they would have to look elsewhere for another striker.

There is another interesting possibility. Wolves knowing Burnley are keen on Vokes might attempt a compromise over the sell-on clause so that in the end both parties could achieve what they want .

All rather intriguing don`t you think?

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