Vale need to tie-up Streete contract before the window re-opens
At the risk of repeating himself, OVF editor Rob Fielding urges the club to discuss a new contract with star defender Remie Streete.
Rob Fielding writes…
Bruno Ribeiro recently spoke to the Sentinel newspaper about his hopes of keeping hold of duo Alex Jones and Nathan Smith, but while we can’t really argue if Jones did leave (he’s not our player) and we’d at least be handsomely compensated for Smith (due to his long-term contract) what’s more worrying for me is that Vale could be in danger of losing Remie Streete for a pittance.
What’s more worrying for me is that Vale could be in danger of losing Remie Streete for a pittance…
I mentioned months ago that I felt Streete was worthy of a new, extended contract but the defender says no talks have been forthcoming.
One of the most consistent comments over recent months has been Streete’s fine form but it concerns me that the centre-half is out of contract in the summer. It means that should a club move for the defender then a tribunal could set the compensation amount. Streete is a product of the Newcastle academy and has only been at Vale Park for a couple of years so the compensation amount could be trivial (remember Vale only got £45,000 for Dave Hibbert and he’d spent ten years at the club).
On the other hand, if Streete is on a similar contract to Nathan Smith it would not only mean that a club would have to come up with a sizeable fee but Vale could decide if they want to sell him and if so when. A lengthy contract also ties down a key player for the club, it shows faith in him and offers him security. Not only that, but we remember the euphoria when Nathan Smith signed his deal – it would be a similar story if Streete put pen to paper – a good news story to reinvigorate an often fractious fanbase.
It really is such a no-brainer I am astonished the club are not opening talks.
Yes, I can appreciate that an agreement may not be made (we all know how football agents can be) but the club should at least be opening discussions with Streete rather than doing nothing at all.
Losing Alex Jones and Nathan Smith would be a blow, but losing Remie Streete for a fraction of what he’s worth would just be foolish.