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SMILING SAINT: Wright-Phillips with a very happy George Burley
Thursday, July 6, 2006
Saints have completed their first major signing of the new era with the capture of striker, Bradley Wright-Phillips (BWP) from Manchester City, reports Saints Forever.
The fee is undisclosed, but Saints have said the £250k Coca-Cola prize won by Saints fan Chantelle Legg, will go towards paying the fee. Various reports in Manchester put the value at between £750k and £1m, possibly rising on appearances and if we get promoted. It's thought that City have a sell-on clause as well.
Bradley Wright-Phillips is 21 and the biological son of Ian Wright. Shaun Wright-Phillips is his half brother. Bradley knocked in goals consistently for City's youth and reserve team, but hasn't really had the chance to establish himself in the City first team, although he has made quite a few sub appearances.
He's 5'8" tall, quick and described as natural finisher. He will certainly add some pace to Saints attack and put pressure on the likes of Dexter Blackstock and David McGoldrick next season, as well as Rasiak and Fuller.
City boss Stuart Pearce lavished praise on Wright-Phillips. Pearce admits that he will be sad to see the 21-year-old striker go but insisted that the move would probably benefit all parties concerned.
"In some ways if you take a dislike to someone it makes it easier for you to move them on," he told Sky Sports News.
"But in Bradley's case, he is a smashing kid and is one the most likeable people we have had around the place.
"We just felt that he needs a run of first team football and to build up confidence by playing first team football.
"It would have been tough for him to break in here and I think he either needed to go out on loan or, which is the route we have taken, we have got a fantastic offer from Southampton and we decided to go down that route and invest it somewhere else in the squad.
"If I am being honest, it is a good deal for our football club and a good deal for Bradley."
Pearce expects Wright-Phillips to play a key role for Southampton and is confident that he will develop further as a result.
"I spoke to Bradley and said that whatever you do don't feel downhearted, as you have gone to a club who have paid enough to suggest you will not be sitting in their reserves," he explained.
"Hopefully he will fulfil his potential and hopefully he will come back in a few years and I might sign him again."
Saints boss George Burley was equally enamoured with Wright-Phillips and backed him to provide a bit more spark to their frontline.
"He's a terrific player with a lot of ability and I'm really glad we've got him," said Burley.
"If you look at our front-men here there is no doubt we have some very good strikers but we lack a bit of pace.
"He will give us an extra dimension and it is great for us to have a young British striker which was the criteria I wanted.
"I tried to get him on loan last season but we were turned down. But we followed it up in the summer and have managed to sign him."
Wright-Phillips is relishing the prospect of playing for Burley, and intends to help propel Southampton back into The Premiership.
"It was a wrench to leave City but it's an exciting challenge," he declared.
"I spoke to my dad and he told me all about Southampton, and about George, and what to expect so I am happy to be here. It's a great club with great facilities.
"It's a big step for me. Southampton have got the players here to get back up to The Premiership and players I can learn from.
