2026/27 Ins & Outs Discussion

[weeyin]

Eli gets bigged up in The Guardian's "Five Breakout World Cup Stars". Must be worth a few extra quid.

Eli Just (New Zealand, 26)

His World Cup performances have captured a wider audience than he had last season in Scotland, where he delighted supporters of an improving Motherwell side with consistently high-quality displays. An intelligent middle-to-front forward, Just is a late developer. He previously played in Denmark and Austria after leaving New Zealand and is now showing a belief in his ability. Bigger defenders have been caught off balance by a quick body swerve as he moves with intent from the middle third into dangerous areas and at this tournament he has benefited from complementing the strength and hold-up play of Chris Wood. Just’s advantage over similar attacking midfielders is how quick he is to assess situations – he sees pictures. Twice against Iran he saw the space in which to receive from his target man and score with perfectly placed right-foot shots. He can score with his left too but needs to score more. Just is consistently a highly skilled performer at club level and shows a commendable humbleness and intelligence. If he continues his improvement he will be on a bigger club’s radar.

[Orinoco]

Would be nice for a signing. Times moving on.

[Richie]

Per Kyrk's interview there , one or two new faces due shortly, but leaving Alfred space to bring in his own also.

https://x.com/i/status/2070522480318423181

[mio]

He comes over really well does Kyrk, it’s so refreshing listening to his outlook and enthusiasm for progressing the club….. it’s just what I need after watching Steve Clarke’s press conference and his IM Jolley demeanour. 

[Kmcalpin]

Our Academy youngster, Harry Grierson, (I've never heard of him) signs for Brighton for a 6 figure fee. 

[mio]

4 minutes ago, Kmcalpin said:

Our Academy youngster, Harry Grierson, (I've never heard of him) signs for Brighton for a 6 figure fee. 

Wonder if he’ll be as successful as Ben Hall was

[weeyin]

26 minutes ago, mio said:

Wonder if he’ll be as successful as Ben Hall was

I don't think any of our youngsters who left for England with zero first team games had any luck down there.

The ones that stuck around to get 40 or 50+ games under their belt had more success.

[thewelllfan]

On 6/24/2026 at 4:20 PM, AllyMax said:

Why are people assuming well sell Watt, Just and Maswanhise all in the same window ?

Maswanhise - Will flag up well in the data and Anderlecht seem to be sniffing about him. Could see us getting 3-4M for him which would be great.

Just - Was comfortably one of the best players in the league had a good world cup and his agent basically came out and said he was gone. Had his breakout season at 26 again we'll cash in at 3-4M.

Watt - Had a great season but again we could be looking at bids of 2-3M and if they come in he'll be sold.

If we play our cards right we could take in £10M in transfer fees which would set the club up for years to come and would help us attract better quality players looking to build their careers.

If they can help us go a couple rounds in Europe before they leave that would be lovely though.

[thewelllfan]

6 hours ago, Kmcalpin said:

Our Academy youngster, Harry Grierson, (I've never heard of him) signs for Brighton for a 6 figure fee. 

Of the ones coming through the only ones i'd be expecting around the first team are Zander Macallister and Olly Whyte. 

[Onthefringes]

1 hour ago, thewelllfan said:

Maswanhise - Will flag up well in the data and Anderlecht seem to be sniffing about him. Could see us getting 3-4M for him which would be great.

Just - Was comfortably one of the best players in the league had a good world cup and his agent basically came out and said he was gone. Had his breakout season at 26 again we'll cash in at 3-4M.

Watt - Had a great season but again we could be looking at bids of 2-3M and if they come in he'll be sold.

If we play our cards right we could take in £10M in transfer fees which would set the club up for years to come and would help us attract better quality players looking to build their careers.

If they can help us go a couple rounds in Europe before they leave that would be lovely though.

So, the antithesis of club outlook?

 

[Onthefringes]

2 hours ago, thewelllfan said:

Of the ones coming through the only ones i'd be expecting around the first team are Zander Macallister and Olly Whyte. 

Based on what exactly? A hype train?

[Mccus28]

And Just scores again!!!!!

[mio]

Really good goal too. He’s the only positive I can take from this World Cup. It’s been brilliant watching him do so well.

[thewelllfan]

7 hours ago, Onthefringes said:

Based on what exactly? A hype train?

Well Whyte's went out and got around 70 games on loan in the last 2 seasons and won pots or ypots at both clubs, I imagine given he's turning 20 he will be in the 1st team squad next season and he was very good for Stenhouisemuir when I watched their play off semi final v QOTS . Macallister has been playing for the Scotland youth teams and they tend to be the ones that breakthrough to the 1st team he's also been on the bench for the 1st team multiple times last season and had a couple of brief appearances. So no based on the fact our entire model is based on giving youth a chance I expect they'll be the next 2 given a chance.

[Richie]

I would be most comfortable with Maswanhise going.

Not sure what it is, but has a touch of the Theo Bair purple patch about him and would take a decent offer if given.

Just is absolutey pivotal for us linking feom decence to attack, and given he's now equalled Larsson's WC record whilst at a Scottish Club, we should be looking for a record fee.

Watt similarly is pivotal to how we play

Ideally we wouldn't sell all 3 at once, but if the right offers come in, then it safeguard's the Club's future and allows us to speculate/transform areas.

The positives are we have a degree of bargaining power given we are cash healthy due to sale of Miller (and others),the above players are inder contracts with Club options and with each one we sell, we can argue the importance of losing the others increases.

We obviously have a ceiling in what we can demand, but in a pretty decent place.

[thewelllfan]

7 hours ago, Onthefringes said:

So, the antithesis of club outlook?

 

Pretty sure you'll find our whole model is platforming players to get a better move if you watched the CEO's interview yesterday you'll have heard the line 'we couldn't stand in his way'. Your never going to get the club saying they actively want to sell their best players but if you've been a Motherwell fan for any length of time you'll understand we are constantly losing our best players. Even if we lost all 3 the squads probably still the strongest we've had since 12/13 going into a league campaign. Also sorry to break it to you if you think we're keeping hold of Just when he's just scored 3 at a World Cup you'll be extremley disapointed. I might even have underestimated the fee we could genuinley end up getting close to £5M for him.

[texanwellfan]

5 hours ago, thewelllfan said:

Pretty sure you'll find our whole model is platforming players to get a better move if you watched the CEO's interview yesterday you'll have heard the line 'we couldn't stand in his way'. Your never going to get the club saying they actively want to sell their best players but if you've been a Motherwell fan for any length of time you'll understand we are constantly losing our best players. Even if we lost all 3 the squads probably still the strongest we've had since 12/13 going into a league campaign. Also sorry to break it to you if you think we're keeping hold of Just when he's just scored 3 at a World Cup you'll be extremley disapointed. I might even have underestimated the fee we could genuinley end up getting close to £5M for him.

Chris Wood’s last 3 transfers have been 15M 25M and 15M. Eli easily showed he can play with that level of player. Just should blow our transfer fee record out of the water. Although I’m sure his transfer fee will be suitably scaled back since it’s only Motherwell, a wee team from the SPFL 😡

[Onthefringes]

6 hours ago, thewelllfan said:

Well Whyte's went out and got around 70 games on loan in the last 2 seasons and won pots or ypots at both clubs, I imagine given he's turning 20 he will be in the 1st team squad next season and he was very good for Stenhouisemuir when I watched their play off semi final v QOTS . Macallister has been playing for the Scotland youth teams and they tend to be the ones that breakthrough to the 1st team he's also been on the bench for the 1st team multiple times last season and had a couple of brief appearances. So no based on the fact our entire model is based on giving youth a chance I expect they'll be the next 2 given a chance.

So a hype train.

I’ll reserve judgement, happen to speak to a team mate of his at Stenhousemuir on a regular basis and amongst others they don’t share that optimism.

Still, developing so hope he kicks on to our benefit. Massive difference in levels from League 1 to breaking our first team.

Entire model? It’s not you know.

[Onthefringes]

6 hours ago, thewelllfan said:

Pretty sure you'll find our whole model is platforming players to get a better move if you watched the CEO's interview yesterday you'll have heard the line 'we couldn't stand in his way'. Your never going to get the club saying they actively want to sell their best players but if you've been a Motherwell fan for any length of time you'll understand we are constantly losing our best players. Even if we lost all 3 the squads probably still the strongest we've had since 12/13 going into a league campaign. Also sorry to break it to you if you think we're keeping hold of Just when he's just scored 3 at a World Cup you'll be extremley disapointed. I might even have underestimated the fee we could genuinley end up getting close to £5M for him.

Are you sure what the model is? Contradictory from your earlier post for a start…

Yes, I heard the Chairman’s media output yesterday. Not just listened, heard.

I’m well aware ‘we couldn’t stand in his way’ as that ethos has been around for some time. I never advocated we would, yet, you’ve got all our assets sold off at values that I’m not sure align with current market conditions.

What the chairman did reiterate was the building our club incrementally which he has been open about before including statement at our AGM. This is by not selling off each asset in one window - which belies your ‘we are constantly losing our best players’ comment. We are in a position we don’t have to and can still demand higher value when we do decide to cash in.

You ain’t breaking anything to me. His World Cup performances have been no surprise and I’d resigned myself to him not wearing claret & amber for some time.

Thinks there’s a few who may dispute your further valuation - the mould firm are hinting at £20/25 million for Raskin & Engels, both wouldn’t have gotten a first team berth at ours last season.

[thewelllfan]

1 hour ago, Onthefringes said:

Are you sure what the model is? Contradictory from your earlier post for a start…

Yes, I heard the Chairman’s media output yesterday. Not just listened, heard.

I’m well aware ‘we couldn’t stand in his way’ as that ethos has been around for some time. I never advocated we would, yet, you’ve got all our assets sold off at values that I’m not sure align with current market conditions.

What the chairman did reiterate was the building our club incrementally which he has been open about before including statement at our AGM. This is by not selling off each asset in one window - which belies your ‘we are constantly losing our best players’ comment. We are in a position we don’t have to and can still demand higher value when we do decide to cash in.

You ain’t breaking anything to me. His World Cup performances have been no surprise and I’d resigned myself to him not wearing claret & amber for some time.

Thinks there’s a few who may dispute your further valuation - the mould firm are hinting at £20/25 million for Raskin & Engels, both wouldn’t have gotten a first team berth at ours last season.

Out of interest what are you expecting as a transfer fee for each of those players? Me personally:

Just - Had his breakout season at 26, been fantastic for us this season, PFA POTY Nominee, Fantastic WC with NZ I'd expect 4-5M

Watt - Again breakout season at 26, don't think unfair to say was the best CM in the league this season, had an argument to be in Scotland WC squad. I'd expect 2-3m mainly because of his age.

Maswanhise - Been resigned to losing him this summer, Golden boot winner, Won a breakout player award at AFCON. He's hardest to predict price wise could be anywhere between 3-5M.

If we get more than the fees I've put there I'd be surprised but also delighted as it helps protect the clubs future. I think if we manage to get more than the fees quoted there then that would also help us selling players in future for bigger fees.

I also don't think they're our only sellable assets: Ward, Fadinger, Longelo, Said could all fairly easily fetch transfer fees.

Your Celtic/Rangers asking price points is fair but I imagine that Raskin or Engels would be at maximum doubling their wage, the guys leaving us you'd expect would get 4/5x at mimimum the amount their on at Motherwell. That bargaining position tends to allow them to hold out for more. The club size and reputation will also play a part in the fee we can conceivably get. 

On the model point yes I am very much aware. We provide players and managers a platform to showcase their abilities and make the next step in their careers. Our academy is extremely important to the model as in the past 10 years it has made us £10M between transfer fees (Miller, Turnbull) Compensation (Johnston, Campbell, Hastie) then the ones that clubs paid fees for before they played for us (McKinstry, Rice, now Greirson). As well as providing us squad players in the first team. (Maguire, Cornelius, Wilson). We also know that we need successful league and cup campaigns and to get into Europe for prize money that plugs holes in our finances, and selling players also contributes to that hence we sell our best players fairly regularly. The messaging from the club tends to be we budget for 10th and anything else is a bonus. 

On your hype train earlier post it is fairly obvious that the club see Whyte and MaCallister as the next 2 to be involved in the first team. They offered them 2 year deals and the reasons cited in the post about them suggest to me they will be involved with the 1st team this season. Will be interesting to see what happens with Ross and Wilson. Ross barely featured for us last season and Wilson was getting kept out the team at Raith by a 38 year old Lewis Stevenson.