Sanchez: Brown offer too good to refuse

Fulham boss Lawrie Sanchez revealed Wigan’s offer for skipper Michael Brown was too good to turn down.

The 30-year-old is currently in negotiations over a reported £2million switch to the JJB Stadium after opting out of the Cottagers’ trip to Hong Kong, where they are taking part in the Barclays Asia Trophy as part of their pre-season preparations.

Sanchez indicated he expects an outcome to the discussions one way or the other in the coming days but until then insisted the former Tottenham midfielder will retain the captain’s armband.

“There are still ongoing discussions with Wigan,” Sanchez said.

“Brownie’s the club captain and still is at this moment in time but the fact that we had an offer that we felt, for his age, was a good offer and for the player, what he could get somewhere else professionally at this moment of his career than perhaps what he could get here came into consideration as well and he’s from that part of the world anyway.

“All those factors came together and we said we be willing to accept that money if he wanted to go, so the ball’s very much in his court.”

It’s been a busy summer so far at Craven Cottage with a number of players both coming in and leaving the club.

One signing tipped to make an impact in the Premier League this season is David Healy but Sanchez would not be drawn on whether the former Leeds striker, whom he coached at international level, will prove the bargain of the summer, adding: “Time will tell.”

He also refused to confirm or deny a potential move for young Cork City striker Roy O’Donovan, saying: “Until players are signed, we don’t like to talk about them.”