I think the issue is you described it as a free punt. It’s not.
Id also wager he’s going to be making considerably more than Pulisic (as per your example).
Perhaps bad wording, I should have said no transfer fee. However the maths still stay the same. Even taking into account higher wages the overall sum game is a saving. Unless we’re really thick and we’re giving him unfathomable numbers
speculative attempt below:
Pulisic sale (£50m perhaps?)
Wages £150k a week rumoured = £7.8m a year
total saving over a 4 year deal = £81.2m
Dembele signing on fee £10m
Agent fee £5m
Wages £250k = £13m a year (estimated much higher than I’d expect)
total cost over four years = £67m
Saving of £14m even with high figures. And that’s not even factoring in how much Pulisic would want for renewing his contract in terms of fees