Maloney: Marshall lives up to his £15m pricetag

Shaun Maloney maintains it would be no surprise were David Marshall to become the most-expensive Scottish player ever.

The Cardiff City number one has been linked with a £15-million move to Arsenal, with Spurs also credited with an interest.

At that price, he would pass the current record set by Steven Fletcher’s £12-million switch from Wolves to Sunderland, and become the fifth most-expensive goalkeeper of all time.

Arsenal are reported to feel the valuation is too high but Maloney, his current Scotland and former Celtic team-mate, disagrees.

“The value is just a reflection of the way the game is in the Premier League,” he says. “You see players going between two English clubs for big sums regularly, so David going for that kind of figure wouldn’t be unexpected.

“I don’t believe there’s a great gulf between him and the keepers Arsenal and Spurs have playing for them just now. Also you have to respect the fact his team are owned by someone who’s put a lot of wealth into the club.

“I don’t think any club who are interested will get him at a reduced price just because he’s dropped to the Championship. They might think it is worth more to keep him so he can help them get back to the greater finances of the Premier League.

“David got into the Premier League’s team Team of the Season, so it’s been an excellent year for him. I feel particularly pleased for him because he had to work to get to that level and to have a great season.

“We are friends, and when he was a young player at Celtic, I was at him that he had to move to find first-team football because we all knew just how talented he was. Of course, he did exactly that and has become more confident within himself, with his experience making him a better goalkeeper.

“It is a very good feeling to see someone like that prosper. Anything David gets he will deserve.”

Marshall still faces a battle for the Scotland jersey, with Allan McGregor reminding the country of his ability with some smart saves in the 2-2 draw with Nigeria.

“I think we are lucky to be blessed with two stand-out goalkeepers,” says Maloney. “When either of them plays, you have confidence in them.

“If it comes down to one-v-one, or there’s a chance for an opposition player, you expect them to make the save. We saw that again against Nigeria with the stop Allan made with his feet.

“If you consider that we have also got Matt Gilks and Cammy Bell to call upon, we really are well off in that department.”