Football is a short term career, they effectively need to earn a lifetimes earnings in half the years.
Their lifestyle will also be higher than the average man, it's all well and good saying it doesn't have to be but they don't know any different and it's natural to compete with your peers.
i would go for the money but with one eye on the long term path.
Off football but if you look look at what Connor Macgregor is doing it's incredibly astute regardless of if you like him, UFC etc. He is cleverly plotting big money making fights whilst protecting future money earners. I don't doubt he will lose against Mayweather but he is still the star of UFC regardless and will go back to making big money there scot free.
Footballers need to get a balance of keeping their stock high whilst picking up the biggest wage possible. The risks of dropping a level for less just don't stack up. It only takes that team having a terrible season where you are tarred with that brush and stock depletes.
I imagine Banks would have been offloaded in summer if Shez could have (he was contracted).
We probably have 3 very average central midfielders in Banks, Green and Fane where as Shez would probably prefer 2 better quality and A youth such as Fawns in reserve.
At least Fane is a decent prospect and will be cheap and Green will be a good head in the squad to drive the right disciplines and work ethics.
I struggle to see what Banks offers...
Fane and banks central Midfield 2 is weak isn't it? Still think this is our biggest challenge to solve...Green & Gardner would be better imo (I know Gardner is banned for 3 games).
Which ever way you look at it having players like Fane, Flynn, Duffus, Edmunson, Dummigan, Stott, Tope and even Fawns as your reserve squad is a huge step up in our squad quality than for many a year.