With fifteen days left until the window slams shut the media rumour machine is in full flow......
This summary is about as good as any I have read so far...
Lyon striker Bafetimbi Gomis is one of the reported targets to replace the QPR-bound Loic Remy. The 27-year old target man has an impressive scoring record for his current club and has 11 goals this season. A £9m bid is being rumoured and the French contingent already on Tyneside could help land Gomis should he be tempted by an offer for his services.
Speculation has once again resurfaced linking PSG striker Mevlut Erding with a move to Tyneside. The Turkish striker was first linked in the summer but a fee could not be agreed between the clubs, but Newcastle could go back in for Erding, who could be available for a lower price than previously talked about. Erding is likely a backup option for higher priority targets such as Gomis.
Newcastle are understood to have made a bid for AS Nancy left-back Massadio Haidara. A fee of around £2.5m has been rumoured for the 20-year old defender, who has also attracted interest from Serie A side Roma and a number of other Premier League clubs. If he was to move across the channel he would likely be cover for Davide Santon.
Santon himself is being linked with a big money move back to Italy, with AC Milan interested in signing the former Inter full back. Santon is happy at Newcastle at the minute and is not seeking a return to his homeland, so the speculation is unlikely to result in the promising Italy international leaving St James’ Park. Milan are also being linked with Tim Krul, who they are pondering a £10m move for.
The big news surrounds Captain Fabricio Coloccini, whose future remains unclear. Officials were set to meet the Argentina defender today (Wednesday) and decide on the player’s future then, but it is now reported that the meeting will take place on Monday instead. The facts are that Coloccini’s wife has returned to Argentina for personal reasons, leaving Coloccini with their two children on Tyneside. Hometown club San Lorenzo are trying to persuade Colo to rescind his contract with Newcastle, but no official transfer request has been made by the 30-year old. The minnows cannot afford a transfer fee and are hinging their deal on Coloccini’s personal problems and love for his hometown club being the instigating factor behind any contract cancelling.
From an outsider’s point of view Coloccini would be hugely missed by Newcastle if he was to leave in this window, as a huge hole would be left in the already troubled defence. However, because no transfer request has been made, it seems like Coloccini is unwilling to jump ship now, and the summer could be a more apt time to leave. Remember that Coloccini was one of the ones who stayed when Newcastle were relegated to the Championship three years ago, so that suggests he is unlikely to want to leave his club in the mire when they need him to be strong.
If Coloccini does go, James Tomkins has been rumoured as a potential replacement. West Ham won’t want to sell cheaply though and the factor that he is English and home-grown players tend to be massively overpriced could force Alan Pardew to look overseas again. Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa is a top target, although the Montpellier centre back is attracting attention from all around the world.
On top of the above these snippets have also been doing the rounds....
Newcastle are apparently eyeing Ajax captain Siem de Jong according to quite a few sources. He is valued at £9 million and has seven goals in 18 games for his club this season.
Newcastle also hope (good choice of word) to secure the signing of Birmingham goalkeeper Jack Butland this transfer window. The Mags have already informed the Championship club of their interest and are prepared to offer £4m for the teenager. However they are likely to face stiff competition from a host of Premier League clubs for Butland’s signature, with Arsenal, Fulham and Liverpool all connected with the England international keeper.
The list just gets longer each day with Newcastle United set to splash the cash (sic) after making further enquiries into deals for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and a previously reported target in former Smoggy, Jeremie Aliadiere.
APees phone must be red hot and the bill reaching epic proportions as he works on bringing in several new players. Saint-Etienne striker Abubameyang being one of those touted as another alternative option following the collapse of the Remy transfer.
According to a number of reports it is understood that Newcastle are willing to pay up to £7million to land the Gabon hitman, and low level (that gave me a laugh if nowt else) negotiations have already begun over a possible deal. Elsewhere, Pardew is believed to have had initial talks rejected by Lorient for their journeyman striker Aliadiere. Both players are expected (another laugh) to be subject of further attention, but the early suggestions are that they will be staying put this month. Oh! well, not all bad news then!
One thing that always amazes me is that for a Club which has won bugger all for four decades NUFC don't half generate some column inches among the media.
I wonder what tomorrow will bring...............
WL
Marseille have confirmed they have agreed a fee for the striker and the deal could be pushed through at £8.3million.
I've seen Newcastle United win silverware!
;D