Toon after Shikabala (+video). Big Sam after Nolan. Gervinho speaks.
Posted on June 8th, 2011 | 47 Comments |
Tomorrow might be a better day for transfer gossip as that’s when the French transfer window creaks open and allows a plethora of Gallic talent to enter the market. Given where our scouts seem to have been concentrating their investigations, the opening of the aforementioned window should be of particular interest to Newcastle.
In the meantime, it seems that West Ham are preparing a £3m bid for Kevin Nolan. Nolan apparently refused a two year extension to his Newcastle contract, preferring instead to get a five year extension, and is thus described as ‘unsettled’. Quite whether that means he’s actually looking to transfer is unclear. Alan Pardew is allegedly ‘battling’ to keep the player at Newcastle, although I have no idea how.
Rumour has it that Big Sam might also be interested in taking Alan Smith – who has recently been told he can leave Newcastle – to West Ham.
In terms of potential incoming personnel, reports (mainly from the foreign press) suggest we, along with Blackburn, are interested in Egyptian midfielder Mahmoud Shikabala. He currently plays at Zamalek in Egypt where he has bagged an astonishing 53 goals in 78 games for them. The 6ft, 25 year-old also has 1 goal in 11 games for the Egyptian national side.
Here’s a video of Shikabala in action:
The Gervinho situation still rumbles on and the press yesterday reported that Moneybags Manchester City are planning to hijack our (and Arsenal’s) move for Gervinho. Allegedly, a member of City’s negotiating team has already flown to France (well, got a plane to France to be precise) to get his beak in and try to secure a deal – no doubt involving immense wages – ahead of us.
In a recent interview in France’s L’Equipe Gervinho said:
“Everything is still possible. Between leaving and staying, there is always a choice to make. I have a one year contract and we are still in discussions. What is certain is that I will stay [he actually said ‘I will be prolonged’] or I will leave.”
So I’m glad that’s cleared things up!
NUFCBlog Author: Hugh de Payen
I'm a baby-boomer of the punk rock persuasion, currently exiled in Somerset for crimes committed in a previous life where locals keep trying to poison me with something called 'scrumpy'. Hates sprouts, coat-hangers, Cilla Black, ornaments, Steven Seagull movies and 50 Cent (he's not worth 10).
Hugh de Payen has written 634 articles on this blog.
very funny article, like the dry and black humor.. as to the transfer side of things.. well all that can be known is the everyone we have is for sale and we are in for every french player in the world, along with every ivory coast player along with anyone half decent in the championship and everyone is desperate to leave and we have dozens that we are closing in on..but of course we have signed no one as of yet and only the crap have left as well. its al lon a knife edge…