Will he or won't he?Newcastle United were allegedly expecting a decision from Mevlüt Erdinç yesterday but no word of any decision has yet come out. Meanwhile, Swansea step up Routledge interest.
It’s Saturday, which as all people of a certain age know is Tiswas day and I think everyone in the football world is out flinging flans at people because there’s absolutely no news at all.
Elements of the press yesterday suggested that we wanted – nay, demanded – that Mevlüt Erdinç make up his mind about whether or not he wants to become a Toon player by the end of the day. For all I know we might have dispatched Graham Carr to attack electrodes to his nether regions and already have his decision, but any decision by Erdinç isn’t public knowledge if it has been made. (more…)
Swapsies?Rumours abound that Wigan may be interested in Newcastle United winger Wayne Routledge. Could some sort of swap involving N’Zogbia be in the offing?
The Sun is rumouring that Wigan might be preparing a £2.5m bid for Wayne Routledge to replace Charles’ N’Zogbia if he leaves the club as expected. N’Zogbia has in fact not gone to Austria for pre-season yodelling practise along with the rest of the Wigan squad, thus creating some sort of expectation that his transfer out of Wigan is perhaps close.
Apparently a £9m bid for N’Zogbia by Villa was rejected by Wigan recently.
Maybe Ashley will quote a ‘special price’ of £5m for Routledge for non-Champions League contenders, rather like Wigan allegedly did for us when we first showed some interest in The Zog!
Rumours tend to snowball, so of course this particular one has resurrected our interest in N’Zogbia and plays to the idea of some sort of swap deal being arranged.
Personally I think that, even if we took £2.5m off the N’Zogbia’s price and gave Routledge to Wigan instead, it might still be seen as too expensive for another midfielder given that, presumably, some money will need to be kept back for a striker of some sort. I suppose there’s always the possibility that Ben Arfa could be used as a striker and another midfielder could be recruited in his place, although I tend to think we want to recruit an out-and-out striker as a priority. (more…)
Man kicks football - whatever next?Newcastle United latest: Liverpool allegedly closing in on Enrique, Swansea City make improved bit for Wayne Routledge, the US tour gets underway tomorrow at Sporting Kansas City and the FA are awaiting reports about the pitch invasion at Darlington.
The whole Jose Enrique situation is beginning to grind on me at the moment, so I’ll be brief.
According to press reports, Liverpool are ‘closing in’ with an £11.5m deal for the player, which – if true – must be a very recent move by Dalglish’s mob because just a few days ago Alan Pardew said this in relation to the Enrique situation:
“We have had no concrete offers.”
I’ll be disappointed if he does go to Liverpool after all his crowing about wanting Champions League football although, if he’s clearly not going to sign a contract for us, I’ll be glad to see the back of him so that we can recruit a replacement left-back well before the new season gets under way. (more…)
Eff off says Ranger to BlackpoolNewcastle United hard man Nile Ranger fails to agree personal terms with Blackpool, Ameobi struggles with contract renewal and Routledge looks most likely to be heading for Leicester City.
It seems my article from yesterday about Nile Ranger‘s move to Blackpool was a bit premature. The £1.5m that Blackpool offered us was accepted by the club but then Ranger failed to agree personal terms with Blackpool.
A few options still remain though. Ranger could find himself loaned to Blackpool, which was the preference of some of the readers who commented on yesterday’s article anyway, or he could find himself going to Reading in some sort of part-exchange deal for Shane Long, who we’re allegedly very interested in.
Leon Best was originally thought to be the striker who would be offered as part of that deal, so I guess it could be either of them or both of them.
Assuming we are actually after Shane Long that is – it’s still just speculation. Shane Long is said to be valued at £10m, although I think that’s a bit high even considering his 1 in 2 strike rate for last season. (more…)
Another incoming midfielder?Newcastle United supposedly bid £1.5m for Nottingham Forest midfielder Lewis McGugan.
Based on absolutely no evidence that I can find, the Daily Mirror yesterday claimed that we’ve made a £1.5m bid for Nottingham Forest midfielder Lewis McGugan.
However, as Nottingham Forest are allegedly after Wayne Routledge (now that QPR seem to have given up on him), maybe some sort of deal could be struck with Steve McClaren’s mob.
Lewis McGugan is 22, 5ft 9in high and plays in the centre of midfield as an ‘attacking midfielder’. He has been at Nottingham Forest from youth through to senior career and has scored 31 goals and provided 26 assists in 156 games. Last season was particularly good for McGugan with 13 goals and 16 assists in 45 games.
He’s also played for England’s under 17’s (2 goals in 10 games) and under 19’s (no goals in 4 games).
If by some freak accident the Daily Mirror has got this one right, I would presume he’s ‘one for the future’ given the number of players we already have in contention for midfield places. (more…)
