Unwanted at the Toon?As QPR pull out of contention to sign Newcastle United’s Wayne Routledge, the player will be back with the club for pre-season training. But does he have any sort of future at Newcastle?
Wayne Routledge, who spent the second half of last season out on loan to QPR, appears to be somewhat in limbo at the moment.
He was originally loaned to QPR to cover for Jamie Mackie, who was crocked by an injury to his cruciate ligament and, although Mackie is expected to be fit again for next season, Routledge was allegedly at the top of Neil Warnock’s list of players he wanted to sign permanently.
Allegedly, Routledge was available to QPR for £1.5m. QPR have however taken themselves out of contention to buy Routledge now. It is thought they have done so in order to keep money back to sign a new striker after losing Danny Graham and Steve Morrison to other clubs and finding they couldn’t afford Peterborough’s Craig Mackail-Smith. A QPR insider apparently said:
“It’s a question of budget and priorities.” (more…)
£1.5m bid rejectedCeltic are still interested in Newcastle United keeper Fraser Forster despite getting their first offer rejected, and the Charles N’Zogbia rumour has been resurrected a bit.
Celtic are likely to pursue Fraser Forster with increased vigour – along with increased money – after getting their £1.5m offer for the goalkeeper rejected.
Celtic boss Neil Lennon said:
“Obviously I need a goalkeeper. A bid has gone in for Fraser Forster. At the minute they are saying he’s not for sale but we will maybe pursue that again later on.”
Since he’s never actually played a game for the Newcastle first-team and has expressed a strong desire to join Celtic, I think there’s a good chance the Scottish club will eventually get their man.
I think it will be hard enough for Pardew to keep Harper and Krul happy as both players will be making a claim to be the first choice keeper, and keeping a third goalie – one who’s just come back from a season of first-team football – happy is probably asking too much. I reckon £2m-£3m will probably see him between Celtic’s sticks next season. (more…)
First choices?Speculation as to how the Newcastle United team might line up next season, who will be the first choices in various positions and who else is needed.
Goalie
With news that Fraser Forster may be the subject of a £1.5m bid from Celtic and given that he has intimated he’d like a move to the Scottish club it seems likely that he won’t be in contention for us next season. Forster may not eventually leave of course and there’s nothing to say we won’t bring in another keeper, but somehow I doubt it.
The first choice goalkeeping position will therefore most likely be fought out between Harper and Krul with Soderberg as a backup.
Matuidi and Erdinç - realistic targets?Newcastle United allegedly maintain a strong interest in Saint-Etienne’s Blaise Matuidi and Paris Saint-Germain’s Mevlüt Erdinç.
According to ‘France Football’ (as well as our very own Chronicle) the French revolution is far from over at Newcastle.
Apparently we are still pursuing a legendary ‘double swoop’ for Blaise Matuidi and Mevlüt Erdinç. I have reported our supposed interest in both these players a few times on this ‘blog and the rumours seem to be gaining momentum rather than going away.
Matuidi won’t come cheap though. Saint-Etienne President Roland Romeyer has previously said:
“We will not discuss anything below €15m for Blaise Matuidi.”
That’s £13.4m that Ashley will have to fork out if he wants to bag the 24 year-old.
As a defensive midfielder, presumably the plan would be to play him alongside Tiote, maybe in a standard 4-4-2 or possibly in a 4-2-3-1 formation. (more…)
Destination Northampton?Ben Tozer and Newcastle United agree terms to cancel the player’s contract and allow him to leave on a free transfer.
Apparently Ben Tozer is quitting Newcastle in favour of Northampton. Or at least that’s what Sky Sports are suggesting.
The 21 year old defender started out as a youth player at Plymouth Argyle, which is his home town, and then he transferred to Swindon Town in 2007.
Newcastle signed him from Swindon in 2008 on a four and a half year deal after he was touted as one of the most promising young defenders in the country.
Alas he only played one cup game and three minutes of a league game for us and was loaned out to Northampton for most of last season where he made 31 appearances and scored 3 goals.
Given his struggle to get into the Newcastle first team, he would allegedly prefer to transfer to a club where he’ll get regular football and League 2’s Northampton are in the frame as the most likely club to take him. (more…)
