You mean you're not THE Raul?Yes I know, the headline is as subtle as a brick but it may as well be the Raul, because the latest rumour is that we’re after Espanyol hotshot Raul Tamudo, capped by his country, all-time top goalscorer for his club and generally the sort of fella that a) we’ve been told we’ll not be going after and b) would extremely unlikely to get, if we were.
It might explain things better if I mention that the story comes from the Daily Mail. And to add interest to the speculation, he has been close to ripping up his contract with Espanyol, but has now turned to the board to plead that he be loaned out for the remainder of the season. That being with a view to a permanent move in the summer. Contract issues and a season long loan? Seems like an unnerving combination of the hassles we had with Gutierrez and Gonzalez.
If that wasn’t enough spice, our old foes (by this I mean the baffling ill-feeling that seemed to exist between the two clubs over the last few years), Tottenham Hotspur, are apparently after him as well. The insinuation being though that Redknapp’s desire to sign a centre-forward may be determined by his ability to offload Pavlyuchenko. Apparently Wigan were also after him back in the summer but are no longer thought to be in the reckoning. (more…)
'Sebastien was the player to take'Harry Redknapp has made a sensational claim that it was Iain Dowie who recommended to Harry Redknapp that Sebastien Bassong would be ripe for a move to Tottenham Hotspur if he and Shearer were to vacate the managers position at St James Park. According to Harry, he also picked Bassong for Redknapp as the best player to pick for ‘Spurs out of the Newcastle squad.
Harry said:
“When we played Newcastle last year I spoke to Iain Dowie and Alan Shearer after the game and they spoke about the team, they were in desperate trouble,” Redknapp said.
“Iain said if they didn’t stay at the club and one player did become available, Sebastien was the player to take. They couldn’t have recommended him any higher. (more…)
Bassong: Finalising 'Spurs deal.Newcastle United centre-back, Sebastien Bassong, has been in North London having a medical for Tottenham Hotspur, as the final parts of a deal which has been mooted for some time are thrashed out. The fee is thought to be around £8-10 million, though Bassong was signed by Newcastle’s then Director of Football, Dennis Wise, for a mere £500,000 a year ago.
Despite his meagre pricetag, Bassong was voted Newcastle United’s ‘Player of the Year’ last season, though the field was hardly strong in what was a very disappointing season for the Toon to say the least.
Bassong, 23, has stated that he has “no choice” but to leave Toon, as he strives for Premiership football and a permanent place in the Cameroon first team.
Speaking on his time at Newcastle, he said:
“Playing for Newcastle was a real honour in front of the supporters at St James’s Park.
“It has been an unbelievable experience for me.
“But I have always said that I wanted to play in the Premier League and that wasn’t possible with Newcastle. (more…)
