Maybe a Magpie?Despite shying away from continuous transfer speculation, it would be a bit folly not to mention this snippet from the BBC website, on a day when Newcastle allegedly raised the bid for Jermaine Beckford.
‘Leeds United striker Jermaine Beckford has handed in a transfer request, his agent has told BBC Radio 5 live.
Beckford, 26, scored United’s goal as they clinched a shock 1-0 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford in round three of the FA Cup on Sunday.
He has been linked with a move away from the League One leaders to Championships side Newcastle. Beckford, who joined the Elland Road outfit from non-League Wealdstone in 2006, is out of contract in the summer.’(more…)
I hear £1m...do I hear £3m?A number of sources, including The Journal are confirming that Newcastle have made formal bids for Jermaine Beckford and Matthew Kilgallon, after submitting written offers to Leeds United and Sheffield United respectively, for two of the players high on their priority list for the January transfer window.
Despite the concerns that history would repeat itself and see the club dwell on their ‘attempts’ to bolster the squad, the club has moved swiftly to kick off inevitable negotiations. While The Journal quotes senior sources as “quietly confident”, an agreement on both is sure to take some time, particularly Beckford’s as Leeds hold out for a bidding war, with the striker’s rise in stock following his FA Cup winner against the mancs.
It appears the conclusion of the Kilgallon move may be more straightforward, as though manager Kevin Blackwell has repeatedly stated he wants him to stay, there have been enough comments ‘between the lines’ which suggest he has acknowledged it is more a case of when and not if. With his contract due to expire, it’s likely that Sheffield will just get the best price and look for a replacement. (more…)
Maybe a Magpie?…provided that Leeds can sign a replacement for him. Considering the fractious relationship between Leeds boss Simon Grayson and his start turn upfront, Beckford’s departure seems all the more inevitable. With his contract up at the end of the season, the consensus is that he will leave for pastures new to prove himself at a higher level.
Already with a goalscoring record better than a goal every other game since his move from non-league football, Beckford has continued to score goals this term to help Leeds push for promotion back to the big time. Despite a slow start to his Leeds career, Beckford is hitting the sort of form that has a number of suitors watching. Reports very but there are some who think he can do the business in the Championship and even perhaps the Premiership.
Beckford doesn’t come without baggage though and as is often the case, appears to sometimes believe his own press a bit too much. That in itself has caused a rift between him and his gaffer, as has his reluctance to sign a new contract. (more…)
Sick as ****Once upon a time, comparisons were made between the clubs based on positive notes such as the club history, the passion of the fans and their desire for success diluted with a realistic and humorous outlook on the game. Instead, the familiarity these days is apparent for a different reason. It doesn’t take a genius to draw a parallel between our decline and that of our old friends down the road, Leeds United. That’s why people have been doing it for the last couple of years or more.
Mismanagement and poor finances off the field together with mismanagement and poor performances on the field led to the downfall of the once great Leeds. A club who, less than 20 years ago (just less mind), were the English Champions. Holding off the challenge of their bitter rivals across the Pennines to take the 1991/1992 title, while the destiny of Newcastle United was being re-charted dramatically by a certain messiah (ahem….). (more…)
