Scotland boundCeltic reach an agreement to take Newcastle United keeper Fraser Forster and Toon wannabe Maiga speaks up about his omission from Sochaux’s European squad.
Celtic claim to have reached an agreement to take Fraser Forster off our hands. Apparently it’s along the lines of a season-long loan with some sort of option to buy the player after that.
Celtic manager Niel Lennon said:
“A deal has been agreed. There are a few little snags to overcome but we hope to have him registered in time for tomorrow night.
“If that is the eventuality of things, we would be absolutely delighted. He has been the main target since the end of last season.
“We did put a bid in but it was knocked back but we worked hard in the background to try to bring him in so I’m very, very pleased.”
Forster was loaned to Celtic last season and broke the club’s clean sheets record while he was there and was also quite good in goal. Forster had previously expressed a desire to return to Celtic this season although Alan Pardew was keen to see how he measured up against Krul and Harper between the sticks during pre-season before letting him go. (more…)
Somehow I doubt itNewcastle United are allegedly considering a move to take Wayne Bridge on loan if they fail in their attempts to sign Erik Pieters.
This is one from the Daily Mail. They claim we’d consider paying £80k/week to bring Wayne Bridge to Newcastle on a season long loan if we don’t manage to sign Erik Pieters.
Personally, I think that’s poppycock and the Mail doesn’t even attempt to justify its claims in any way whatsoever. It merely states that we will ‘consider a fresh move’ for the player if all else fails.
I rather suspect such ‘consideration’ will amount to about 2 minutes of side-splitting laughter from board room at St James’ Park. Manchester City are apparently not keen to pay any of Bridge’s wages if he goes out on loan and there are even rumours that they want £2m up front merely for the privilege of loaning a player from them.
I really can’t see any of this appealing to Ashley’s methods of running a football club. And rightly so in this case. We need to ‘build’ a team for the seasons ahead rather than just plug holes in it for the short term. (more…)
Punished ... still a possibility?Newcastle United target Modibo Maiga is punished by Sochaux for refusing to play in last weekend’s match.
As I mentioned yesterday, Sochaux were looking to punish Modibo Maiga for refusing to play against Caen last weekend in an attempt to force a move to Newcastle.
Well they have punished him by leaving him out of the squad for the Europa League match against Metalist Kharkiv tomorrow night.
Sochaux’s assistant coach Stéphane Gilli said:
“The staff made the decision not to bring him to the Ukraine. We need him, but there are things you can not let pass. There are other players who will be there. And FC Sochaux will prevail – the club is more than just Bazdarevic, Maiga or Boudebouz.”
Isn’t that a bit like punishing an on-strike member of BA’s cabin crew by giving them a day off? Although I suppose any player worth their salt would want to be playing in European competition, even if it is only the Europa League. (more…)
Maiga in hot water at SochauxNewcastle United striker target Modibo Maiga faces punishment from Sochaux.
As reported yesterday, Sochaux’s want-away Malian striker Modibo Maiga has been trying to force a move to Newcastle by refusing to play for his current club. It seems he didn’t turn up to the training session that took place after that either.
This has got his Sochaux bosses hopping mad and it seems they’re preparing to dish out some sort of punishment to the player. An official statement from the club reads as follows:
FC Sochaux-Montbéliard recorded in amazement the boycott by one of its players of the game against Ligue 1 side Stade Malherbe Caen and absence without leave of the same player from the training session scheduled on Sunday 14 August 2011. The club condemns this unacceptable behaviour from a player which is contractually bound after signing in the summer of 2010 for a period of four years (until June 2014). FCSM consider that this behaviour is totally disrespectful to the club, his teammates and his fans. It will not be without consequence or punishment.(more…)
Fancies the ToonNewcastle United have allegedly made a bid for Sochaux striker Modibo Maiga.
According to Sky Sports we’ve put in an €8m (£7m) bid for Modibo Maiga who is reported to be ‘unsettled’ at French outfit Sochaux. Part of the reason he’s unsettled is, it seems, because he wants a transfer to Newcastle but his club are refusing to acknowledge his desire to leave.
Magai has confirmed Newcastle’s approach, saying:
“Before the Newcastle offer I have not been offered anything, but now I would like the chairman to consider my interest. I want to leave.
“I met everyone at Newcastle. They want me and it is not just any club. Premier League is a dream.
“That is the kind of game I like, it suits me and it is good for my career. I want to leave, he has to accept that and negotiate.
“I told the coach I would play and respect my contract, but the chairman has to talk about my transfer first. I don’t want to annoy Sochaux, but I want it to be sorted out with Newcastle.” (more…)
