Moat still in pole position?The Mirror claims that a new bidder is going to enter the race to buy Newcastle United before Wednesday’s deadline, although they say Barry Moat still remains in pole position.
Apparently the bid will be made direct to Ashley, rather than Keith Harris at Seymour Pierce, and – I presume – without having performed a due diligence. A ‘source close to the bidders’ had this to say:
“There have been so many D-days and so many false dawns that they have done their best to keep this late move under wraps.
“This offer has been properly planned and has cost a lot to put together.
“It will be a credible offer and if Mike Ashley is serious about selling the club he will seriously consider it.
“Ashley has said he will take the club off the market if his latest deadline isn’t met, but this offer should give him something to think about.
“Something will happen in the next couple of days.
“It is being made directly to Ashley and his advisers and that is all that can be said about it at the moment.”
I must admit I’m wearing my doubtful face again. (more…)
Heading South for the season?According to SSN, Sulaiman Al Fahim has revealed Portsmouth are in talks to sign Jonas Gutierrez and Egyptian striker Amr Zaki. Whilst we’ll obviously be pretty disinterested about the Zaki link, Spiderman would be yet another hole in our ever decreasing squad and is something to ponder.
Of course, Al Fahim, a businessman out in Dubai, is yet to finalise a takeover of Portsmouth, but apparently he has lined up additions to Paul Hart’s squad. Pompey boss Hart, is eager to improve his numbers before the close of the transfer window and could soon have Jonas and Zaki in his squad.
‘Spiderman’ has been in the ‘fire sale’ catalogue since we went down and with high wages and having only briefly lived up to his potential, is a likely mover. Al Fahim has confirmed talks have been held with us over a deal for Gutierrez.
“We are in negotiations with Amr Zaki to bring him in on a loan deal with a view to a permanent transfer,” Al Fahim told Emirates Business 24/7. “We are also speaking to Newcastle about the possibility of bringing Jonas Gutierrez to the club.”(more…)
Cock of the North: Shola celebrates.A decent attendance considering, a few grey, bald patches but not too bad after scare stories of less than 30,000. A cosy looking threesome involving Mike Ashley, Barry Moat and Derek Llambias in the Director’s box was a newsworthy event in itself.
In this, the first home game since the death of Sir Bobby Robson, a minute’s applause was once again observed, as it was in last week’s game at West Bromwich Albion. But an even better tribute followed, as Newcastle United played the kind of enterprising, attacking football that even the great man himself might have been proud of for long stretches of the game.
United got off to a busy start in the first few minutes, until Reading finally managed to contain them a little, managing to get in a few nice tackles and interceptions to nip Newcastle’s attacking flair in the bud. However, single strikered Reading seemed to have great problems lauching attacks of their own, keeping the impetus with the Toon. The customary break for Alan Smith to receive his yellow card happened after around twenty minutes this time, which was pretty good going for the Leeds butcher, though he’s capable of much better. (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…)
Cottage industry beckons?Reports in the media tell us that Roy Hodgson has confirmed Fulham are very close to clinching a move for Damien Duff. Apparently the London club are prepared to offer the mooted £4m for the Irish winger. Of course, Roy Hodgson knows Duff well from when he became a regular at Blackburn in the late ’90s, while Hodgson was in charge.
He rates him very highly and according to the rumours Duffer is more than keen to get back down south, knowing the area well after his Chelsea days.
“The clubs are talking and I hope the deal will go through. He’s a player that interests us,” Hodgson said. “Damien and I go back a long way from when we worked together at Blackburn. He wants to come back to west London.
“Damien had injury problems at Chelsea and has done well at Newcastle given the turmoil there. Every time he’s played for Ireland he’s consistently been one of their best performers. We know what we’d be getting with Damien – he’s an experienced and quality player.”(more…)
