NUFC Transfer Rumours

[kennethlindheim]

Benfica duo Luisao and Nelson are reportedly on Newcastle United's summer shopping list.

Glenn Roeder is determined to transform The Magpies into a team capable of challenging for honours and has outlined the need to strengthen his squad.

He took in Portugal's game with Belgium on Saturday, while other members of staff watched several other Euro 2008 qualifiers over the weekend.

Reports have suggested that Luisao and Nelson, who were not involved in internationals at the weekend, are on Newcastle's radar.

Kenny Shepherd, son of Magpies chairman Freddy, confirmed the pair are on the shopping list, but played down talk the defenders are prime targets of Roeder.

"They are two of many names, but at the moment there is nothing concrete," Shepherd told Portuguese daily O Jogo.

"At the end of the season, we will see."

Luisao is a powerful centre-half, who is a Brazil international, while Nelson is capable of playing in either full-back position.

Nelson scored a stunning goal at Old Trafford earlier in the season as Benfica lost 3-1 to Manchester United in the UEFA Champions League.

Defence is an area Roeder is looking to strengthen in the summer and he is confident of having the funds available to inject extra quality into his squad.

Sky Sports - The Best Sport Coverage From Around The World

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Benfica overprice their players because they won't let none of them go.

[kennethlindheim]

Know pretty much nothing about Nelson but Luisao has looked good on the few occasions I have seen him.

[kennethlindheim]

Newcastle United have rekindled their interest in Manchester United centre-back Wes Brown as Glenn Roeder looks to rebuild his defence in the summer.

The Journal revealed in January that Roeder was keen on the England international, but the club failed to make a bid as they were told he would not be leaving Old Trafford in the middle of the season because of their European and FA Cup commitments.

But that is likely to change in the summer, with Brown unable to hold down a regular starting place with the Red Devils. The 27-year-old will only have one year left on his contract in June and is unlikely to sign a new one while he is in and out of the first team.

That will persuade Sir Alex Ferguson to part with a player he once described as the "best natural defender" he had ever worked with, although it remains to be seen whether Brown accepts a move to the North-East.

Brown was part of the England squad in the summer and played in the 5-0 win over Andorra at Old Trafford in the autumn.

But the former Manchester United youth team player, who can play at centre-back or right-back, has fallen well down the pecking order at international level and his advisers have suggested he needs a move to re-invigorate his career.

Brown has made 154 League appearances for Manchester United and would have featured in far more had he not suffered two serious leg injuries since he made his debut nine years ago.

If Brown, who has ten England caps, did move to the North-East, he would be reunited with former team-mate Nicky Butt, who left Old Trafford for St James's Park in the summer of 2004 when he also became a fringe player under Ferguson.

icNewcastle - Roeder ready to launch bid

He can play at centre-half and right -back, seems to fit the profile perfectly.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Wes Brown is a quality defender Newcastle really need.

[Trim]

Wes is decent, would be a good addition.

[kennethlindheim]

But on the other hand... he is injuryprone and that is the last thing we need.

[kennethlindheim]

NEWCASTLE boss Glenn Roeder has won the race to sign Reading's contract rebel Steve Sidwell.

Sidwell, 24, will be left out of Reading's line-up to face Fulham today as manager Steve Coppell is resigned to him going to St James' Park this summer.

Former Arsenal trainee Sidwell, a free agent this summer, turned down a final £25,000-a-week contract offer to stay at Reading.

Advertisement
That alerted several big clubs including Newcastle, Liverpool, Chelsea and Everton, to the player who has impressed in his first season in the Premiership.

But Sidwell favours a move to Newcastle because he believes he will get the best first-team opportunity in the North-East.

Sidwell has already held unofficial talks with Newcastle and the club have outlined their plans for the future, leaving him impressed and ready to sign.

Roeder and his Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd sold the idea to Sidwell and he has told friends he is on his way to join the Toon Army.

Coppell is well aware of Sidwell's intentions to go to the North-East and is now planning for the future, which is why he will leave him out for the rest of the season.

Sidwell spoke with Coppell yesterday and the pair remain on good terms. But they will go their different ways this summer as Sidwell gets his move.

Mirror.co.uk - Sport - Football - SIDWELL ON HIS WAY TO JOIN TOON

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Good player.Remains me a bit about Scott Parker in his play...

[kennethlindheim]

He has impressed me in those game I've watch him. And I think this mean that one of Emre, Butt and Parker will be gone in the summer.

[kennethlindheim]

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is ready to offer Newcastle skipper Scott Parker a return to London - by packing Gilberto Silva off in the other direction.

Parker has had a torrid time of it of late on Tyneside, with Toon fans jeering him to such an extent that boss Glenn Roeder has had to publicly ask them to lay off.

And Brazil star Gilberto would be interested in a move north, because Arsenal are only willing to offer him a one-year extension to his current deal as part of Wenger's over-30s policy.

Roeder, on the other hand, would stump up a three-year contract for the 30-year-old World Cup-winner.

Londoner Parker joined Newcastle in 2005 in a £6.5million summer switch after failing to establish himself at Stamford Bridge following his dream move from Charlton to Chelsea.

His tough-tackling displays soon won him a place in the Toon fans' hearts, but recently they have begun to accuse him of not trying.

And Wenger would be willing to part with around £8million - which would include Gilberto - to sign the England international.

- Newcastle boss Roeder is keen on Melbourne Victory striker Adrian Leijer, skipper of Australia Under-21s.

People.co.uk - Sport - Football - EXCLUSIVE: PARKER GETS A CAPITAL OFFER

[Oliver_Kahn]

Parker for Gilberto. Hmmm, Kenneth what do you think ?

[kennethlindheim]

I'd take that if true but I doubt Roeder will sell his captain, and Wenger buying an english player,replacing his vice captain AND offering cash = Impossible

I don't know if Gilberto would thrive here with the shit set up we have though, but he is a quality player, better than Parker for sure this season. However I feel Parker would make an excellent DMF if only we'd use him exclusively for that role.

[kennethlindheim]

Lorient striker Andre-Pierre Gignac is being tracked by Newcastle United and Bolton Wanderers.
The News of the World says both Premiership clubs are keeping tabs on the 22year-old ahead of the summer market.

tribalfootball.com - Newcastle, Bolton target Lorient striker Gignac