NUFC Transfer Rumours

[kennethlindheim]

NEWCASTLE are ready to make a controversial cut-price offer for Manchester City's Joey Barton.

Boss Glenn Roeder is working within a tight budget and - backed by chairman Freddy Shepherd -will submit a £1.5million bid for the midfielder who is in dispute with City.

Barton may be sold by Stuart Pearce's club because he has rejected a long-term contract offer. But City chairman John Wardle wants a figure closer to £5m for the home-grown star.

Newcastle think they are in a powerful bargaining position because Barton can leave for nothing in a year's time - and signs are that he is stubborn enough to hang on.

Roeder must shift some big earners to bring in the buys he wants, but Barton would be a major addition at a reasonable cost.

The Toon may let Amdy Faye go, with doubts about Turkish star Belozoglu Emre's long-term future and a possible exit for Lee Bowyer.

They are thin in central midfield if they lose a couple of those.

[kennethlindheim]

Newcastle United are hoping that Fulham midfielder Steed Malbranque will be their first signing of the close season.

Fulham are resigned to losing their Belgium-born midfielder, and they are very much aware of United's interest in the 26-year-old attacking player.

Freddy Shepherd said in The Chronicle yesterday that United were on the lookout for attacking players - and midfielders do not come more attack-minded than Malbranque.

United fans saw for themselves just how effective he is when, only two minutes after coming of the Fulham bench, he scored the winner against them at Craven Cottage back in January.

The word from South West London is that Fulham boss Chris Coleman signed Jimmy Bullard to replace Malbranque, who arrived at the Cottage from Lyon for £5m in 2001.


Malbranque's contract expires in 12 months and Fulham accept that they have to cash in now or risk losing one of their key players for nothing this time next year.


Malbranque almost moved to Manchester City in the last transfer window, but this fell down at the final hurdle.


I hear that Fulham have slapped a £6m fee on Malbranque, but in reality they would accept £4m for him.


And United found out 12 months ago that Coleman is not afraid to dig his heels in when he priced Luis Boa Morte out of a move to St James' Park.


But the difference is that Coleman persuaded Boa More to sign a new and improved contract, and this will not happen in this case.


Coleman is already preparing to spend the money he will receive for the midfielder by bringing in former England striker Emile Heskey from Birmingham City.


Glenn Roeder's hopes of signing Malbranque could well depend on whether Aston Villa chairman Doug Ellis is going to give David O'Leary the £3.5m needed to sign James Milner, who has been on loan at Villa Park from United for the past 12 months.


Certainly if the clubs can agree a fee, Roeder will have no problems persuading Malbranque to leave London for the North East.


For after sharing a dressing with Geordie boy Lee Clark at Craven Cottage for four years, Malbranque will have been told about the joys of playing in front of 52,000 fans every other week.

Very good player. At a good age as well. I would definitely take him, but we have to look around after strikers.

[ToonMonster]

are u forgetting about our defense

[hanuma]

Arguably having Barton helps your defence because of cover...no team in the world will relish having to come up against Barton and Parker in the centre of the park.

[kennethlindheim]

The transfer business has offically started, so it should'nt be long time before we sign our first player this summer.

[kennethlindheim]

NEWCASTLE are ready to make a shock £500,000 bid to land Celtic striker John Hartson.

Hotline has learned that Toon bosses have earmarked the burly Welsh forward as a short-term replacement for Alan Shearer.

Shearer retired at the end of last season to leave a huge void for manager Glenn Roeder to fill.

The Magpies want a powerful forward to work with Michael Owen next season and Hartson fits the bill.

The muscular striker has been disappointed that there is no great desire to keep him at Parkhead.

The 31-year-old only has a further year left on his contract at Celtic and will not be offered a new deal by Gordon Strachan.

That transfer fee is loose change to Newcastle, who have retained their position as one of the most powerful clubs financially in England.

And they would be prepared to match the £28,000 a week Hartson picks up in Scotland for the course of the short-term deal.

Hartson is way past his best and hardly fits the younger players syndrome.
I hope we are after better calibre than John Hartson.

[kennethlindheim]

Newcastle United Football Club are reportedly lining up an £8million bid for Wesley Brown.

Despite having an impressive season at the heart of the defence for Manchester United, Brown was overlooked by Sven Goran Eriksson for the World Cup Finals this summer.

With Nemanja Vidic expected to partner Rio Ferdinand in the back four for the Reds next term, the Manchester-born defender could struggle to feature for the Old Trafford club.

Newcastle are in the market for a top-class addition to their rear line, and manager Glenn Roeder has reportedly turned his attention to Brown.

The Magpies boss has cash to spend during the summer transfer market, and will try and lure the 25-year-old to St James' Park with the promise of regular first team football.

Way too expensive, but I'd not mind seeing him turn out for us (at the right price)

[hanuma]

Utd fans would hate that...he'd be a top buy.

[russe||]

I would not be happy seeing Wes leaving and especially for £8m. We couldn't get another defender as good as him in for the same price. Wes is seriously underrated cos of the injuries he has had over the years. He is a great defender.

[kennethlindheim]

very very underated defender, easily better than rio ferdinand imo if he can shake off his injury problems. But coz of those injury problems £8m is too much. But I doubt it's gonna happen though, ferguson rates him highly.

[Pennywise]

Carr wants away from tyneside and he wants to go back to the southern part of England.

Shep is trying to deny the statement, because then the price will be higher.

[hanuma]

He's injury prone and he's been useless for you...a poor mans Alves who'll probably never be back to his best.

Get rid.

[kennethlindheim]

Has been pretty poor for us, but that is no suprise like babayaro when you have a guarenteed starting slot if your fit.

If he or baba actually had competition they would play alot better.

Carr has put in too many poor performances but he is still largely better than Ramage at RB, despite his resorting to fouling players because he cant Shackle and tackle them.

Id like to see us buy someone that can push both Babayaro and Carr.. whether thats one adaptable player that can play either side or two i dont care.

Carr can be a positive player for us, but he wont be IMO until someone gives him a huge kick up the ass.

[Pennywise]

Lets go together with Northern Rock and some investors + Shep and buy in Fernando Torres.

Shearer and Owen is gone. We can't play Ameobi-Luque on top through a season + many of the other players will for 100 % sure get a heavy injure.

Fernando Torres and Dean Ashton as strikers. Maybe Van Nistelrooy

What about the market in Germany? Look at the players in Bayern Munchen, Werder Bremen, Hamburger SV, Schalke04.. a lot of good players. And the market in La Liga?

[kennethlindheim]

Agree; It's time to crack open the Northern Rock trust fund.

Newcastle United chairman Freddy Shepherd has confirmed the club are now looking for two new strikers following Michael Owen's injury.

The Magpies were always set to plunder the transfer market with talismanic striker Alan shearer calling time on his illustrious career in the summer.

However, with Owen now set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines after injuring his knee in England's draw with Sweden, the club are now seeking further reinforcements.

Shepherd acknowledges it is an unenviable task trying to replace the pair, but will be giving his all into strengthening the club's frontline.

"We've always known Alan's retired and that we had to bring in someone to go alongside Michael, that hasn't changed," Shepherd told Sky Sports News.

"It's never easy, but how do you replace Owen and Shearer? It's very difficult. They are somewhere so we'll have to go and find them.

"We've always delivered in the transfer market. I'm speaking to Glenn (Roeder), he's on his Pro Licence course and back at the weekend, we'll be sorting it then."