Faye completes Newcastle move

[kennethlindheim]

Abdoulaye Faye is expected to undergo a medical on Tyneside today before a proposed £2 million transfer from Bolton Wanderers to Newcastle United. Sam Allardyce remains keen to bolster his playing resources further before the closure of the transfer window and versatility is a key requirement for the manager, who is also in pursuit of Phil Neville, of Everton.

Faye, signed by Allardyce for Bolton from Lens in 2005 as a midfield player, made the majority of his 29 league starts last season as a centre half and the Senegal international would offer cover for a squad lacking defensive strength in depth. The same would apply to midfield if, as expected, Kieron Dyer and Nolberto Solano depart St James’ Park this month.

Neville would offer similar qualities, albeit at a higher cost, but Allardyce’s interest will not be welcomed or encouraged at Goodison Park, where the 30-year-old is club captain and has a long-term contract.

He may be flattered by Newcastle’s advances, but Neville will not agitate to leave a club building a squad to compete in the Uefa Cup this season.

Other alternatives beckon for Allardyce, although money is proving a stumbling block in Newcastle’s negotiations with Paris Saint-Germain over Mario Yepes, until recently a teammate of David Rozehnal, the Czech Republic defender who joined Newcastle for £2.9 million in June. The French club are haggling for a fee of up to £1.5 million for Yepes, a 31-year-old defender regarded by Allardyce as a potential free transfer.

Allardyce close to completing deal with Faye as Newcastle go on defensive | Premier League - Times Online

Faye is a proper player. He will be a excellent cover in defence and midfield.

[Sven]

It's a good buy.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Quality player.One of the best players for Bolton last season.Maybe the best...?He should go right into the N'castle defense (centre).

[kennethlindheim]

Originally Posted by Mighty T.A.L.

He should go right into the N'castle defense (centre).

Won't happen. Rozehnal and Taylor are the first choice partnership. Faye will fight against Cacapa for a place on the bench.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Faye is too much quality to sit on the bench.He's better than both Rozehnal and Taylor.He should play!

[Pennywise]

£2 million is almost for free....why is he so cheap if he was Boltons best player last season? Bolton is not a bad club. He has only six matches for Senegal too.

[unitedfan]

He's a squad player - it's what he's paid to do. Good player, but his task will be to fill in where and when needed.

[kennethlindheim]

Originally Posted by Pennywise

£2 million is almost for free....why is he so cheap if he was Boltons best player last season? .

Because his contract expires at the end of the season.

[kennethlindheim]

Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce has confirmed his interest in signing Senegalese defender Abdoulaye Faye from his former club Bolton.

The centre-half has been heavily linked with a move to the Magpies since Allardyce was appointed as their manager and was left out of the Bolton squad to face Fulham on Wednesday night.

Allardyce said: "There are some negotiations regarding us and Bolton regarding that but at the moment I don't know how far they've got."

Sammy Lee, his successor as Trotters boss, says Faye was left out against Fulham because he fears speculation has unsettled the defender.

He told the Bolton News: "He is still a Bolton Wanderers footballer as far as I am concerned.

"I didn't think it was right to take him to Fulham. His mind might not be focused on the job in hand."

Magpies hopeful on Faye swoop - Newcastle - TEAMtalk Football News

[Mighty T.A.L.]

I'm waiting for a bid...Any fresh news?I don't think Bolton will let him go.

[kennethlindheim]

Talks are still ongoing with Bolton, and a deal seems iminent. Something will happen next week.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Faye didn't play today against Pompey so it seems Bolton will lose him.Shame as they really need him.Bolton defence looked horrible today.Especially Cid!

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Abdoulaye Faye will enjoy a bumper pay-day when he signs for Newcastle United. The Evening Chronicle says the Senegal international will be handed a £30,000-a-week contract when he signs for Toon this week.

[Pennywise]

Good to have him in the squad. N'castle can't get enough players.

[kennethlindheim]

It's not certain that he joins us. Newcastle have yet to reach a toal agreement with Bolton, and Bolton has offered a improved contract to him. It's 50/50.