BUILDING A BETTER NEWCASTLE 6/15 UPDATE: TRANQUILLO BARNETTA

When a player is linked with a move to Newcastle in consecutive transfer windows, it's always difficult to tell whether it's a case of United continuing to pursue a long-term target or just lazy journalism.

Which brings us to a report in the Daily Mail that says United is "closing in on" Swiss midfielder Tranquillo Barnetta (we're slightly put off by the report's insistence that Newcastle is after Birmingham midfielder Craig Gardner, which seems to be wide of the mark) - prompting us to add him to the list of potential targets in our transfer guide. Newcastle was rumored to be interested in Barnetta in January, but he was out with a knee injury at the time.

Barnetta has just one year left on his contract, which would seem to appeal to United's fiscally-conscious decision-makers. He was once thought of as a Swiss superstar in waiting, but is still just 26 and despite coming off a down season (two goals, two assists in 23 starts and seven substitute appearances), has a pretty solid track record. Take a look at the three previous seasons: four goals and 10 assists (32 starts, two substitute appearances), four and eight (31 and five) and six and four (31 and one).

He could potentially be a cheaper - albeit slightly less exciting - alternative to Charles N'Zogbia in the hunt for a winger.

UPDATE: We've also added Ajax striker/winger Miralem Sulejmani to the transfer guide and have dropped him into the middle of the striker rankings. Sulejmani was close to joining West Ham on loan last summer, but the move fell through. Given his €16 million price tag when he joined Ajax in 2008, it would likely take a sizable bid by Newcastle to land him.

Comments

[Poz]

Great blog fella and good to see the toon army are alive and well in the good ol US of A

Could you add our forum to your lnks please...
Poz

http://www.nufc-forum.com/nufcforum/index.php

Cheers m8

[Poz]

OK cheers spotted it ....

Any of the lads and lasses planning a visit to Newcastle during the season be sure to check us down and we'll help with advice on accomodation etc. good bars and of course the chance to meet up with some of our forumers no doubt

[Tom]

Awesome, we'll point anyone who's thinking of making the trip your way.

Hey, do you have access to approve people on NUFC-Forum? I tried registering a while back but have yet to get approved. Username was DairylandMag.