*Updated 1/26 to include Burnley striker Jay Rodriguez and update the status of Crystal Palace striker/winger Wilfried Zaha.
Ah, the January transfer window.
It's the wild card in any season. Teams are hesitant to lose players, so price tags generally soar and, with a short amount of time to conduct any business, logical decision making tends to get tossed out the window.
But Newcastle United fans don't need to be told what sort of effect the January window can have on a season. Just look at the last three Januaries:
- 2009: With the team badly in need of additional depth and athleticism, United are only able to land Kevin Nolan and Ryan Taylor, who is part of the deal that sends Charles N'Zogbia to Wigan. Newcastle also sells Shay Given to Manchester City as the bad vibes around Tyneside reach an all-time high for the Ashley Era. The slide toward relegation continues.
- 2010: United are top of the Championship table, but don't have a deep squad. Mike Ashley surprises everyone by genuinely backing manager Chris Hughton with the purchases of Wayne Routledge, Mike Williamson and Leon Best. Routledge is a spark on the right wing, Williamson establishes himself as a rock at the back in the absence of Steven Taylor and Best's arrival seems to nudge Andy Carroll into his best goalscoring form to date. Newcastle cruises to the Championship title.
- 2011: Despite repeated public assurances by new manager Alan Pardew that Carroll won't be sold, United parts with its star striker for the princely sum of £35 million on the final day of the window. No replacement is brought in and the fan base is outraged. The mood calms down as Newcastle survives some wobbly moments en route to a 12th-place finish that isn't nearly as comfortable as the numbers would indicate.
So, yeah, let's just say we're all fairly eager to see what transpires in January 2012. Newcastle is still searching for Carroll's replacement after a slightly bizarre ending to the summer transfer window, and looked poised to land Sochaux striker Modibo Maiga before the Malian failed his medical. United is also in need of depth at center back and could use some competition at right back or left back, depending on where Pardew plans to use summer signing Davide Santon in the long term.
And then there's this: If Newcastle is still in the hunt for a Champions League spot come Jan. 1, would Ashley be moved to fund a slightly more extensive spending spree? As outlandish as that may sound, look back to 2010.
With all that in mind, we present our semiannual transfer guide. Just like last summer's guide, we've ranked the players in order of how likely they are to arrive at St. James' Park. However, this time we've decided to maintain a higher standard when it comes to adding players to the guide, so we won't be including any old player whose name pops up in the Daily Mail rumor mill. We're looking for players who are either linked to Newcastle in reputable reports or would genuinely make sense as signings.
So, without further adieu, here are the candidates ...
STRIKERS
Papiss Demba Cisse - SIGNED WITH NEWCASTLE
Club: SC Freiburg (German Bundesliga)
Country: Senegal
Height: 6-0
Date of birth: June 3, 1985
The skinny: Newcastle's last-ditch, big-money offer wasn't enough to land Cisse back in August, which set off the manic final transfer day. Cisse signed a new deal at Freiburg shortly thereafter that reportedly will allow him to leave at the end of the season - which would seem to rule out a January transfer. Then, there's the fact that Freiburg has struggled mightily this season, and selling its best player certainly wouldn't help its chances of avoiding relegation. Cisse is a lethal finisher who has a knack for being in the right spot in front of goal, as evidenced by his ridiculously good goals-to-games ratio since joining Freiburg in Dec. 2009. UPDATE: Cisse flew to Newcastle on Jan. 17 to undergo a medical and sign a five-and-a-half-year contract. He will wear the famous No. 9 when he returns from the Africa Cup of Nations.
Chances of happening: SIGNED!
Highlights
Wilfried Zaha
Club: Crystal Palace (English Championship)
Country: Born in Ivory Coast; plays for England
Height: 5-9
Date of birth: Nov. 10, 1992
The skinny: Newcastle is hardly alone in its interest of Zaha, Crystal Palace's 19-year-old phenom. Nearly every Premier League club has been linked with a move for him at some point this season, in part because of Palace's financial situation. But Zaha, who can play as a winger or striker, just signed a five-year contract in December, so he won't come cheap. With Palace now eliminated from the Carling Cup, speculation has been rife that a Premier League club will make a move for him in the final days of the January window. The Evening Chronicle reported on Jan. 25 that Newcastle had already been in touch with Zaha's representatives.
Chances of happening: 1/5
Highlights
Jay Rodriguez
Club: Burnley (English Championship)
Country: England
Height: 6-1
Date of birth: July 29, 1989
The skinny: Newcastle's interest in Rodriguez didn't surface until late in January. Alan Pardew had personally watched Burnley play at Middlesbrough earlier in the month, with most observers assuming he was there to scout Smoggies center back Rhys Williams. Rodriguez has really emerged in the last two seasons, tying for the club lead in goals last season and leading the Clarets this time around. Newcastle is said to be content to wait to make a move until the summer, but that could change if another club makes its move.
Chances of happening: 1/5
Highlights
Mevlüt Erdinç
Club: Paris Saint-Germain (French Ligue 1)
Country: Born in France; plays for Turkey
Height: 5-11
Date of birth: Feb. 25, 1987
The skinny: Erdinç isn't exactly a new name in the Newcastle rumor mill. United has been linked with him each of the past two summers and appeared to be close to landing him before the season. However, a fallout with his agent reportedly ended those hopes and Erdinç opted to remain at PSG. To no great surprise, his playing time has been extremely limited - he didn't start a game in the season's first half and made 11 substitute appearances - after PSG spent big in the summer. Erdinç, a smaller, speedier forward who is capable of playing on the last man or underneath a target man, would give NUFC a different sort of striker.
Chances of happening: 0/5
Highlights
Luuk de Jong
Club: FC Twente (Dutch Eredivisie)
Country: Born in Switzerland; plays for the Netherlands
Height: 6-2
Date of birth: Aug. 27, 1990
The skinny: Newcastle has been linked with a January move for de Jong since the season began, with some reports saying United would pursue him even if it landed Maiga. De Jong is a technically-skilled and clever striker, but he's also fairly slender - keep in mind, he is only 20 - so it'd be interesting to see how he'd cope with the physical nature of the Premier League. The price tag figures to be at least £10 million, though, which may be a bit high for Newcastle's taste.
Chances of happening: 0/5
Highlights
Olivier Giroud
Club: Montpellier (French Ligue 1)
Country: France
Height: 6-3
Date of birth: Sept. 30, 1986
The skinny: Giroud isn't as physical as you'd expect for a player of his stature. He's not a speed merchant, either. But he's quite skillful for a tall striker and possesses a deadly left foot. Last season he stood out as Montpellier finished three points clear of relegation; this time around he's speardheading their title challenge. His form this season earned him a callup to the French national team - he made his international debut against the United States on Nov. 11 - to complete a rapid ascension for a player who was playing in Ligue 2 two seasons ago.
Chances of happening: 0/5
Highlights
Eren Derdiyok
Club: Bayer Leverkusen (German Bundesliga)
Country: Switzerland
Height: 6-3
Date of birth: June 12, 1988
The skinny: Derdiyok appears to have been on Newcastle's radar for several years, and Alan Pardew has reportedly watched him several times this year. The fact that he's not a regular starter for Leverkusen would seem to suggest that the German club might just be open to selling for the right price. Derdiyok is a supremely-gifted striker who has scored some highlight-reel goals in his young career, but his goals-to-games ratio isn't as good as you'd expect. Still, he'd give Newcastle a different element up top.
Chances of happening: 0/5
Highlights
Modibo Maiga
Club: Sochaux (French Ligue 1)
Country: Mali
Height: 6-2
Date of birth: Sept. 3, 1987
The skinny: Maiga-to-Newcastle was pretty much a done deal according to media reports - with the price tag ranging from £6-£8 million - before the striker failed his medical in mid-December. While Maiga had missed time earlier in the season with a knee injury, reports from France had suggested that Sochaux was merely being extra careful with him so as not to jeopardize the move. Maiga would bring a quality left foot along with an impressive combination of aerial ability, strength and speed to Newcastle's strike corps. After going on strike near the start of the season to try to push through a summer move to Tyneside, Maiga has impressed in limited playing time this season. Newcastle could potentially still go back with a reduced offer for him or try to sign him on loan. If he does eventually sign, he'll be headed to the Africa Cup of Nations with Mali shortly thereafter.
Chances of happening: 0/5
Highlights
M'Baye Niang
Club: Caen (French Ligue 1)
Country: France
Height: 6-0
Date of birth: Dec. 19, 1994
The skinny: Niang is a rising star in France, having made his Ligue 1 debut at 16 earlier this year. Plenty of big clubs have been linked with a move - Arsenal has been mentioned the most frequently - so it would be something of a coup if Newcastle could land him. That said, he's still young and would be a developmental signing. Given the price Caen will be looking for, this seems unlikely.
Chances of happening: 0/5
Highlights
Emmanuel Mayuka
Club: BSC Young Boys (Swiss Super League)
Country: Zambia
Height: 5-9
Date of birth: Nov. 21, 1990
The skinny: Mayuka's agent, Nir Karin, has said that Newcastle - along with Dynamo Kiev and Fulham - is interested in signing his client in January. The Zambian international has been extremely productive for Young Boys since joining from Maccabi Tel Aviv in May 2010, but obviously it would be a major step up from the Swiss league to the Premier League. The diminutive Mayuka would give Newcastle a different option in attack with his speed and quickness. However, Mayuka will also be at the Africa Cup of Nations for at least parts of January and February, so a summer move might make more sense.
Chances of happening: 0/5
Highlights
Nolan Roux - SIGNED WITH LILLE
Club: Brest (French Ligue 1)
Country: France
Height: 5-11
Date of birth: March 1, 1988
The skinny: Roux would seem to be the sort of secondary striker Newcastle could use, a player that's capable of sitting behind a more traditional center forward and linking with the midfield. The problem is he just doesn't score enough to justify spending much money on him. Roux is still young enough that he could be an option down the road. UPDATE: Roux will sign for Lille in a £6.6 million deal.
Chances of happening: 0/5
Highlights
Moussa Sow - SIGNED WITH FENERBAHCE
Club: Lille (French Ligue 1)
Country: Born in France; plays for Senegal
Height: 5-11
Date of birth: Jan. 19, 1986
The skinny: Sow was one of the breakout stars of Ligue 1 last season. He had never reached double-digits in goals before joining Lille on a free transfer last summer. He went on to lead Ligue 1 in goals (25) as Lille won its first top flight title since 1954. His statistics haven't been quite as impressive this season, although Lille as a whole hasn't been as good after losing Gervinho, Yohan Cabaye and Adil Rami in the summer. Even though Lille has been eliminated from the Champions League, the asking price for Sow would still likely be considerable because the club is still in the Ligue 1 title hunt. Sow is used as a center forward in Lille's 4-3-3 formation, so it would be interesting to see how he'd play off of the likes of Demba Ba, Leon Best and Shola Ameobi. UPDATE: Despite rumors of Premier League interest, Turkish club Fenerbahce landed Sow with a big-money bid.
Chances of happening: 0/5
Highlights
MIDFIELDERS
Ravel Morrison
Club: Manchester United (English Premier League)
Country: England
Height: 5-9
Date of birth: Feb. 2, 1993
The skinny: Newcastle was said to have had a £500,000 bid for Morrison turned down shortly after news emerged that contract talks between the 18-year-old and Manchester United broke down. Morrison's current deal expires in the summer and United is said to be ready to sell. Morrison has been touted as one of the best young English players, but he also has a worrisome track record of off-field incidents. He is an attacking midfielder who can play on the wing or centrally.
Chances of happening: 1/5
Highlights
Benjamin Corgnet
Club: Dijon (French Ligue 1)
Country: France
Height: 5-11
Date of birth: April 6, 1987
The skinny: Corgnet has made an impressive start to life in Ligue 1, which has caught the attention of several English clubs. L'Equipe reported on Dec. 17 that Newcastle was interested in the attacking midfielder. Corgnet is somewhat of a rags-to-riches story - at least from a footballing perspective - having joined Dijon in 2010 from Monts d'Or Azergues of the French fifth division. Newcastle showed in the summer that its preference is for players with a bit more top-level experience, so a move for Corgnet would be somewhat surprising. Dijon also might be hesitant to sell since it appears to be headed for a relegation fight. Dijon manager Patrice Carteron told French media on Jan. 4 that his club had turned down an offer from Newcastle, but admitted that Corgnet could leave at the end of the season. A summer move seems likely.
Chances of happening: 1/5
No highlights available
Junior Hoilett
Club: Blackburn Rovers (English Premier League)
Country: Canada
Height: 5-8
Date of birth: June 5, 1990
The skinny: Hoilett has blossomed into a star at Blackburn over the past two seasons. He'll also be a free agent at the end of the season, which means there will be plenty of clubs making a play for his services in January. For that reason alone, it seems unlikely Newcastle would be willing to pay the hefty price tag that Blackburn would demand, particularly since selling Hoilett would severely hurt its chances of avoiding relegation. Hoilett would give Alan Pardew another speedy option on the wing and his signing would add some legitimacy to a run at a Champions League spot.
Chances of happening: 1/5
Highlights
Alain Traore
Club: Auxerre (French Ligue 1)
Country: Burkina Faso
Height: 5-9
Date of birth: Dec. 31, 1988
The skinny: Traore has been one of the surprise stars of the Ligue 1 season, and Newcastle is said to have taken notice. He's a goal-scoring midfielder with a dangerous left foot and the vision required for making defense-splitting passes. Traore, who was on trial at Manchester United before joining Auxerre in 2005, can play all across the midfield as well as in the hole as an attacking midfielder. When everyone is healthy, Newcastle's midfield is already well stocked, but Traore would add another dimension, not to mention providing a left-footed option on set pieces.
Chances of happening: 1/5
Highlights
Delvin Ndinga
Club: Auxerre (French Ligue 1)
Country: Republic of the Congo
Height: 5-11
Date of birth: March 14, 1988
The skinny: Ndinga is a holding midfielder who could be an option should Newcastle decide to cash in on Cheik Tiote in January. N'Dinga wouldn't necessarily come cheap, either - Lyon reportedly had a €12 million offer turned down by Auxerre last summer. Ndinga has said in the past that he'd prefer to move to a bigger French club before heading abroad.
Chances of happening: 1/5
No highlights available
Kafoumba Coulibaly
Club: Nice (French Ligue 1)
Country: Ivory Coast
Height: 5-10
Date of birth: Oct. 26, 1985
The skinny: Coulibaly has been floated as another possible replacement for Cheik Tiote should Chelsea come calling with a big-money move that Newcastle find irresistible. Like Tiote, Coulibaly is an Ivorian international and primarily a holding midfielder. But he can also play further up the field or on the right side of the midfield. He's certainly not a big name, but then again, neither was Tiote when he arrived at Newcastle.
Chances of happening: 1/5
Highlights
Franck Tabanou
Club: Toulouse (French Ligue 1)
Country: France
Height: 5-10
Date of birth: Jan. 30, 1989
The skinny: Newcastle was reportedly scouting Tabanou last spring, although it's possible United was simply looking at his teammate Cheikh M'Bengue. Tabanou, a left-sided midfielder, showed his versatility last season by filling in at left back when M'Bengue was injured. With his quality left foot, he's reminscent of Blackburn's Morgan Gamst Pedersen, although he looks a bit more skilled on the ball than the Norwegian. Tabanou signed a two-year extension through 2015 over the summer, so any transfer fee will have increased since last spring.
Chances of happening: 0/5
Highlights
Tranquillo Barnetta
Club: Bayer Leverkusen (German Bundesliga)
Country: Switzerland
Height: 5-10
Date of birth: May 22, 1985
The skinny: Barnetta may well have already arrived at Newcastle were it not for a knee injury during the summer. The fact that he's yet to play this season means there's very little chance Newcastle would be interested in trying to resurrect that deal in January. And since Barnetta will turn 27 in May - United's transfer policy is said to focus on players 26 or younger - Newcastle's long-term interest in the Swiss winger may be over.
Chances of happening: 0/5
Highlights
Miralem Sulejmani
Club: Ajax (Dutch Eredivisie)
Country: Serbia
Height: 5-10
Date of birth: Dec. 5, 1988
The skinny: Sulejmani is a compact left-footed winger who's also capable of playing striker. His €16.25 million move from Heerenveen to Ajax in 2008 is still the highest fee ever paid by a Dutch club, but his time in Amsterdam has been up and down. West Ham had agreed to take him on loan last season until he was denied a work permit. Instead, Sulejmani stayed at Ajax and had a productive season to help lead the club to the Eredivisie title, and he's started this season well also. Given the price tag that was rumored in the summer when Newcastle was linked with him, it's hard to see this one happening.
Chances of happening: 0/5
Highlights
Scott Allan - SIGNED WITH WEST BROM
Club: Dundee United (Scottish Premier League)
Country: Scotland
Height: 5-9
Date of birth: Nov. 28, 1991
The skinny: Allan, a hot young prospect in Scotland and who was slated to be a free agent in the summer, was linked with a January move to a whole host of clubs but opted to join West Brom. Newcastle had been mentioned last fall, but it quickly became clear that West Brom, Rangers and Celtic were the main suitors. The price tag for Allan has been reported to be anywhere from £300,000 to £400,000.
Chances of happening: 0/5
No highlights available
DEFENDERS
Adrian Mariappa
Country: England
Club: Watford (English Championship)
Height: 5-11
Date of birth: Oct. 3, 1986
The skinny: Newcastle's interest in Mariappa first surfaced in the Sunday Sun on Jan. 22. He appears to be a cheaper alternative to West Ham's James Tomkins and some of the highly-rated foreign defenders United has been linked with. Mariappa, who can also play right back, has been a stalwart for Watford since the 2008-09 season - he played 47, 49 and 49 games, respectively, in the three seasons before this one. He certainly doesn't have the height of a prototypical center back, but is billed as strong and speedy.
Chances of happening: 2.5/5
No highlights available
Yohan Benalouane
Club: Cesena (Italian Serie A)
Country: Born in France; plays for Tunisia
Height: 6-1
Date of birth: March 28, 1987
The skinny: Newcastle was linked with Benalouane in the summer of 2010, when he was still with Saint-Etienne. Instead, he moved to Cesena but has yet to really settle. The Italian club are reportedly willing to let him leave on loan, so perhaps Newcastle could try before it buys. Benalouane is primarily a center back, but can also fill in at left back.
Chances of happening: 1/5
Highlights
Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa
Club: Montpellier (French Ligue 1)
Country: Born in Central African Republic; has played for French Under-21 team
Height: 6-0
Date of birth: May 15, 1989
The skinny: Yanga-Mbiwa isn't a household name, but he's the captain of Ligue 1's surprise team this season. He's primarily a center back, but can also fill in at right back. Yanga-Mbiwa has been at Montpellier since 2005 - he's been a regular in the starting lineup since the 2007-08 season - and is signed through 2013. However, he recently admitted that he'd like to play in the Premier League (not exactly a stunning revelation) and that he's been taking English lessons to prepare for a move to England if the opportunity should arise. Newcastle is said to have seen him while scouting Giroud. He would add versatility and youth to an undermanned center back group.
Chances of happening: 1/5
Highlights
Aly Cissokho
Club: Lyon (French Ligue 1)
Country: France
Height: 5-11
Date of birth: Sept. 15, 1987
The skinny: The powerfully-built Cissokho reportedly was one of Newcastle's left back targets in the wake of Enrique's departure last summer. But Lyon's price tag was too high - £10 million was the figure making the rounds - and it'd be shocking if that number dropped much in January. While Cissokho's career hasn't quite taken off like many expected since his €15 million move from Porto in 2009, he's still been a regular starter for Lyon the past three seasons. Cissokho also has a troubling medical issue that caused a move to AC Milan to break down (which enabled Lyon to make its move). Milan's medical staff believed the positioning of his teeth indicated a related spinal problem, which could cause bone deterioration and muscle fatigue.
Chances of happening: 1/5
Highlights
Douglas Franco Teixeira
Club: FC Twente (Dutch Eredivisie)
Country: Brazil
Height: 6-4
Date of birth: Jan. 12, 1988
The skinny: Alan Pardew was reported to have watched Twente's 3-2 defeat to Feyenoord on Dec. 19. Whether he was there to take a look at the big defender, who goes by Douglas, or striker Luuk de Jong is unknown. Douglas has been linked with big clubs around Europe for several seasons and helped lead Twente to the Eredivisie title in 2009-10. With his big frame, he's an obvious threat on set pieces. He also seems to have a bit of a temper - last season he was involved in a physical altercation, was red carded, shoved the referee and had to be physically removed from the field (he also shoved another opposing player to the ground on his way off). He's not likely to come cheap.
Chances of happening: 1/5
Highlights
Jan Vertonghen
Club: Ajax (Dutch Eredivisie)
Country: Belgium
Height: 6-2
Date of birth: April 24, 1987
The skinny: Vertonghen is a highly skilled left-footed center back with 18 months left on his contract - so he's a man in demand. Given his age and contract status, it's no wonder Newcastle is interested. But he's also been linked with the likes of Manchester City, Arsenal and Spurs, so United would do well to land him. The rumored price tag has been £10 million, which might be more than Newcastle is prepared to spend. Were he to arrive at St. James' Park, though, he would suit Newcastle's possession-based style of play quite well.
Chances of happening: 1/5
Highlights
Nathaniel Clyne
Club: Crystal Palace (English Championship)
Country: England
Height: 5-9
Date of birth: April 5, 1991
The skinny: Clyne is one of the Championship's best players. His contract is also up at the end of the season, so there figures to be plenty of interest in him in January. Newcastle should be familiar with his talent from its season in the Championship in 2009-10, when Clyne was named FourFourTwo's Young Player of the Year. Clyne built on that last season, playing all 46 league games for Palace en route to being named the club's player of the year. Clyne is an attacking right back whose addition would make Danny Simpson, currently delaying signing a new deal, expendable. Plenty of other Premier League clubs have been linked with a move, though.
Chances of happening: 1/5
No highlights available
Christopher Samba
Club: Blackburn Rovers (English Premier League)
Country: Born in France; plays for Congo
Height: 6-4
Date of birth: March 28, 1984
The skinny: Newcastle wouldn't really target an established Premier League stalwart like Samba, would it? According to a report in the Sunday Sun on Dec. 18, United is interested in the mammoth Blackburn center back as part of Alan Pardew's desire to sign a defender with Premier League experience. Samba was highly sought after last summer, but surprisingly, a move never materialized. Samba has reportedly changed agents in an effort to secure an escape from Blackburn. Samba would bring an obvious physical presence to Newcastle's backline - something United could certainly use - and would instantly become its top threat on set pieces.
Chances of happening: 1/5
Highlights
Cheikh M'Bengue
Club: Toulouse (French Ligue 1)
Country: Born in France; plays for Senegal
Height: 6-0
Date of birth: July 23, 1988
The skinny: Newcastle reportedly had a £5 million bid for M'Bengue turned down early last summer, which prompted United to focus on other left back targets. It's unclear whether Toulouse's asking price was simply too high or Newcastle simply preferred the likes of Davide Santon, Aly Cissokho and Erik Pieters to the much less heralded Frenchman. M'Bengue is a tough-tackling left back who won't come cheap, in part because he is signed through 2014. But given Newcastle's long-term scouting approach and success in France, it wouldn't be shocking if it made another move for him.
Chances of happening: 1/5
Highlights
Erik Pieters
Club: PSV Eindhoven (Dutch Eredivisie)
Country: Netherlands
Height: 6-1
Date of birth: Aug. 7, 1988
The skinny: Pieters was reportedly close to arriving in the summer - the transfer was called imminent at one point by respectable media outlets - but the move broke down and Newcastle instead signed Santon to replace Jose Enrique. A recent Sunday Sun story pinpointed the cause of the deal's collapse as a disagreement between Pieters' agents and Newcastle's hierarchy, with the report adding that the feud would likely torpedo any chance of the Dutchman arriving in January. Seeing as how Pieters suffered a fractured metatarsal in his right foot in mid-October - he was slated to be out for three months - none of that may matter. Were he ever to come to Newcastle, Pieters would bring versatility, since he can play either left back or center back.
Chances of happening: 1/5
Highlights
James Tomkins
Club: West Ham United (English Championship)
Country: England
Height: 6-3
Date of birth: March 29, 1989
The skinny: Tomkins didn't make his first-team debut until well after Alan Pardew had left West Ham. But Newcastle's manager is no doubt familiar with the defender, who has been at West Ham since he was 7. Tomkins was part of a poor backline in the Hammers' relegation season, but he's played a major role in their revival in the Championship this season. West Ham is trying to sign him to a new contract to ward off outside interest, although Tomkins is already signed for 2 1/2 more years. QPR has also been strongly linked with a move for Tomkins, a center back by trade who can also play right back. Newcastle reportedly had a £4 million offer turned down on Jan. 5, the third offer United had made for Tomkins. UPDATE: Tomkins signed an improved contract with West Ham, which would seem to rule out a January departure.
Chances of happening: 0/5
Highlights
Taye Taiwo - SIGNED ON LOAN WITH QPR
Club: AC Milan (Italian Serie A)
Country: Nigeria
Height: 6-0
Date of birth: April 16, 1985
The skinny: You might remember Newcastle being linked with Taiwo last summer, when he was a free agent. So how is it possible that he's an once again an option just a few months later? Because since signing with AC Milan on a free transfer, he's been nothing more than a fringe player. That's led to speculation that he'll be sent out on loan in January, with various reports suggesting that Newcastle would sign him on loan with an option to make the move permanent at the end of the season. However, he's also been linked with Werder Bremen, Galatasaray and Benfica, which reportedly was close to signing him in the summer. Newcastle will be plenty familiar with Taiwo from his seven seasons at Marseille, where he established himself as a powerful attacking left back with a penchant for scoring from long range. UPDATE: QPR has taken Taiwo on loan for the rest of the season.
Chances of happening: 0/5
Highlights
Excellent reportage. Maiga seems the most likely striker acquisition, although I'd prefer Luuk De Jong - as the most gifted all-round sharp shooter from that list, plus he's the spit of Jon Heder, and to think of Napolean Dynamite banging in toon goals every week - can't complain at that. If not him, Cisse would be an exciting (Senegalese associate) foil for Ba.
There were moments during our late siege against Man U when we occasionally managed to work the ball to Ba around the half way line; neither able to hold it up or turn and run at goal, the ball just came back at us again.. I would like someone who could do more in that situation, i.e. not just a finisher, but someone with the quality and mobility to find space and create their own opportunities.
I have heard we are scouting midfielder Ki Seung Yeung at Celtic, possibly as Tiote's replacement, should he leave for Chelsea or Man Utd next month. We shall see...
Posted by: WorBenny | 12/02/2011 at 10:12 AM
Nathaniel Clyne at Crystal Palace is absolute class. Also, McGugan at Forest is another terrific player. Clyne will become one of the top RB's in England very soon and McGugan would add great depth to the center of the midfield if someone gets sold in January (please don't let it happen!).
Posted by: Rob Moyer | 12/02/2011 at 10:03 PM