I Wish I Was A Geordie - The Blog of Newcastle United in the US

THE POSSIBLY PROFOUND MEANING OF A MEANINGLESS MATCH

Chelsea-Newcastle on Sunday had all the trappings of a friendly: missing regulars, experimental substitutions, pristine new kits, and a home crowd that showed about the same enthusiasm for a goal as opera-goers after a nicely sung aria. After all, the match didn't mean anything, right?

So when was the last time you saw a scorer get carded for excessive celebration in a meaningless match? When the resurgent Steven Taylor equalized late in extra time, Alan Pardew showed more emotion than Roberto Mancini a day earlier when Man City purchased won the FA Cup. And Mancini is Italian.

There's reason to be excited about this ostensibly redundant day. The vigor Pardew's youth brigade injected into Newcastle's effort was positively Faustian. Kaz LuaLua was a threat from the instant he appeared, and he merits an unofficial assist on the climactic goal because his wicked fall-away cross set up that corner. Maybe you knew Sammy Ameobi had that much pace; I didn't. Nile Ranger looked like he was actually enjoying himself, and while he didn't break his PL scoring jinx, he got a sweet assist on the winner and had various promising runs. Shane Ferguson, once again, was a flying ball of focused energy. Watching all that promise all over the pitch, one might almost have been forgiven for wondering if Newcastle really needs to throw millions of pounds around the market this summer - but let's hope Mike Ashley isn't thinking the same thing.

Speaking of the market, the point against Chelsea puts a No. 10 finish within reach of a draw in the finale next Sunday at St. James' with West Brom, and a potentially stupefying No. 8 finish within reach of a victory. If you don't think that matters, listen to all the summer targets talk about the Champions League. It'll be a lot easier to make the Europe case this summer from the top half of the table.

And even easier with video of the young players in black and white blazing across the pitch Sunday at Stamford Bridge. With youth maturing, wounded returning, and summer reinforcements arriving, one day the Toon Army might just look back on a meaningless late-season draw against Chelsea and think, that's the day it all started.

TAKEOVER IS JUST A RUMOR...AND WE'RE GLAD

Yesterday wasn't the first time talk spread across cyberspace of an impending Newcastle United takeover by a shadowy multibillionaire. But it's the first time we didn't want it to happen.

Sure, it'd be great if United had money to burn. So long as it didn't just go up in smoke. Which is usually the case with clueless multibillionaires who buy soccer clubs to amuse themselves. And if this particular rumor turned out to be true - the report says the takeover will happen "within the next fortnight" - the timing would be wretched. Because our current not-so-multi billionaire appears finally to be getting a clue.

For as much deserved shrapnel as Mike Ashley has taken since purchasing Newcastle United, and as much as United fans are prone to find the cloud in any silver lining, an objective observer has to admit: this club is set up to make a serious move in the right direction. The financial bleeding has stopped and the patient is rallying. With the proceeds from taking Liverpool to the cleaners and a potential miracle top-half finish to build on, now is not the time to start over.

Besides, do we really want to be Manchester City? As Americans without any natural tie to Newcastle upon Tyne, the operators of this site joined the Toon Army in part because Newcastle United is more than a bank account in a kit. Victory bought pales next to victory earned. And we're proud to have jumped on this bandwagon before it reached its destination, not after.

So thanks but no thanks to the shadowy multibillionaire. Fortunately there's no named source and no confirmation from non-citizen journalists of this takeover report. In other words, it's probably a false alarm, like many that preceded it. For once, that's a good thing.

BUILDING A BETTER NEWCASTLE (updated 8/30/11)

*Updated on 8/30 to reflect the signings of defender Davide Santon and goalkeeper Rob Elliot and include Manchester United striker Federico Macheda and Freiburg striker Papiss Demba Cisse.

We've all been waiting for this summer since that fateful day in January.

It's fair to debate how much of that £35 million Alan Pardew will have at his disposal, but clearly United is going to be a player in the transfer market. Pardew's shopping list should include a lead striker, a couple of quality wingers and a starting-caliber left back (let's just say we're not holding our breath on Jose Enrique signing a contract extension), but Newcastle also needs to add a creative presence in the center of the midfield as well as a general infusion of depth all over the squad.

So which players could fill those needs? Newcastle has been linked with just about every player with a pulse in recent months. The following is a rundown of some of them — we've left out some of the more ridiculous rumors — and we'll continue to update the list as we edge closer to summer. We've also included video highlights (those that we could find, at least) for those who are from the Dennis Wise school of scouting.

We've attempted to place the players in order of the likelihood of a deal actually happening, although we don't claim to have any inside knowledge and will update the order as rumors become more concrete. We've also narrowed the focus down to players who will be expected to make an immediate impact at the first-team level, which is why midfielder Mehdi Abeid (who has confirmed he'll be signing, but hasn't yet been officially announced) isn't included.

Note: Player ages are what they were when the summer transfer window opened; also, we do not condone the questionable music selections on some players' YouTube highlights.

Strikers

Demba Ba - SIGNED WITH NEWCASTLE
Age: 26
Country: Born in France; plays for Senegal
Club: West Ham United (English Championship)
Height: 6-2
The skinny: With West Ham relegated, Ba will be one of the most sought-after prizes in the resulting firesale. He was the Hammers' best striker after joining them in January, displaying a good mix of power and pace. However, it's slightly concerning that Ba has twice had transfers called off because of failed medicals. 6/17 UPDATE: Ba passed his medical and signed with Newcastle. See 6/17 post.
Highlights

Modibo Maiga
Age: 23
Country: Mali
Club: Sochaux (French Ligue 1)
Height: 6-1
The skinny: Newcastle's interest in Maiga emerged fast and furiously Aug. 15, after the striker apparently went on strike and boycotted Sochaux's previous match. Having already sold striker Brown Ideye this summer, Sochaux would likely be reluctant to part with its other frontman. Maiga, who scored 15 goals last season after joining from Le Mans, can play out wide, in the hole or up front.
Highlights

Federico Macheda
Age: 20
Country: Italy
Club: Manchester United (English Premier League)
Height: 6-0
The skinny: Macheda burst onto the scene in 2009, when his sublime injury-time curler gave Manchester United a dramatic win over Aston Villa. Since then, his career hasn't taken off like most would have predicted. There are questions about his attitude, but not his ability.
Highlights

Nolan Roux
Age: 23
Country: France
Club: Brest (French Ligue 1)
Height: 5-11
The skinny: Roux's goal tally last season - six in 26 Ligue 1 games - wasn't overly impressive. Keep in mind, though, that he was on a newly-promoted team, was playing his first season in the top flight and missed significant time through injury. While he's not a true speedster, Roux is a hard-working striker with great movement who will gladly drop back into the midfield to win the ball.
Highlights

Nicklas Bendtner
Age: 23
Country: Denmark
Club: Arsenal (English Premier League)
Height: 6-3
The skinny: Bendtner's play on the field doesn't quite match his self-confidence. But, to be fair to him, he's never really had an extended run as first-choice striker with Arsenal. Bendtner has said he wants to leave Arsenal this summer in search of regular playing time. His game would seem to fit Newcastle's current style of play - although it appears that style will change this season.
Highlights

Papiss Demba Cisse
Age: 26
Country: Senegal
Club: Freiburg (German Bundesliga)
Height: 6-0
The skinny: Cisse has been incredibly productive in one-and-a-half seasons at Freiburg. He scored 24 goals in 34 appearances last season, and has started this season in similar form. As a result, his price tag has shot up as well. It would likely take at least £12 million to land Cisse.
Highlights

Mevlut Erding
Age: 24
Country: Born in France; plays for Turkey
Club: Paris Saint-Germain (French Ligue 1)
Height: 5-11
The skinny: Erding's name popped up last summer, when Newcastle reportedly had a bid rejected. He's had a bit of a down season, but United, Werder Bremen and Galatasaray are all said to be interested. Since PSG signed Kevin Gameiro, Erding could be available. He cost PSG €9 million in 2009. It's been reported that Erding wants to stay at PSG so he can pick up a bonus in August.
Highlights

Carlton Cole
Age: 27
Country: England
Club: West Ham (English Championship)
Height: 6-3
The skinny: Alan Pardew brought Cole to West Ham, which seems to be why the inconsistent striker has repeatedly been linked with United. Newcastle reportedly checked into his availability after selling Andy Carroll on the final day of the January transfer window, but it'd be shocking if he was seen as a long-term solution at striker. He's physically impressive but astonishingly inconsistent.
Highlights

Hugo Rodallega
Age: 26
Country: Colombia
Club: Wigan Athletic (English Premier League)
Height: 5-11
The skinny: Rodallega doesn't have the most efficient goal record, but he would bring much-needed raw speed to Newcastle's stable of forwards. He's also scored some highlight-reel goals since joining Wigan in January 2009. He has some Obafemi Martins-like qualities, which can be good and bad.
Highlights

Jose Salomon Rondon
Age: 21
Country: Venezuela
Club: Malaga (Spanish Primera)
Height: 6-1
The skinny: Rondon has been outstanding in his first season at Malaga, despite the club's struggles. The Andalusian club avoided relegation, though, and judging from its big spending in January, it'd be surprising if it was willing to part with its top goalscorer. His agent has said Rondon should stay at Malaga.
Highlights

Jermaine Beckford
Age: 27
Country: England
Club: Everton (English Premier League)
Height: 6-2
The skinny: Beckford was repeatedly linked with a move to Tyneside during his final season at Leeds (2009-10), but it never materialized and he signed with Everton last summer as a free agent. Considering he was making the jump from League One to the Premiership, eight goals in 32 appearances isn't a bad return. Tall and fast, Beckford still looks a bit raw even at 27.
Highlights

Miralem Sulejmani
Age: 22
Country: Serbia
Club: Ajax (Dutch Eredivisie)
Height: 5-10
The skinny: Sulejmani hasn't really lived up to his price tag since joining Ajax from Heerenveen in the summer of 2008 for more than €16 million. Still, he's a talented player who can line up as a winger or up top. Unless Ajax is willing to take a loss on the player, though, Sulejmani might be a tad pricey for Newcastle.
Highlights

Jermain Defoe
Age: 28
Country: England
Club: Tottenham (English Premier League)
Height: 5-7
The skinny: Of the three Spurs strikers linked with Newcastle this summer, Defoe would make the most sense. He possesses the combination of speed and eye for goal that United is currently lacking in its strike force. However, Sky Sports, citing unnamed sources, reported on July 27 that Defoe would turn down a move to Newcastle.
Highlights

Roman Pavlyuchenko
Age: 29
Country: Russia
Club: Tottenham (English Premier League)
Height: 6-2
The skinny: Pavlyuchenko is a bit of an enigma in that he can look incredible one minute and disinterested and off the pace the next. To his credit, he's reached double figures in goals in each of his three seasons at Spurs. The price tag probably would be considerable for a 29-year-old, too.
Highlights

Peter Crouch
Age: 30
Country: England
Club: Tottenham (English Premier League)
Height: 6-7
The skinny: The much-traveled Crouch has reached double figures in goals the last seven seasons, so he has a solid track record. But the gangly target man wouldn't seem to be at all the sort of forward Newcastle needs. And his value certainly isn't going to increase in the coming years.
Highlights

Cheick Diabate
Age: 23
Country: Mali
Club: Bordeaux (French Ligue 1)
Height: 6-5
The skinny: Diabate is a tall, rangy striker who's yet to make much of an impact at Bordeaux. Despite the fact that he hasn't established himself as a regular starter, L'Equipe reported on May 13 that Newcastle was interested in the Mali international. However, Diabate signed a new contract at Bordeaux on June 1.
Highlights

Moussa Sow
Age: 25
Country: Born in France; plays for Senegal
Club: Lille (French Ligue 1)
Height: 5-11
The skinny: A club teammate of Gervinho, Sow actually had a more impressive scoring record last season — his first at Lille — than his more heralded strike partner and won the Ligue 1 scoring title. Sunderland has also been linked with Sow, who played as the primary striker in Lille's 4-3-3 lineup.
Highlights

Danny Welbeck
Age: 20
Country: England
Club: Manchester United (English Premier League)
Height: 6-1
The skinny: Newcastle fans are familiar with Welbeck, who spent last season on loan at Sunderland. He's a talented young attacker who can operate as a striker or winger, but it's tough to see him getting much playing time at Manchester United. Welbeck's goals ratio for Sunderland wasn't particularly impressive - six in 26 games - but he would bring the right sort of skill set to Newcastle.
Highlights

Daniel Sturridge
Age: 21
Country: England
Club: Chelsea (English Premier League)
Height: 6-2
The skinny: Sturridge would seem to be exactly the sort of striker Newcastle needs: young, fast and athletic. He's always displayed potential going back to his Manchester City days, but the production wasn't there until the second half of last season, when he went on loan to Bolton and scored eight goals in 12 games. Unfortunately, Sturridge's price tag might be a bit high, so a loan deal could be the only way to bring him to St. James' Park.
Highlights

Shane Long - SIGNED WITH WEST BROM
Age: 24
Country: Ireland
Club: Reading (English Championship)
Height: 5-11
The skinny: The Irishman has always shown flashes, but he finally broke out last season. Long reached double figures for goals for the first time since joining Reading in 2005 while leading the Royals to a spot in the Championship playoffs. Long is said to be among Newcastle's backup options with Gameiro off to PSG. Celtic and Everton have both also been frequently mentioned. 8/9 UPDATE: Long signed for West Brom.
Highlights

Gervinho - SIGNED WITH ARSENAL
Age: 24
Country: Ivory Coast
Club: Lille (French Ligue 1)
Height: 5-11
The skinny: A pacy attacker who can operate on the wing or up front, Gervinho's been linked with Newcastle all season. But it's going to take a fairly hefty fee to land him and plenty of other clubs are rumored to be after him. The player seems to have his heart set on a move to Arsenal, though, and it appears he may in fact move to London. See 6/14 post for update.
Highlights

Jay Bothroyd - SIGNED WITH QPR
Age: 29
Country: England
Club: Cardiff City (English Championship)
Height: 6-3
The skinny: Newcastle reportedly tried to hammer out a deal with Cardiff for Bothroyd in January, but that obviously fell apart and United are said to no longer be interested. However, Pardew has stated on the record that Bothroyd, whose contract is up in the summer, "is a player I admire." Bothroyd is talented and seems to be something of a late bloomer, but he's unproven at the Premier League level.
Highlights

Youssef El Arabi - SIGNED WITH AL-HILAL
Age: 24
Country: Born in France; plays for Morocco
Club: Caen (French Ligue 1)
Height: 6-1
The skinny:  El Arabi is under contract through 2013, but has already said he'll be leaving Caen this summer. He added that he wants to land with a team that's competing in Europe, but he's been linked with Stoke City and Wolves -- so United would seem to be an attractive option. El Arabi made the bizarre decision to sign with Saudi club Al-Hilal, so it's unclear what other options actually materialized for him.
Highlights

Kevin Gameiro - SIGNED WITH PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN
Age: 24
Country: France
Club: Lorient (French Ligue 1)
Height: 5-7
The skinny: A small, speedy striker, Gameiro was heavily linked with a move to Valencia in January. He won't come cheap, but he looks likely to leave Lorient in the summer, when he'll have one year left on his contract. Newly-oil-rich Paris Saint-Germain announced it had signed Gameiro on June 12.
Highlights

Kolbeinn Sigthorsson - SIGNED WITH AJAX
Age: 21
Country: Iceland
Club: AZ Alkmaar (Dutch Eredivisie)
Height: 6-1
The skinny: The youngster burst onto the scene last season — he had five goals in one match — and allegedly has a £5.5 million release clause in his contract. Looks like more of a target forward. Ajax, long rumored to be the frontrunner for his services, officially signed Sigthorsson on July 5 for about €4 million.
Highlights

Connor Wickham - SIGNED WITH SUNDERLAND
Age: 18
Country: England
Club: Ipswich Town (English Championship)
Height: 6-3
The skinny: Wickham has been billed as the next great English striker, and despite the fact that he's not yet regularly scoring in the Championship he was never going to come cheap. That didn't scare off Sunderland, though - Newcastle's rivals spent £8.1 million to sign the youngster, and the fee could potentially rise to £12 million.
Highlights

Nolito - SIGNED WITH BENFICA
Age: 24
Country: Spain
Club: Barcelona (Spanish Primera)
Height: 5-9
The skinny: Nolito joined Barcelona in 2008, but has played almost exclusively for its reserve team. He rejected a contract extension because he was looking for first-team action - obviously a difficult thing to get at Barcelona - and signed with Benfica.
Highlights

Danny Graham - SIGNED WITH SWANSEA CITY
Age: 25
Country: England
Club: Watford (English Championship)
Height: 6-1
The skinny: Graham might not be the flashiest name Newcastle has been linked with, but he was the Championship's top goalscorer this season with 24. Graham was released by Middlesbrough in 2007, but has since put up an impressive goalscoring record in League One and the Championship with Carlisle and Watford. And Graham has at least one thing in common with Andy Carroll -- both were born in Gateshead.
Highlights

Ricky van Wolfswinkel - SIGNED WITH SPORTING LISBON
Age: 22
Country: The Netherlands
Club: Utrecht (Dutch Eredivisie)
Height: 6-1
The skinny: Another player who's frequently been linked with Newcastle this season, Van Wolfswinkel broke through to the Dutch national team last August. He had a hat trick against Celtic in the Europa League that same month, but missed a chunk of the season with a shoulder injury.
Highlights

 

Midfielders

Yohan Cabaye - SIGNED WITH NEWCASTLE
Age: 25
Country: France
Club: Lille (French Ligue 1)
Height: 5-9
The skinny: Cabaye was also rumored to be on Newcastle's radar last summer. He doesn't get as much attention as some of his Lille teammates -- Eden Hazard, Gervinho, Moussa Sow -- but he's a classy central midfielder. Add in the fact that he's rumored to have a €5 million release clause in his contract, and you can see why he's an attractive option. 6/10 UPDATE: Cabaye officially joined Newcastle after passing a medical.
Highlights

Sylvain Marveaux - SIGNED WITH NEWCASTLE
Age: 25
Country: France
Club: Rennes (French Ligue 1)
Height: 5-7
The skinny: Marveaux, a free agent this summer after running down his contract at Rennes, had been widely expected to sign with Liverpool. Instead, after rumors of a failed medical - something he denies - he signed a five-year deal at Newcastle on June 18. He's a speedy winger with a cultured left foot who can also play as an attacking midfielder.
Highlights

Gabriel Obertan - SIGNED WITH NEWCASTLE
Age: 22
Country: France
Club: Manchester United (English Premier League)
Height: 6-1
The skinny: Obertan has been fairly anonymous since moving to Manchester United from Bordeaux in the summer of 2009. As with any of the big clubs' fringe players, the question is whether he'd thrive with increased opportunities. But Obertan is versatile in that he can play as a winger, striker or central midfielder and he'd likely come fairly cheap (the transfer fee in 2009 was reported to be about £3 million). 8/9 UPDATE: Obertan was unveiled as a Newcastle player, joining for an undisclosed fee believed to be around £3 million.
Highlights

Tranquillo Barnetta
Age: 26
Country: Switzerland
Club: Bayer Leverkusen (German Bundesliga)
Height: 5-10
The skinny: Barnetta, a winger who was linked with Newcastle in January, is coming off a down season in which he was hampered by a knee injury. He's said he's open to a move and mentioned England as a possible destination. The fact that he has only one season left on his contract might tempt Leverkusen to sell. See 6/15 post.
Highlights

Lewis McGugan
Age: 22
Country: England
Club: Nottingham Forest (English Championship)
Height: 5-9
The skinny: McGugan already has five seasons of first-team experience under his belt despite being just 22. While he had a down year in 2009-10 - when Newcastle fans were more familiar with Championship players - he bounced back in a big way last season, scoring 13 goals to lead Forest to the playoffs. He has a knack for scoring long-range goals.
Highlights

Darron Gibson
Age: 23
Country: Born in Northern Ireland; plays for Ireland
Club: Manchester United (English Premier League)
Height: 6-0
The skinny: Gibson has spent the past three seasons on the periphery at Old Trafford. To his credit, he's scored 10 goals - with several eye-catching long-range strikes among them - in 57 games during that time. It's easy to forget that Gibson is still only 23.
Highlights

Franck Tabanou
Age: 22
Country: France
Club: Toulouse (French Ligue 1)
Height: 5-10
The skinny: Reports from France linked Newcastle with the French under-21 international. Tabanou, who's also been linked to Borussia Dortmund, Inter Milan and Benfica, can play as a left winger or left back. His price tag is allegedly between €7 and 10 million, although he just signed a two-year contract extension, so those figures may have gone up. He's not overly tricky as a winger, but has a quality left foot.
No highlights available

Ryad Boudebouz
Age: 21
Country: France; plays for Algeria
Club: Sochaux (French Ligue 1)
Height: 5-9
The skinny: Boudebouz is a skilled left-footed player who operates on the right side of Sochaux's midfield. A former French youth international, Boudebouz decided to represent Algeria at the senior level and played at last summer's World Cup.
Highlights

Max Gradel
Age: 23
Country: Ivory Coast
Club: Leeds United (English Championship)
Height: 5-9
The skinny: Newcastle was reportedly after the diminutive Gradel in January, but Leeds wasn't motivated to sell since it was in the promotion hunt. Gradel's goalscoring record last season was impressive, and he looks like he'd be suited for the Premiership as a winger. Gradel has one year left on his contract, but has said he'd like to sign a new one at Leeds.
Highlights

David "Junior" Hoilett
Age: 20
Country: Canada
Club: Blackburn Rovers (English Premier League)
Height: 5-8
The skinny: Hoilett, a speedy winger, emerged as one of Blackburn's top players this season and would add some much-needed speed to Newcastle's squad. Hoilett is entering the final year of his contract, but Blackburn manager Steve Kean has said he's hopeful of brokering an extension.
No highlights available

Victor Moses
Age: 20
Country: Nigeria; has represented England at youth level
Club: Wigan Athletic (English Premier League)
Height: 5-9
The skinny: Newcastle was interested in Moses in January 2010, before he joined Wigan from Crystal Palace. Moses is a speedy player who can play on the wing or up front, but he's yet to make a real mark at the Premiership level.
Highlights

Jonathan Legear
Age: 24
Country: Belgium
Club: Anderlecht (Belgian Jupiler League)
Height: 5-11
The skinny: Newcastle has been linked with Legear, a right winger with spiky blonde hair, since early this season. Legear broke through to the Belgian senior national team last October. Russia's Terek Grozny is said to be interested.
Highlights

Jeremain Lens
Age: 23
Country: The Netherlands
Club: PSV Eindhoven (Dutch Eredivisie)
Height: 5-10
The skinny: Lens is another quick attacker who can play as a winger or striker. He only joined PSV last May, but United has been linked with him since his time at AZ Alkmaar. PSV is another Dutch club that is in poor financial health.
Highlights

Jason Puncheon
Age: 24
Country: England
Club: Southampton (English Championship) — on loan to Blackpool
Height: 5-8
The skinny: Pardew brought Puncheon to Southampton, which seems to be the main reason Newcastle has been continually linked with the winger. Pardew has said he'll "keep an eye" on Puncheon during his loan spell at Blackpool.
Highlights

Stephen Ireland
Age: 24
Country: Ireland
Club: Aston Villa (English Premier League)
Height: 5-8
The skinny: Ireland's loan spell at Newcastle consisted of two substitute appearances in between knee, thigh and ankle injuries. Thus, it would be surprising if United was willing to pay a significant fee to sign the midfielder, who is talented (and moody) but hasn't been in form for two seasons.
Highlights

Leroy Fer
Age: 21
Country: The Netherlands
Club: Feyenoord (Dutch Eredivisie)
Height: 6-2
The skinny: United was reportedly after Fer last summer, but couldn't work out a deal. The powerfully-built defensive midfielder is nicknamed "The Bouncer" and has been compared to Patrick Vieira. Despite being only 21, he's already made more than 100 appearances for Feyenoord.
Highlights

Milan Badelj
Age: 22
Country: Croatia
Club: Dinamo Zagreb (Prva HNL)
Height: 6-1
The skinny: Badelj is a deep-lying central playmaker in the mold of Luka Modric -- which makes sense, since Badelj took over for Modric at Dinamo Zagreb after the latter's move to Spurs in 2008. However, Badelj is five inches taller than Modric.
Highlights

Robert Snodgrass
Age: 23
Country: Scotland
Club: Leeds United (English Championship)
Height: 5-11
The skinny: Snodgrass is one of the Championship's top wingers, with the ability to play on either flank as well as a lethal left foot. The Scottish international — he made his first full international appearance in February — said earlier this season that he's committed to Leeds. Norwich reportedly had a £3.5 million bid rejected.
Highlights

Keith Treacy
Age: 22
Country: Ireland
Club: Preston North End (English League One)
Height: 6-0
The skinny: Treacy, an Irish international who couldn't cut it at Blackburn, is said to be in demand after Preston North End's relegation, with Newcastle rumored to be among the suitors. But given the sort of players United has already brought in, would it really be shopping in League One?
Highlights

Adel Taarabt
Age: 22
Country: Morocco
Club: Queens Park Rangers (English Premier League)
Height: 5-11
The skinny: After flopping at Spurs, Taarabt — once billed as the next Zidane — has flourished at QPR and was the star of the Championship last season. He can play on the wing, up front or in the hole, and likes to roam. But will QPR, with all of its cash, be willing to sell, especially now that it's been promoted to the Premiership? QPR's asking price is allegedly £10 million.
Highlights

Matt Jarvis
Age: 25
Country: England
Club: Wolverhampton Wanderers (English Premier League)
Height: 5-7
The skinny: Jarvis has taken his game to another level this season for Wolves, establishing himself as one of the Premiership's best out-and-out wingers. His recent England call-up will have upped his price, and Mick McCarthy has said it will take a hefty bid to get him. Jarvis set up Wolves' lone goal in their defeat at St. James' Park on April 2.
Highlights

Moussa Sissoko
Age: 21
Country: France
Club: Toulouse (French Ligue 1)
Height: 6-2
The skinny: The tall and powerful Sissoko can play anywhere in the midfield, and Newcastle will have seen plenty of him while scouting his Toulouse teammates Franck Tabanou and Cheikh M'Bengue. However, the price might be too high -- Toulouse's president said last summer that Sissoko wouldn't leave the club for less than €30 million.
Highlights

Romaric
Age: 27
Country: Ivory Coast
Club: Sevilla (Spanish Primera)
Height: 6-1
The skinny: While Romaric is a bit older than what seems to be the ideal Newcastle target these days — he'll be 28 on June 4 — the price might be right. New Sevilla coach Marcelino Garcia said the club would listen to offers for the attacking midfielder.
Highlights

Diego Perotti
Age: 22
Country: Argentina
Club: Sevilla (Spanish Primera)
Height: 5-10
The skinny: Perotti is a skillful left winger who's been linked with Newcastle ... but some of the prices mentioned in the past would surely be out of United's price range. Sevilla president Jose Maria Del Nido said Perotti is not for sale this summer.
Highlights

Xherdan Shaqiri
Age: 19
Country: Born in Yugoslavia; plays for Switzerland
Club: FC Basel (Swiss Super League)
Height: 5-7
The skinny: The compact left-footed winger opened some eyes with a ridiculous goal in a Euro 2012 qualifier against England last September. The Swiss wunderkind, who's ethnically Albanian, is also said to have Italian (Juventus in particular) and German clubs after him.
Highlights

Marvin Martin
Age: 23
Country: France
Club: Sochaux (French Ligue 1)
Height: 5-7
The skinny: The diminutive Martin, who played with Hatem Ben Arfa at Montrouge as a youngster, is considered to be one of the best playmaking midfielders in the Ligue 1. He's signed through 2014 and Sochaux president Alexandre Lacombe has said the club won't sell Martin this summer, but a big money offer might change that.
Highlights

Charles N'Zogbia - SIGNED WITH ASTON VILLA
Age: 25
Country: France
Club: Wigan Athletic (English Premier League)
Height: 5-7
The skinny: Selling N'Zogbia to Wigan in January 2009 hasn't exactly worked out well for Newcastle. The temperamental winger has turned into one of the Premier League's top creative midfielders -- something Newcastle could clearly use. United reportedly put in a last-minute bid for N'Zogbia in January, although Pardew said Newcastle only inquired about him but didn't formally bid. In the end, it seems United wasn't willing to match Wigan's asking price, while Aston Villa was.
Highlights

Blaise Matuidi - SIGNED WITH PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN
Age: 24
Country: France
Club: Saint-Etienne (French Ligue 1)
Height: 5-9
The skinny: Matuidi is a defensive midfielder who's been frequently linked with Arsenal in the past. Defensive midfielder isn't a huge need, but Newcastle could use cover for suspension-prone Cheik Tiote -- and there's always the chance he'll be sold for a big profit. Or, perhaps United envisions Matuidi and Tiote playing together. He's said to have a £13 million release clause in his contract. 7/25 UPDATE: Matuidi signed with big-spending PSG.
Highlights

Jeremy Menez - SIGNED WITH PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN
Age: 24
Country: France
Club: Roma (Italian Serie A)
Height: 5-11
The skinny: At first glance, Menez would seem to be a little unrealistic for Newcastle. He's a dynamic attacking player who can operate anywhere across the front of the midfield and cost Roma €10.5 million in 2008. He's also unhappy with his current club. It's all a bit like Hatem Ben Arfa's situation last summer. 7/25 UPDATE: Menez signed with big-spending PSG.
Highlights

Axel Witsel - SIGNED WITH BENFICA
Age: 22
Country: Belgium
Club: Standard Liege (Belgian Jupiler League)
Height: 6-0
The skinny: Witsel, who can play all over the midfield, is part of an impressive crop of talented young Belgian players. Given the nature of the teams linked with Witsel, it was never very likely that United would be able to land him - even if it was interested. Witsel opted for Portugal, where he's joined Benfica.
Highlights

Jonathan Pitroipa - SIGNED WITH RENNES
Age: 25
Country: Burkina Faso
Club: Hamburg SV (German Bundesliga)
Height: 5-9
The skinny: Pitroipa was linked with Newcastle courtesy of Inside Futbol and the Twitter account of @nufcfans. The speedy right winger, who was second on Hamburg in assists last season, would have fit into the philosophy of buying under-the-radar players from continental Europe. However, he signed with Rennes.
Highlights

Victor Wanyama - SIGNED WITH CELTIC
Age: 19
Country: Kenya
Club: Germinal Beerschot (Belgian Jupiler League)
Height: 6-2
The skinny: Wanyama, a defensive midfielder, is the younger brother of AC Milan's McDonald Mariga. He made his debut for the Kenyan national team when he was just 15. Celtic signed Wanyama for less than £1 million and manager Neil Lennon said he plans on converting him into a center back.
No highlights available

Georginio Wijnaldum - SIGNED WITH PSV EINDHOVEN
Age: 20
Country: The Netherlands
Club: Feyenoord (Dutch Eredivisie)
Height: 5-8
The skinny: Feyenoord is in poor financial health, so the Rotterdam club's players could be up for grabs. Newcastle chief scout Graham Carr reportedly watched Wijnaldum, but United never followed up with a bid (or if it did, it did so very quietly) and the promising young midfielder signed with PSV.
Highlights

Sebastian Larsson - SIGNED WITH SUNDERLAND
Age: 25
Country: Sweden
Club: Birmingham (English Championship)
Height: 5-10
The skinny: Newcastle reportedly had a bid accepted for Larsson in January, but couldn't reach a deal — there were conflicting reports about whether Larsson or Birmingham was responsible for the deal falling apart. The right winger is a bit of a dead ball specialist, which helps make up for the fact that he's not particularly pacey. Newcastle were said to no longer be interested, and Larsson agreed to join Sunderland on June 22.
Highlights

Jamie O'Hara - SIGNED WITH WOLVES
Age: 24
Country: England
Club: Tottenham (English Premier League) -- on loan to Wolverhampton Wanderers
Height: 5-11
The skinny: The versatile midfielder will almost certainly be signing permanently with Wolves. But United has been linked with O'Hara repeatedly in the past, and could be an option if that deal falls through. O'Hara can play all over the midfield and has a dangerous left foot.
No highlights available

Balazs Dzsudzsak - SIGNED WITH ANZHI MAKHACHKALA
Age: 24
Country: Hungary
Club: PSV Eindhoven (Dutch Eredivisie)
Height: 5-10
The skinny: Dzsudzsak, who's been heavily linked with Liverpool, is considered a true left winger, something Newcastle could certainly stand to add in the summer. He's also got an eye for goal — he has reached double-digit in goals the last three seasons for PSV. Dzsudzsak moved to Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala on June 13 for €14 million.
Highlights

Jose Maria Callejon — SIGNED WITH REAL MADRID
Age: 24
Country: Spain
Club: Espanyol (Spanish Primera)
Height: 5-10
The skinny: Callejon, a former Real Madrid youth player, opted to return to the Santiago Bernabeu on May 23 after an impressive spell at Espanyol, signing a five-year deal. He can play as a striker or winger.
Highlights

 

Defenders

Davide Santon - SIGNED WITH NEWCASTLE
Age: 20
Country: Italy
Club: Internazionale (Italian Serie A)
Height: 6-2
The skinny: Santon was just 18 when Marcello Lippi compared him to Paolo Mandini. Since then, his career hasn't progressed as most would have imagined - a knee injury didn't help matters - but the defender is still only 20. Although he's naturally right-footed, he can play at either fullback spot as well as center back.
Highlights

Erik Pieters
Age: 23
Country: Netherlands
Club: PSV Eindhoven (Dutch Eredivisie)
Height: 6-1
The skinny: Alan Pardew reportedly flew to the Netherlands to watch Pieters play on Aug. 7. Interestingly enough, the Dutch international left back has recently been linked to Liverpool as an alternative to Enrique. Pieters apparently suffered a knee injury in preseason, but is back now.
Highlights

Aly Cissokho
Age: 23
Country: France
Club: Lyon (French Ligue 1)
Height: 5-11
The skinny: Cissokho would be an ideal replacement for Enrique. But it's difficult to see how Newcastle could realistically land the powerful and pacy French left back, considering he cost Lyon €15 million two years ago. Since then, Cissokho has broken into the French national team. 8/20 UPDATE: According to Le Parisien, Newcastle will be lodging an €8 million bid for Cissokho.
Highlights

Wayne Bridge
Age: 30
Country: England
Club: Manchester City (English Premier League)
Height: 5-11
The skinny: Bridge has long been seen as one of the top left backs in England, but a combination of injuries and crowded club situations hasn't helped his career. He had a somewhat shaky loan spell at West Ham during the second half of last season, but Bridge still possesses a quality left foot. Like all of Manchester City's fringe players, though, his wage demands could be a problem.
Highlights

Cheikh M'Bengue
Age: 22
Country: France
Club: Toulouse (French Ligue 1)
Height: 6-0
The skinny: M'Bengue is billed as a tough-tackling left back, although it appears he may be too tough at times — he's twice been handed lengthy suspensions after committing dangerous fouls. Newcastle has reportedly had bids of €5 million and €6 million turned down for the player, who's admitted he's aware of United's interest.
No highlights available

Nicky Shorey
Age: 30
Country: England
Club: West Brom (English Premier League)
Height: 5-9
The skinny: Shorey's career has steadily gone downhill since he was one of Reading's top players during the club's two-year run in the Premiership. He became a squad player at Aston Villa before eventually moving to West Brom last summer. At one time Shorey would have been a welcome signing for Newcastle; now, not so much.
No highlights available

Stephen Warnock
Age: 29
Country: England
Club: Aston Villa (English Premier League)
Height: 5-10
The skinny: Warnock was considered one of the top left backs in the Premier League during his time at Blackburn, but he's now on the fringes at Aston Villa along with Stephen Ireland. Given Warnock's age, though, Newcastle wouldn't exactly be following its transfer policy of buying young players with resale value.
Highlights

Emilio Izaguirre
Age: 25
Country: Honduras
Club: Celtic (Scottish Premier League)
Height: 5-9
The skinny: Izaguirre was a revelation for Celtic in his first season in Scotland, winning a slew of SPL player of the year awards. Not bad for a player who joined from Honduran side Motagua for a reported £600,000 last summer. It would probably take at least 10 times that amount to land him this summer.
Highlights

Moustapha Bayal Sall
Age: 25
Country: Senegal
Club: Saint-Etienne (French Ligue 1)
Height: 6-3
The skinny: Bayal Sall, who can operate at center back or defensive midfielder, has been transfer-listed by Saint-Etienne, according to Tribal Football. He's a Senegalese international.
Highlights

Ashley Williams
Age: 26
Country: Born in England; plays for Wales
Club: Swansea City (English Premier League)
Height: 6-0
The skinny: Williams has established himself as one of the Championship's best defenders over the past three seasons. He's been linked with Newcastle for about that long, too. Swansea has said Williams isn't for sale.
Highlights

Roman Hubnik
Age: 26
Country: Czech Republic
Club: Hertha Berlin (German 2. Bundesliga)
Height: 6-3
The skinny: Hubnik, a center back, plays in the second division of German football, but he's a Czech international. Hertha Berlin has said he's not for sale, but we've all heard that before.
Highlights

Joe Bennett
Age: 21
Country: England
Club: Middlesbrough (English Championship)
Height: 5-9
The skinny: Bennett had a trial at Newcastle as a youngster but wasn't signed. The left back was already an England youth international, but has established himself as a starter since Tony Mowbray took over as Boro manager last October.
No highlights available

Mathias Jorgensen
Age: 21
Country: Denmark
Club: FC Copenhagen (Danish Superliga)
Height: 6-3
The skinny: Jorgensen figures to be one of the most sought-after young center backs in all of Europe this summer. The powefully-built 21-year-old has Champions League experience to go along with five appearances for the Danish national team.
No highlights available

Guy Demel
Age: 29
Country: France; plays for Ivory Coast
Club: Hamburg SV (German Bundesliga)
Height: 6-2
The skinny: Demel's name first surfaced in the Journal on May 4. The right back would be a fairly odd signing, though, given that he'll turn 30 on June 13. Despite what other sites have reported, he's not a free agent in the summer -- his contract runs through 2013.
No highlights available

Xabier Castillo
Age: 25
Country: Spain
Club: Athletic Bilbao (Spanish Primera)
Height: 5-11
The skinny: Castillo is another candidate that's been mentioned as a potential replacement for Enrique at left back. He's represented Spain at the under-19 level once.
No highlights available

Neil Taylor
Age: 22
Country: Wales
Club: Swansea City (English Premier League)
Height: 5-9
The skinny: Taylor was reported to have a £1 million buyout clause in his contract that Newcastle matched. However, Swansea claimed that only allowed Newcastle to speak with Taylor, which eventually bought enough time for the Welsh club to offer him a new deal. Taylor is regarded as one of the top young left backs in England, and broke into the Welsh national team in 2010. See 6/5 post.
No highlights available

Eliaquim Mangala - SIGNED WITH PORTO
Age: 20
Country: France
Club: Standard Liege (Belgian Jupiler League)
Height: 6-1
The skinny: Newcastle scouts were alleged to have watched Mangala, a French Under-21 international, at the Belgian Cup final on May 21. Spurs and Arsenal have been heavily linked with Mangala, whose agent has said he'd like to move to England this summer. 8/15/ UPDATE: Mangala and teammate Steven Defour both joined Porto.
Highlights

Raphael Varane - SIGNED WITH REAL MADRID
Age: 18
Country: France
Club: Lens (French Ligue 2)
Height: 6-3
The skinny: The young central defender was already on the radar of a host of big clubs across Europe. Varane was said to be close to a transfer to Manchester United, but that never materialized and he joined Real Madrid instead.
Highlights

Oscar Wendt - SIGNED WITH BORUSSIA MONCHENGLADBACH
Age: 25
Country: Sweden
Club: Copenhagen (Danish Superliga)
Height: 5-11
The skinny: Wendt, whose contract is up this summer, was linked with Newcastle, Liverpool, QPR and Sporting Lisbon. If those were truly his options, then it's odd that he signed with German side Borussia Monchengladbach.
Highlights

Taye Taiwo — SIGNED WITH AC MILAN
Age: 26
Country: Nigeria
Club: Marseille (French Ligue 1)
Height: 6-0
The skinny: Taiwo, who possesses a lethal left foot, is out of contract this summer and will be leaving Marseille for AC Milan. While he was linked with Newcastle, there was never much of a chance of him ending up at St. James' Park given the other clubs that were reportedly interested. AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri announced May 9 that Taiwo would be joining the club in the summer.
Highlights

 

Goalkeepers

Rob Elliot - SIGNED WITH NEWCASTLE
Age: 25
Country: England
Club: Charlton Athletic (League One)
Height: 6-3
The skinny: Elliot would likely be a low-cost backup option. He has been stalling on a new contract at Charlton, with his current deal set to expire after this season. Newcastle goalkeeping coach Andy Woodman worked with Elliot during his tenure at Charlton.
Highlights

Petr Bolek
Age: 27
Country: Czech Republic
Club: FK Senica (Slovak Corgon Liga)
Height: 6-3
The skinny: Bolek's club has confirmed the little-known goalkeeper will go on trial at Newcastle. Should he impress, Newcastle will then reportedly sign him on a season-long loan with an option to make the move permanent.
No highlights available

Thibaut Courtious - SIGNED WITH CHELSEA
Age: 19
Country: Belgium
Club: Genk (Belgian Jupiler League)
Height: 6-4
The skinny: Newcastle isn't in need of a goalkeeper in the short term, but Courtious would have been viewed as "one for the future." That's what he'll be seen as at Chelsea, who immediately loaned the young shot stopper out to Athletico Madrid after signing him.
Highlights

Keiren Westwood - SIGNED WITH SUNDERLAND
Age: 26
Country: England; plays for Ireland
Club: Coventry City (English Championship)
Height: 6-2
The skinny: Despite Pardew repeatedly saying he didn't envision signing a keeper this summer, Newcastle was continually linked with Westwood - mainly because he was out of contract after running down his deal at Coventry. However, Sunderland was also frequently linked with Westwood, and announced he'd signed on June 22.
Highlights

SAFE AND SOUND

Finally, we can all exhale.

Yes, Newcastle United was almost assuredly safe from relegation before Saturday's 2-1 home win over Birmingham. But a last-minute drop to the Championship was still mathematically possible.

Not any more. Regardless of what happens in the season's final two weeks, Newcastle won't wind up sliding perilously down the Premier League table. That in and of itself is an achievement, considering everything that's been thrown at this (undermanned) team over the past 10 months.

The fact that United has a legitimate chance at a top-10 finish after Saturday's win means the entire squad and coaching staff — let's not forget Chris Hughton and Colin Calderwood, either — deserve recognition. There might not be any dominant teams in the Premier League this season, but there aren't any horrendous sides at the bottom, either. Newcastle has had to scratch and claw its way to 44 points.

In many ways, Saturday's slightly bizarre match summed up United's season. There was plenty of endeavor without a real cutting edge in attack. And just when you thought Newcastle was set to open the game up, a slip-up kept things tight until the final whistle.

Next up is a summer that should go a long way toward shaping the immediate future of the club as a whole. But that can wait for at least a few weeks.

For now, we can all stop holding our breath. Job well done, boys.

BENDTNER OR SOMEONE LIKE HIM

My co-blogger Tom was on the handle of the official I Wish I Was A Geordie tweet (@NUFC_US) last night when he got a Twitteroasting for suggesting "I think Bendtner could be a nice signing. Young and has a chip on his shoulder to prove he's a top striker." After his cyber-spanking Tom clarified, "I certainly wouldn't advocate blowing a ton of cash on him."

I wouldn't either. But here's the deal with strikers: You can spend £20 million on one, or you can spend £8 million on one that might turn out to be worth £20 million. Newcastle United isn't in the £20-million-striker club. So it's essential to shop that other category, and I agree with Tom: Nicklas Bendtner is in it. In fact, I would say he's a classic representation of that category.

Newcastle United can't afford a striker who comes without risk. What Newcastle United can afford is a 23-year-old with world-class talent who's had some bad breaks. Someone who has a few character issues that will put off rival suitors and lower the bill. Someone who takes a "how big an asshole am I" test from an Arsenal psychologist and scores 10 on a scale of 9. Granted, we all know that Newcastle never touches a player with character flaws. Never ever.

As the clock ticks to kickoff today against Birmingham, it might do Newcastle fans well to recall what Nicklas Bendtner looked like when he got a consistent chance to play, on loan in a Birmingham strip. He'd get that same chance in Newcastle United's new 2012 formalwear. It's a chance worth taking. On Bendtner or someone like him.

A TAYLOR-MADE OPPORTUNITY

It wasn't that long ago that Steven Taylor was seen as one of the centerpieces of Newcastle United's squad.

He was a former England under-21 national team captain, a versatile defender with an eye for goal and a local product who genuinely cared about the club. It was seen as something of a coup that Newcastle was able to keep Taylor, a player with legitimate hopes of a full England callup, in the aftermath of relegation.

And yet, here we are, with three games left in United's first season back up in the Premier League and Taylor hasn't done anything substantial. He'll get a chance to change that in Newcastle's run-in with Mike Williamson suddenly out after breaking his arm in a freak weight-room accident.

There isn't much left for United to play for -- relegation is still mathematically possible, but it'd take an extraordinary sequence of results -- but it's a significant stretch for Taylor.

He was a no-questions-asked starter at center back in the first half of last season. But then came a knee injury against West Brom, Williamson's arrival and an infamous haymaker from Andy Carroll.

Taylor hasn't been back at his best since. This season started with a shoulder dislocation in a friendly and, apart from a mid-season stretch of seven straight starts, he's been a fringe player. His most noteworthy contribution was finally signing a contract extension in December after months of uncertainty and speculation.

Meanwhile, Williamson and Fabricio Coloccini have largely picked up where they left off in the second half of last season. Williamson's lack of pace has been exposed at times, but overall he's made a smooth transition to the Premiership level, showing aerial ability and overall steadiness. And the superbly-skilled Coloccini is miles ahead of where he was the last time United was in the top flight.

The same can't be said of Taylor. It's harsh to judge him on this season because he's spent most of it dealing with injuries. But this is a chance for the 25-year-old to remind all of us -- and manager Alan Pardew -- why he was so highly thought of just a couple years back.

NEW KIT: BLACK TIE AFFAIR

Well, it's official. Newcastle United unveiled its home kit for next season, and if you hadn't already seen it, you clearly hadn't been on any message boards over the past month or so.

My reaction is the same as that of most Toon fans that I've seen: The shirt is just kind of awkward-looking. It looks like a black vest and long black tie paired with a white shirt. But, despite my complaints, who am I kidding? I'll be buying one at some point this summer.

Fans can pre-order the shirt through the club's official site starting today, with the official launch date being Thursday, May 19.

Puma's two-year contract as Newcastle's kit supplier is due to expire after next season, so maybe we'll all be treated to someone else's offerings next time around.

UPDATE: Here's how the kit looks when worn, modeled exclusively for I Wish I Was A Geordie by American actor Wilson Cruz. Upon publication here Cruz was rumored on numerous other sites to be among Newcastle United's top summer transfer targets. However we consider his complete lack of experience at any level of soccer to be a drawback.

CAN WE PRESS FAST FORWARD?

The end of the season can't get here soon enough.

That has to be the prevailing sentiment among Newcastle United fans after watching Sunday's 3-0 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield.

It was a loss in which most members of the away team — save for the tireless Jonas Gutierrez — appeared to simply go through the motions. Maybe they're ready for summer as well.

Newcastle actually dominated possession for a good chunk of the match, but a combination of horrid defending and hopeless attacking meant United never looked likely to score, never mind get anything out of the match. Liverpool wasn't overly impressive, but the hosts didn't need to be.

Now, to be fair to Newcastle, it's been a long and trying season. The squad isn't big enough or good enough, and Sunday wasn't the first time that became apparent. And while we've heard plenty of quotes about the players' desire to finish as high up the table as possible, they're no doubt well aware that — barring something disastrous in the season's final three weeks — they've successfully avoided relegation. So maybe there's just a tad less motivation for a team that's been out to prove its critics wrong in this first season back up in the Premier League.

I'm sure plenty of Newcastle fans will point out that part of Alan Pardew's job is to inspire that motivation, but it's unfair to criticize the manager much over a lackluster performance by his team in a fairly meaningless late-season match.

What Pardew needs at this point isn't necessarily better tactics, team selection or motivational speeches. He needs better players.

So, please, summer, hurry up and get here.

NEWCASTLE SUPPORTERS SECTION TICKETS FOR JULY 20 MATCH IN KANSAS CITY AVAILABLE NOW - HERE'S THE LINK

Tickets in the Newcastle United supporters section for the Mags' July 20 pre-season friendly at Sporting Kansas City of Major League Soccer are available now, slightly ahead of tomorrow's 10 a.m. release of general tickets for the match. Tickets are $20 each plus service charge, and are emailed to you immediately - click here to purchase tickets in the Newcastle section, and use TOON as the access code.

Hope to see you there, and keep watching here for more details about VIP upgrades and Newcastle fan events in Kansas City.

KANSAS CITY MATCH TICKETS ON SALE FRIDAY

Tickets for Newcastle United's July 20 pre-season friendly against Sporting Kansas City will go on sale to the general public Friday at 1 p.m., the Major League Soccer club announced Wednesday.

To order, call 1-888-4KC-GOAL or visit Ticketmaster.com, with prices starting at $20. We're checking with SKC for information about away supporter ticketing and the VIP package, which included admission to a Newcastle training session as well as an autograph session, that had been previously mentioned.

UPDATE: We've been in contact with Sporting Kansas City this morning. The club will be supplying us with a link to buy tickets in the Newcastle away supporter section so check back here at sale time. VIP packages will be available later as an add-on to your ticket.