We broke the news yesterday that Newcastle United had invited Dinamo Zagreb officials to Newcastle earlier in the week to discuss the transfer of their 22 year-old midfield star Luka Modric.
Luka Modric – deal already done and dusted?
This morning the Daily Telegraph is reporting the story, and says Newcastle are close to buying the highly-rated Croatian midfielder in a £12M deal, already agreed with Modric’s Dinamo Zagreb club.
Dinamo vice-president Zdravko Mamic met Newcastle representatives at Newcastle’s Malmaison hotel earlier this week for low-level talks, and we believe the deal could well be done and dusted.
The deal has been led by Newcastle’s new director of football, Dennis Wise, and the capture of Modric would be a huge coup for the Tyneside club and out new Recruitment team, as the player has attracted the attention of other top clubs Chelsea, Tottenham and Arsenal, as we reported yesterday.
Mamic has even informally confirmed that Modric is near to finalizing the move to Newcastle, where manager Kevin Keegan is looking for extra top-class midfield talent. The Telegraph is even reporting that Modric may already be celebrating his huge move on a personal basis.
Modric had also been linked with Barcelona, but wanted to move to the Premier League.
It’s not clear if Modric arrives, what would happen to Emre, although Keegan may want to keep the Turkish midfield star. We need all the midfield talent we can get to fire the engine room of Kevin’s new team, currently under construction on Tyneside.
If the transfer does go through we believe it would be welcomed by the Newcastle faithful.
Comments welcome.
107 comments so far
Tom1664
Apr 24, 2008 at 2:55 AM
Comment #1Pleae god. If you’re a geordie, just give us this.
kenneth
Apr 24, 2008 at 2:57 AM
Comment #2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newcastle_United_F.C.#Current_squad
Whats going on ? if we can trust the wiki? then the deal seems to be done?????????????????
Whats going on ?
obafemimartins
Apr 24, 2008 at 2:58 AM
Comment #3the telegraph agree with you on this one ed. looking good for nufc. we must have some power in the transfer makret if we are atracting these types of players. Come on the toon!!!!!!! 😀
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2008/04/24/sfnnew124.xml
Grant
Apr 24, 2008 at 2:59 AM
Comment #4I have a feeling Emre is out in the summer to help raise cash for more transfers.
Modric would be a class signing, he made Lampard and Gerrard look like they were on a pub team when Croatia played England.
m.
Apr 24, 2008 at 2:59 AM
Comment #5this lad is related to Vodka – their mothers are cousins, something like that – I think he’ll sign for us, great addition to the squad.
51times
Apr 24, 2008 at 2:59 AM
Comment #6A rising star of European football, it’d be brilliant if we could get him in.
obafemimartins
Apr 24, 2008 at 3:02 AM
Comment #7it certainly seems like we have himi thought keegan said we arent going to sign many star players. if this is guy isnt counted as a star player i cnat wait until we do sign star players.
moomfan
Apr 24, 2008 at 3:02 AM
Comment #8well…lets see, young, talented, can play in cold climate, quality, and happy(hopefully loyal), that makes me feel good about this player. oh yeah, by the way, unlike the previous regimes at ST. JAMES, we seem to be tying things down early for the summer, as it should be… always. i just know that keegan is the only man for NEWCASTLE, just as fergie for manure and wenger for arses. howay the lads this week at west ham.
m.
Apr 24, 2008 at 3:04 AM
Comment #9off: i’ve heard some news from Tino, he was arrested in Colombia because he shot 32 times at a neighbour’s house, due to some trouble
Hadrian
Apr 24, 2008 at 3:08 AM
Comment #10its our new peter beardsley !
hope we get the lad , zagreb have a stand named after viduka apparently !! funny how thing’s like that happen .
maybe berbatov isnt so out of reach aswell ? 😀
m.
Apr 24, 2008 at 3:10 AM
Comment #11we must have luck with this new eastern european, because the last one (Rozehnal) was pure shite.
y2j
Apr 24, 2008 at 3:17 AM
Comment #12Well it seems as though this rumour is gaining more and more momentum. If he does sign, hats off to Wise and co.
moomfan
Apr 24, 2008 at 3:47 AM
Comment #13i just wish there were more top quality brits around that age to bring in. seems as though we are skipping a generation in top quality players. the likes of owen, gerrard, lampard, actually the entire senior squad have not had any competition for their spots. and if this continues the entire prem league team sheets will be of foriegn nature. i just wish if every team had at least 4 brits in their starting line up, after all…ahhh, forget that, i’m just being nostalgic. forgive me football god. really, really, i just want newcastle to dominate, at least for about 3 or 4 campaigns throughout europe.
Ausgeordie
Apr 24, 2008 at 4:25 AM
Comment #14What are we all celebrating for? Call me cautious but there are so many rumours flying around that are complete rubbish that I would not assume anything (especially you Ed) until we hear it from Kev or Mort.
From the article above you’d think he had been paraded at St James. All weve got is one article that has inspired everyone else to jump on the bandwagon and rewrite the same thing. Its not an abundance of evidence, its rumours.
obamagic
Apr 24, 2008 at 4:34 AM
Comment #15I hope this is true. If it is then…YAYAYA!!! modric is a solid CAM
ginkoh
Apr 24, 2008 at 4:34 AM
Comment #16How about Archavin ??
51times
Apr 24, 2008 at 4:58 AM
Comment #17I think Arshevin could be put on the left wing if we did get him…he can also play up front and as a central attacking midfielder. Modric is younger and more talented anyway.
adam
Apr 24, 2008 at 4:59 AM
Comment #18it would be a fantastic signing for newcastle. good first signing for the keegan revolution!
hope this is just a taste of things to come during the summer
Patrick
Apr 24, 2008 at 6:51 AM
Comment #19If it’s true, I definitely feel over the moon! He’s really a first-class player!
Stami - PLAY CARROLL
Apr 24, 2008 at 7:35 AM
Comment #20i was really hoping that we would sign this youngster! didnt think it would happen but this sounds like good news! im still waiting for some kind of confirmation from KK or Mort as im sure the rest of us are!
Guinea Mag
Apr 24, 2008 at 7:40 AM
Comment #21If true, and hope it is, it’s a terrific first signing of the second KK era………
stumpofthetoon
Apr 24, 2008 at 7:50 AM
Comment #22hope this is true would be class come on the kegan revolution
Ant
Apr 24, 2008 at 8:23 AM
Comment #23Can I ask, someone must know.
How do we beat so many top clubs for players?
One of the key factors in a number of our signings have been “I like the city” and even the likes of Oba cite that as a reason for staying…Having lived in the toon all my life, (the whole 18 years of it haha) can I ask, WHAT’S WRONG WITH THE OTHER CITIES?
I love the toon but if this is as good as it gets…
Don’t know anything about this lad so decided to go with a pointless couple of questions…could be wors could be the usual tom_toon sh*te…
“Oh I’ve just watched Mwanbararu Kizzafelinquin play and he’s only 6 and a half years old, sign him now before he’s world class before he hits double figures, oh and his fellow countryman Nwararawara Belafunto seems a class act as well although perhaps too old for our side at a stately 12 years old”
aaron d
Apr 24, 2008 at 8:24 AM
Comment #24He’s a quality player and hopefully he signs and adampts to the preimer league, played well against england.
Ausgeordie
Apr 24, 2008 at 8:26 AM
Comment #25We should try and get a look at Jeremy Menez from AS Monaco. He has loads of pace and skills and would be a superb addition to the team.
If you aint heard if Jeremy Menez go to youtube you’ll be impressed
aaron d
Apr 24, 2008 at 8:37 AM
Comment #26remember Jeremy Menez when newcastle beat sochaux 4-0 in eufa cup few years back, he was only around 17 and was one of there better players, could see he had potential.
Ausgeordie
Apr 24, 2008 at 8:45 AM
Comment #27Check this out.
Jeremy menez
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8b0ijzDjagI&feature=related
lets get him!!!!!
Jimmie
Apr 24, 2008 at 8:48 AM
Comment #28Hope he signs for us before the European championship as hes price could rise if he plays the god stuff!
Nick Dryden
Apr 24, 2008 at 8:50 AM
Comment #29This would be a hell of a start if we cold get MODRIC. Forget the Riise’s and Gardners of this world, both disitinctly average and limited.
2 or 3 MODRIC type signings would completely transform us. Pandev and the young defender at Bilbao would also be great additions. maybe some more Croatians as well.
OzZyMagpiE
Apr 24, 2008 at 8:59 AM
Comment #30guyz is he a left or a right footer?
Obafan
Apr 24, 2008 at 9:04 AM
Comment #31If this is true, I’m excited but also cautious, cause lots of rubbish gets send into the world by the papers, then it is a fantastic deal.
Remember (sorry guys) England – Croatia; he was the engine of Croatia and Gerrard did not know how to handle him. That means he is top class and is still very young, so he will only get better.
Like someone said the deal should be confirmed before the EC2008 because his price will increase after that.
I hope now we willmove for Arshavin, another quality player, who will be a star at the ECC. I know he is suspended the first 2 games, but if Russia is able to qualify for the QF he will be the man to watch.
valle
Apr 24, 2008 at 9:19 AM
Comment #32Seems like we are going for the great Sir Bobby’s strategy of getting a great young team… With Modric and the 2 other midfielders we are linked with McGeady and Lennon also rumored to be joining… Menez also sounds good, but we havnt ever been mentioned in regards to him before and perhaps signing both him and Mordic in the same season and both playing midfield would be a bit of a risk, considering how foreign players can receive a culture shock in the EPL…
Robert-Croatia
Apr 24, 2008 at 9:20 AM
Comment #33he can play with both foot,and he has a lethal right foot when taking a long shot,he scored so many goals from 20 yards and further,and he is Dinamo Zagreb captain
Eric
Apr 24, 2008 at 9:21 AM
Comment #34Watched Modric on YouTube. He looks classy and skilfull. An obvious KK type of player. But not sure about the media gossip about Sidwell. He would be a Chelsea reject. If he is not good enough for one of the Gang of Four why should he be good enough for us? He had his chance to move to NUFC but where did he go? To the bright lights and the subs bench. No more cast-offs please. We will not get into the Champions League with second-hand hand-me-downs from the Gang of Four. We need to build and succeed better than that!
Geordie Gerrard7
Apr 24, 2008 at 9:21 AM
Comment #35he is two footed, quick and also is one of the neatest players you will see, much like carrick or moutinho. he will be going on the back of one of my tops next year if he comes. he is class.
valle
Apr 24, 2008 at 9:23 AM
Comment #36Ozzymagpie… Regarding which foot he uses, i found this…
He uses both feet to play, and his biggest strength is his swift offensive positioning without the ball. He’s also one of few playmakers able to contribute on the defensive end as well. His lack of physical power contradicts his shooting, which has a surprising amount of power that make his shots on goal mostly effective. However, he has plenty of stamina and is very aggressive in one-on-one battles. His timing is perfect, and his passes are accurate.
valle
Apr 24, 2008 at 9:25 AM
Comment #37Eric… Sidwell, might be a cheap good choice for the bench… Emre is always injured and we need a reliable squad, most of who knows the EPL well if we are going to build on our success…
valle
Apr 24, 2008 at 9:28 AM
Comment #38How bout this team, using only players we have been linked with…
…………………..Harper………………….
.
.
Beye…..Dunne…Taylor….Bridge
.
.
Lennon..Carrick..Modric…McGeady
.
.
…………….Owen…..Dukes……………..
valle
Apr 24, 2008 at 9:32 AM
Comment #39Btw, looked at a youtube video of Samir Nasri that allot of you guys have talked about… Imo he seems to lack vision and both passing and shooting ability.
Graeme
Apr 24, 2008 at 9:34 AM
Comment #40Sounds like a good start to the new signing campaign – now if we could get another couple of average world class players to go with him, like Eto’o and Messi, we would have the makings of a half decent team!!!!!
Just dreamin lads, just dreaming lol