Well, this report is from the News of The World (NOTW), so that’s a warning from the start, but apparently Kevin Keegan was sure Modric would be a Newcastle player on Friday.
Kevin Keegan – apparently furious Newcastle didn’t get Modric
But that didn’t happen due to what looks a little like a bizarre situation on Friday night, but when we all woke up Saturday morning – Modric was a Tottenham player.
A Newcastle source told the NOTW today:
“It was difficult to calm Kevin down, he was furious.”
“It’s a major embarrassment as Kevin felt getting Modric would have been the perfect message to Newcastle fans.”
Luka Modric has been a target for many top clubs, including Chelsea and Arsenal, after his great form for Croatia in their European 2008 qualifying campaign, especially in the game against England last November, when Croatia won 3-2.
It looks like the player was willing to sign for Newcastle, but there was no deal sealed between the clubs since they could never agree on the actual fee. But there’s no doubt Newcastle were ahead in the race until Friday.
But, somehow Spurs stepped in to pinch the player at the last minute, and we still have no idea what actually happened.
We feel that Newcastle will be even more keen sign a top player to get the transfer season off to a good start.
The Modric events are now water under the bridge, unfortunately, but we’d still like to know what happened – it may be something the club can learn from for the future.
It’s not often you are close to signing a world class 22 year-old, who wants to come to your club.
Who should we be going for as our first signing?
Let us know – comments welcome.
254 comments so far
Geordie Gerrard7
Apr 27, 2008 at 4:13 PM
Comment #1it just annoys me reading these comments
Bucks1985
Apr 27, 2008 at 4:16 PM
Comment #2It’s the ‘News of the World’… Dare I say more!
Fernando
Apr 27, 2008 at 4:16 PM
Comment #3that’s good, atleast the next person of same or bigger stature will not slip thru our hands. to make up for this, we will sign someone big 😀
gonufc
Apr 27, 2008 at 4:18 PM
Comment #4Diego!!!! Would love him even more than modric. If this is true then it reflects well on Keegan, makes him sound really upset that he’s let down the fans.
ash
Apr 27, 2008 at 4:19 PM
Comment #5well i’m furious too!!
Fernando
Apr 27, 2008 at 4:20 PM
Comment #6to appease the fans if i was mort i’d be pushing for the contract negotiations with owen and taylor and others to be wrapped up quickly. that would make a statement esp owen’s contract
Geordie Gerrard7
Apr 27, 2008 at 4:21 PM
Comment #7http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPCZVP3zUls
iain
Apr 27, 2008 at 4:21 PM
Comment #8whether what the NOW says about keegan being true or not the whole situation has made us look like right idiots (again). and gives the press tons of ammo for stories about keegans relationship with wise etc.
Simon toon fan
Apr 27, 2008 at 4:25 PM
Comment #9At the end of the day the we were looking to pay 12million for the croatian but spurs eventually paid 15.2 million the next day so i guess money talks and his agent was out to get as much as possible how else would newcastle more or less state his signature was in the bag on friday. Just shows that newcastle will not be held to ransom and pay over the odds as done previously. I bet the agent of modric contacted the toon before the deal was done to spurs saying you need to up the offer and we said no good on the toon. lets see who we go for next
Aggi
Apr 27, 2008 at 4:26 PM
Comment #10just bring in Arshavin that would certainly calm me down. do believe we could get him alot cheaper plus he is more proven and just as versatile but 4 years older.
scottish mag
Apr 27, 2008 at 4:28 PM
Comment #11just remember modric deal isnt complete yet, can he still change his mind
ToonDaft
Apr 27, 2008 at 4:28 PM
Comment #12DIEGO!!! DIEGO!!! DIEGO!!! At least let us try for him! I would laugh if we missed out on Modric to bring in Diego, better player in my book
Fernando
Apr 27, 2008 at 4:28 PM
Comment #13at least things are looking up.. we are moving forwrd on the pitch. next year if we work hard then win a cup and get into europe 🙂
ObaFan2
Apr 27, 2008 at 4:29 PM
Comment #14Very bizzare but we have to move on. KK trusted his scouts/execs to make this deal and it fell through at the last minute (if we believe the press!).
Like I say we have to move on and find the talent we deserve and there’s plenty about who’d want to play for KK, those with ambition anyway.
I agree we have to sort out contracts on the people we have here already, Oba and Owen for starters.
MARK
Apr 27, 2008 at 4:29 PM
Comment #15THIS SITE IS CRAP!! ALWAYS PICKING CRAP FROM PAPERS LIKE THE NEWS OF THE WORLD.. IVE STOPPED READING MOST ARTICLES AS ITS ALL LIES. THE OLD ADDAGE OF “I’LL BELIEVE IT WHEN i SEE IT” SHOULD BE USED. THERES TOO MANY POOR SITES SPECULATING
Geordie Gerrard7
Apr 27, 2008 at 4:29 PM
Comment #16be sooo funny if the deal to spurs fell through
Taiwantoon
Apr 27, 2008 at 4:29 PM
Comment #17I am glad to learn King Kev is not happy about losing Modric, well, lets assume the story is true itself first…
King Kev certainly would demand more from the recurit team next round and I am sure the recruit team will be eager to prove themselves after the incident, too.
As much as I dislike Mr. Wise due to his colourful playing career, I can not argue with the fact that he is a man with high esteem and he will work very very hard after this.
Geordie Gerrard7
Apr 27, 2008 at 4:30 PM
Comment #18mark you know what to do then dont ya?
ToonDaft
Apr 27, 2008 at 4:31 PM
Comment #19scottish mag; would love it for him to change his mind – the unfortunate reality is that his representatives would lost out on a few extra coffers, the greedy swines
Dondatta13
Apr 27, 2008 at 4:32 PM
Comment #20VAN DER VAART, VAN DER VAART, VAN DER VAART ………. did I mention VAN DER VAART? now go get lol 😉
Fernando
Apr 27, 2008 at 4:32 PM
Comment #21rw and lw guys any suggestions?
need to improve quality on both sides, esp with duff still in hibernation and milner not improving his intelligence
scottish mag
Apr 27, 2008 at 4:32 PM
Comment #22yeah but can he still back out of the deal having agreed terms or is that final even though deal isnt complete
Tooner
Apr 27, 2008 at 4:33 PM
Comment #23Geordie Gerrard,
Since he was in the stands yesterday for Tottenham’s game, I really doubt it will fall through.
Danny
Apr 27, 2008 at 4:34 PM
Comment #24It really pisses me off this like….
I am just as angry as it sounds keegan was…And just to sum up how much this has pissed me off I would rather Modric went to bloody Scumderland than to bloody tottenham!
He will never become a better player with them f**king lot….
I was soo excited when i thought we were getting him….If you had asked me all season which player would you sign if i was newcastle manager I would of said luka modric!!!
Im not gonna kid myself and say that other players are better and the he wasnt that good anyway because he is f***ing awesome!
I know I sound a bit pathetic but this has really f**in ruined my season and weekend!
He would have been f^^in class for us !
🙁
ToonDaft
Apr 27, 2008 at 4:34 PM
Comment #25agree with Geordie Gerrard last comment – if this has been our new recruitment that has fallen short, KK will be furious, however, if that is the case then Ashley is also chance to be furious – i think they will want to make amends for this farce – need to do it soon though, great time to be signing players now
Fernando
Apr 27, 2008 at 4:34 PM
Comment #26i want aguero.. he tore real madrid asunder this season huhu
woops sorry i meant barcelona
http://www.footytube.com/2008/03/02/atletico-madrid-4-2-barcelona/
ToonDaft
Apr 27, 2008 at 4:36 PM
Comment #27rw – SWP or Lennon? i would add Bentley, but that may be out of the question??? thoughts?
ToonDaft
Apr 27, 2008 at 4:38 PM
Comment #28i would love these to be famous last words, but we have no chance in signing Sergio Aguero
D.C.
Apr 27, 2008 at 4:39 PM
Comment #29I sense a panic buy coming.
scottish mag
Apr 27, 2008 at 4:39 PM
Comment #30we should just raid bremen hsv and zaragoza, get diogo, aimar and milito from zaragoza, kompany, de jong and van der vaart from hsv and naldo, mertesacker and diego from bremen
gk.given/harper
cb.naldo
cb.kompany
cb.mertesacker
rwb. diogo
lwb.enrique
cm.de jong
am.vaart
am.diego
am.aimar
st.milito
bench:
gk. given/harper
rwb. beye
cm. barton
am/st owen
st. martins
ofcourse i am joking, but would be good
craig chisholm
Apr 27, 2008 at 4:39 PM
Comment #31yeah i know its the news of the world but i can believe it this time. we lost him cos newc offered 12.7 million and they wanted over 15. our board cost us the deal. mort is a bean cruncher at the end of the day. getting REAL money out of him is going to be like getting blood out of a stone. thats twice mort has emabrassed us now cos of his tight arsed ways, woody and modric. he is costing us credability.
Nasher
Apr 27, 2008 at 4:40 PM
Comment #32I know It’s a long shot but if ac milan and man city have cooled interest for ronaldinho what are your thoughts on him guys. I have agreed on not bringing in a statement signing but surely he is better than our current crop?
Fernando
Apr 27, 2008 at 4:42 PM
Comment #33this is the match working link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9GFFMd8iRA
Nick C
Apr 27, 2008 at 4:44 PM
Comment #34Craig, Woodgate just decided he wanted to play for Tottenham instead of NUFC. Hardly Mort’s fault. The Modric situation is bizarre. Its hard to point the finger until we know the full story.
ToonDaft
Apr 27, 2008 at 4:44 PM
Comment #35time will tell craig – you never know, they may pump 50m+ into transfers this summer proving otherwise – fingers and toes crossed eh
Shaz
Apr 27, 2008 at 4:45 PM
Comment #36good luck keeping owen if no decent players come to your small club.
Graham
Apr 27, 2008 at 4:45 PM
Comment #37Craig – Woodgate wanted to go to surs – get your facts straight before spounting off!
Fernando
Apr 27, 2008 at 4:45 PM
Comment #38yea this end of season we got no chance of signing aguero or any of the good names u guys mentioned. im sure the gaffer and his team will give it a go.
Tom_Toon
Apr 27, 2008 at 4:48 PM
Comment #39http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6z2sa0KRIg
or
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sITxkJqZ2BQ
or both
Tom_Toon
Apr 27, 2008 at 4:49 PM
Comment #40http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sITxkJqZ2BQ and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sITxkJqZ2BQ please.