Good news today that Newcastle United are understood to have entered the race to sign Sporting Lisbon midfield star Miguel Veloso.
Miguel Veloso – great Newcastle target
The very highly-rated Portugal international has already been linked with Manchester United and Tottenham.
However, the good news is that of those 3 teams, Newcastle is said to be the only one so far, which has made a firm approach for the player.
We will not have to raise our hopes too high on this one, but you cannot criticize Newcastle for not going after the very best players, since Velosa is an excellent player already and a great prospect for the future.
Reports suggest Newcastle are willing to offer around £15M for the youngster, and will offer Miguel a five-year contract at St James’ Park.
Sporting have previously said they will not sell for less than around £23M so any deal could still be a long way off.
But it will also be important for Newcastle to try to get a deal done very quickly, and not risk some other club coming in – as was the case with Modric – and take the player from under our noses.
Of course, we do understand we are not in a particularly strong position for the top players, but hopefully Kevin will talk to each potential target and describe his goals for the club. That should help.
Veloso is Portuguese and plays defensive midfield for Sporting Lisbon, but he can also play as a center-back or left-back. He is also a threat on set pieces with his free kicks.
Miguel started his career at SL Benfica where his father, Antonio, was a famous footballer. But at the age of 14 he switched to rivals Sporting Clube de Portugal, where he has now played for 5 straight seasons and eventually made the first team squad in the 2004-2005 season.
He stands 5’11″ tall and has played for Sporting Lisbon 22 times.
Last August, Miguel was called up for the Portuguese national squad for the first time, for a European 2008 qualifier against Armenia and he eventually made his full international debut for Portugal against Azerbaijan on 13 October 2007.
Of course lots of fans will remember another young Portuguese player Hugo Viana, for whom we paid close to £10M, when Bobby Robson was manager, and he just didn’t make it at Newcastle.
Miguel has so far played 5 times for his country.
Comments welcome.
77 comments so far
Hamas (51times)
May 8, 2008 at 5:26 PM
Comment #41But how would he get a game at Man Utd? I suppose he’d be willing to sit on the bench though. If that.
Thomas
May 8, 2008 at 5:27 PM
Comment #42The thing about Smith is that he’s been played all over the pitch and never really had a ‘settled spot’, not to forget his horrible injury. But he never complains and gives 110%. Sadly thats just not enough these days.
Hope everyone realizes this before starting to have a go at him. Last thing we want is another dyer right??
Tim H
May 8, 2008 at 5:31 PM
Comment #43Zogba – he’s SO not Toon….
and he want’s the bright lights of London (sorry, I mean want’s to be closer to his family….can’t they move ??)
Hope he’s gone soon, £10 mill at least i think we could get…
Tom_Toon
May 8, 2008 at 5:34 PM
Comment #44rather have another Dyer. At least he scored.
Dondatta13
May 8, 2008 at 5:43 PM
Comment #45Van der Vaart? lol 🙂
Sorry!
Thomas
May 8, 2008 at 5:47 PM
Comment #46I meant attitude-wise Tom_Toon.
Wouldn’t mind another dyer right now thou.. With a better attitude that is!
How about that nathan dyer.. is he any good?
Tom_Toon
May 8, 2008 at 5:48 PM
Comment #47Cant say. Not a fan of the championship.
Davies
May 8, 2008 at 5:49 PM
Comment #48If we keep up this kind of interest in good players we could bankrupt Spurs before the end of the season.
geordie nick
May 8, 2008 at 5:58 PM
Comment #49cant see man utd goin after him really, they dnt need him they hav hargreaves,scholes, carrick, fletcher and anderson so if thy did get veloso i would expect one of those to be sold and would quite happily take any of them
scott9
May 8, 2008 at 5:58 PM
Comment #50wud be an unbelievable signing i hope this is true however if man utd ar seriously interseted tney will get him but they already hav enough midfioleders in that position so i wud hopen they wont bother
Dom4Toon
May 8, 2008 at 6:00 PM
Comment #51God i hope this is true, Veloso is great!
scott9
May 8, 2008 at 6:03 PM
Comment #52just imagine
given
beye dunne cambel enrique
joaquin veloso barton
owen
crouch martins
scott9
May 8, 2008 at 6:04 PM
Comment #53rafa says he wants 15m for crouch but i think we wud get him for 10m and i think if we wanted him we wud beat everyone else to him
Oba
May 8, 2008 at 6:12 PM
Comment #54Another ridiculous rumour. If this happens I will eat my hat, regurgitate it, possibly twice over and eat it again.
Oh, and it will be on YouTube.
KKN39
May 8, 2008 at 6:19 PM
Comment #55we do need a big man upfront – whether he’s a out and out target man or deep-lying forward – I hope Carroll can fill in Duke’s boot in a year or two, but before that can we get Zigic on loan? how about the Chikhaoui, big, young, skilful and excellent prospect? in worst case I’d prefer a 3m bid for Heskey to keeping the hopeless Smith. 15m for Crouch? u gotta be kidding Rafa, no thanks.
Hamas (51times)
May 8, 2008 at 6:23 PM
Comment #56Not really ridiculous, we know Keegan has seen him before, and it’s not the first time we’ve been linked.
Oba
May 8, 2008 at 6:35 PM
Comment #57So, he wouldn’t join us anyway. He’d join someone elsewhere. We clearly won’t be the only team interested.
Obafan
May 8, 2008 at 6:46 PM
Comment #58Let us wait and see what happens. I think it is important that tomorrow KK and MA (and DW) all look into the same direction and that they share the vision of the club all together.
If tomorrow results in a good constructive conversation (in which I strongly believe) then we can start to go after players who can strengthen our team!
Ant
May 8, 2008 at 7:14 PM
Comment #59If I was being paid the money Alan Smith is being paid for my lack of natural talent and terrible performance in every professional aspect, I would expect more than passive abuse on a blog.
I would expect a flogging…with really big sticks.
Bill F
May 8, 2008 at 7:24 PM
Comment #60As you have said that this is a race in your headline Ed, where are we ranked in the lineup or are we starting with a major handcap. 🙂
Magpies Zone
May 8, 2008 at 7:56 PM
Comment #61Speculations…I predict none of any players that have been mention in the tabloids would be the next Toon players.
Too good to be true!
jonny s
May 8, 2008 at 8:10 PM
Comment #62would break the bank for moutinho, veloso and arshavin. These players will make our team great next season. All problem positions! Signing moutinho and arshavin would push micky owen back up front where he is best suited and could go back to playing off the shoulder of the last defender. They are both quality passers and could get owen scring 20 a season again. The veloso signging would push nicky butt into being a squad player, which to be honest is what he should be now! Although he has had another good season he has repeatedly given the ball away again after winning posession. I would definately sign Gomis from St Ettiene, he will be the new Drogba, without the diving. I believe if we dont sign him he’ll be playing for 1 of the best in europe in the next 2 years.
chuck
May 8, 2008 at 8:16 PM
Comment #63Would love to see Veloso, A Billy Bremner , Roy Keane, Jimmy Scoular, take charge “No Passeran” type player who is badly needed and is the essential foundation for every team looking for success, grab him!
Hadji
May 8, 2008 at 8:43 PM
Comment #64I think with a direct offer of 20 mill,Sporting will let their guard down.We must act fast though,this Tottenham strategy is gettin on my nerves.They wait to see how much we offer so they can increase the bid.
Where’s that low life Shearer the Yidd.
Leo
May 8, 2008 at 10:25 PM
Comment #65great player, but am going to hold back my team sheet with him in until he signs haha
Oga
May 9, 2008 at 12:51 AM
Comment #66We can always dream.
Arshavin-Barton-Veloso-Nzogbia
———Martins/Owen-Gudjohnsen
That would be a very interesting team IMO
clinta
May 9, 2008 at 1:17 AM
Comment #67Does KK even get to speak to these players in the new look scouting system? I thought it didn’t seem to be the case, which definately would be a shame as we need his pursation and encouragement if where going to get any decent player in.
richie
May 9, 2008 at 1:20 AM
Comment #68id offer rafa 10mil for crouch
Lawman
May 9, 2008 at 1:35 AM
Comment #69Give them the £23m and close the deal now before “doing another Modric”.
If Nani and Ronaldo and anything to go by, Velosa should be a great prospect with Sporting Lisbon pedigree.
Hugo Viana wasn’t as bad as people made him out to be. I guess people kept thinking about his £12m transfer fee and in that respect, he was definitely not value for money but a crap player he wasn’t.
richie
May 9, 2008 at 1:39 AM
Comment #70i agree lawman, i jus hope kk is pushing the chairman to spend spend spend
i think we need a 20 mill signing to lift the place
Ausgeordie
May 9, 2008 at 1:53 AM
Comment #71UTD111
“The regulars” as you call us are only judging him by the games he has played. He has not had one great game since joining the club. Seriously not one. He has not scored, has not assisted more than once or twice and has cost us countless free kicks in damaging areas placing the defence under great pressure. His positioning is awful and he fins himself on top of other players and getting in the way. I have never seen him make a run a la Owen or Martins. Everytime he holds the ball up he falls over backwards and yells for a free kick but his technique is at fault not the other player. Guaranteed to get a yellow card in almost every game he is a liability in the midfield and up front. Whatever he had…. he has lost through years of not playing and if we can sell him or convince him to leave we should do so asap. He is only professional in that he has not punched someone but the way he hacks into other players and abuses refs is thoroughly unprofessional and should not be applauded just casue he shows bottle.
He chose to stay at Man U and rot on the bench instead of chasing first team football! Perhaps if he had been more ambitious, taken a wage hit and tried to play as though it was his passion he would not have lost the skills that seem to be so apparent to you.
I can see him going to Sunderland to play for keane up front where they can talk about the old days and he can get first team football without the pressure of actually having to be good.
Ants comments maybe offensive but that does mean they are inaccurate.
tapir
May 9, 2008 at 2:36 AM
Comment #72i think its not really about we buyin this called so great player but our move and commitment to approach is a good step!
if team like Spurs,City and Everton can go for a top and world class player why cant we??
at least it show we have a mission and vision!!!
A thousand journey start with a single step!
UTD111
May 9, 2008 at 8:43 AM
Comment #73Ausgeordie – your opinion is noted, but I don’t agree – must be going to a different match to you!! Every team needs flexible utility players – and Smithy fits the bill for me. He is a good leader of the line when played up front and lays the ball on well (eg Everton at home). In midfield he is tidy, aggressive and rarely wastes a pass. And he could also play in defence in an emergency.
If Sir Kevin wants him around, maybe just maybe he values him?
deano
May 9, 2008 at 9:19 AM
Comment #74this is the kind of players we want
young
set pice fantastic somthing we have not had in a long time
emre was ok just not all the time
Graezo
May 9, 2008 at 9:45 AM
Comment #75lets move on from the mega priced stars of today and target the up and coming players of tomorrow. Players like Veloso, Modric – unlucky on that one. We may not win much in the next two years but in 3-4 years we have enough to be in the top two or three.
come on!!
Neilos
May 9, 2008 at 10:29 AM
Comment #76I hope Mike Ashley is reading some of these blogs.
I would love to see players like Veloso and Joaquin to come to the toon but im not sure anymore.
No European Football where not in London, APPARENTLY we don’t have much money too spend
Plus Keegan said he wanted Premiership players. He also says we need 3 or 4 signings I think we need around 8 because our squad is so small.
What if we get more horrific injuries to players like previous seasons.
I would break the bank for David Bentley and David Villa and we are desperate for a creative midfielder.
Dondatta13
May 9, 2008 at 3:56 PM
Comment #77Hi, just saw this link … Apparently we have slapped down a 20 Million Euro offer on the table
http://www.portugoal.net/Sporting0708/200805095NewcastleVelosoBid.htm
Id like him at SJP … and Van der Vaart also 😉