News today in the Telegraph that Newcastle United will go after relegated Reading’s left back Nicky Shorey.
Nicky Shorey – back from holiday in 2 weeks
The 27-year-old England international has already rejected the offer of a contract extension at Reading, and his contract runs out next June.
At that time Reading will get nothing for him, so Newcastle will bid £2.5M for the player this summer. Shorey has played for England in just a single appearance last summer.
The plan is for Shorey to open talks with Newcastle United in two weeks, when he returns from a family holiday.
Reading have already turned down a £4M bid from West Ham for the full-back in January, but will take a reduced fee, in case they lose him for nothing next summer.
Newcastle were also reported to be interested in the player last summer, and Nicky would be a bargain at £2.5M.
But we do expect other clubs to also be in the mix, since Nicky is a solid left back and would a be a good addition to our squad.
He’s played 261 times for Reading and scored 12 goals.
What do you think about these developments?
Comments welcome.
NUFC News 24/7 
56 comments so far
greg
May 14, 2008 at 10:02 AM
Comment #1Atrocious form this season. Interest went to his head.
One good goal does not make a season
dougnufc
May 14, 2008 at 10:04 AM
Comment #2Prefer Bridge
Danish_Magpie
May 14, 2008 at 10:05 AM
Comment #3Sign him up! 2.5m for a solid 27 year-old english left back? Bargain. Him and Enrique at left-back would mean that we do not have to worry about that position for a while. Move swiftly Wise/Keegan!
Geordie Gerrard7
May 14, 2008 at 10:06 AM
Comment #4where have you heard this form ed?
Danish_Magpie
May 14, 2008 at 10:07 AM
Comment #5Bridge is a worse option in my opinion for several reasons:
1) A lot of players seem to have a great deal of trouble motivating themselves when moving a step down from a top-4 club to a ‘lesser’ team. This is somewhat understandable as they are used to big games etc. There are exceptions, but I find this to be the rule..
2) He is EXTREMELY injury-prone
3) He would be more expensive both in terms of wages and in terms of transfer fee
4. Would he even come?
I am not saying I don’t think Bridge is a good player – i do. I just think he’d be a worse signing.
Hamas (51times)
May 14, 2008 at 10:09 AM
Comment #6Hm…probably going to rotate with Enrique rather than being brought in as a first team player I think. He’s not better than Enrique and I think their respective form this season shows it. However Shorey was in a poor Reading side so I suppose you could forgive him somewhat.
Ant (Smith's a smoggy)
May 14, 2008 at 10:13 AM
Comment #7Strick him on the bench. Not a bad price.
Why not?
Vitorbarbosa
May 14, 2008 at 10:14 AM
Comment #8We just need a cover, I don’t think Shorey is too bad on that.
Bucks
May 14, 2008 at 10:15 AM
Comment #9I have to say that, despite playing for a relegated team, Nicky Shorey had a relatively decent season. This is a particularly noteworthy statement considering the number of assists the England international has to his name this season. Indeed, the Reading man created nine goals, which is very impressive for a defender; never mind for a relegated team. Therefore, I believe that £2.5m for a new left-back can’t be too bad at all. Can it?
Leo
May 14, 2008 at 10:15 AM
Comment #10they will compliment eachother, dhorey- attacking crosses
enrique defencive deep balls
that probably doesnt make much sense
Bill F
May 14, 2008 at 10:16 AM
Comment #11From what I have seen of him would prefer Bikey as he can play in more positions. I suppose Shorey wouldn’t be the worst signing we could make so long as he doesn’t turn out to be another one season wonder. There is of course still the Riise option.
Robz
May 14, 2008 at 10:23 AM
Comment #12I wud cry if we signed Riise!
Davies
May 14, 2008 at 10:29 AM
Comment #13I suppose he’s be a decent cover player for Wor Jose. At £2.5m it’s hard to find a reason not to go for him.
ELFER
May 14, 2008 at 10:31 AM
Comment #14Wasn’t my first choice but if we can get him this cheap (and imagine that he would be much cheaper in wages than RIISE or BRIDGE) I would say go!!
Especially becouse we try to find a backup and not first of all a new LB, right? Decent addition!
KKN39
May 14, 2008 at 10:34 AM
Comment #15agree – Shorey better than Bridge, not as a player in general sense, but as a player for KK, NUFC, and competitor for Jose Enrique. no doubt Bridge is more classy at his peak. but Shorey is a year younger, cheaper in wage, more hungry for success, less injury-prone, and more importantly why do we need one more reject from chelski after Baba, Duff and Geremi? they all come at 27 or 28 and they all suck (well, some worse than the others …)
stk
May 14, 2008 at 10:40 AM
Comment #16veloso can play at centre and left back aswell as defensive midfield, we have to snap him up quick otherwise keegan’s pesimistic outlook may continue for years to come.
Geordie Gerrard7
May 14, 2008 at 10:41 AM
Comment #17i have just been told by my friend that us and man utd have had offers taking into consideration from sporting for players, not believed to be the same player, this is what reports in portugal are suggesting, anyone else heard anything, personally i think we are aftr veloso and man u after moutinho
geordie nick
May 14, 2008 at 10:45 AM
Comment #18worth a punt at 2.5mil, not a very good season this season but was playing in a very poor team this year, hopefully hell get lasts seasons form back, but for that cheap u cant go wrong really
stk
May 14, 2008 at 10:47 AM
Comment #19good news!
liamtoonbirchy
May 14, 2008 at 10:47 AM
Comment #20keep up the portugal reports g gerrard, is veloso going to euro 2008? if so we need to sign him quick
Nick Dryden
May 14, 2008 at 10:50 AM
Comment #21Edgar can cover Enrique left back. I’ve never seen anyone play better against Ronaldo in that position.
Shorey is a bit of a jouneyman whose form dipped alarmingly and he will want to be first choice and he’s not as good as Enrique.
liamtoonbirchy
May 14, 2008 at 10:50 AM
Comment #22i like the idea of looking at relegated clubs especially now there will be 7 subs on the bench.
players like shorey, bikey, barnes, larsson, de ridder, muamba, kapo, mcfadden and kitson a few of them would be good.
Shorey and Mcfadden would be my pick
Nick Dryden
May 14, 2008 at 10:53 AM
Comment #23If cherry picking relegation teams, there really is only Larrson, Muamba (wrong spelling) and Zarate (on loan) of any real quality.
Robz
May 14, 2008 at 10:56 AM
Comment #24I totally agree with you Nick Dryden! Enrique was amazing vs. Ronaldo! He didnt get past him once. Enrique is top notch! Shorey would be a good backup in case he gets injured.
Geordie Gerrard7
May 14, 2008 at 11:00 AM
Comment #25yes also i would love to see muamba in our side. i think he is a great young player. i think we could do some damage to alot of teams if we mixed our big africans and players with muamba, the vision of veloso, flair sucha as bentley, arshavin, zarate, the pace of oba, strength in either dukes or gomis, and just the allround greatness of michael owen
Geordie Gerrard7
May 14, 2008 at 11:01 AM
Comment #26is it just me but i think bikey is awfull
Bill F
May 14, 2008 at 11:20 AM
Comment #27Goerdie I must admit I havn’t seen that much of him but what I saw thought he looked a decent player who could play anywhere in defence. Obviously we all see different virtues in players, for example I still can’t see how anyone can rate Dunne as a good buy for us but if turns out I am wrong I will be happy to stick my hand up and say so.
Eric
May 14, 2008 at 12:06 PM
Comment #28We need a left back for cover or to rotate. Shorey could fill that role. Was in Reading a little while ago.
How on earth can he want to stay there? KK may get more out of Shorey and he coped reasonably well with the England squad?
geordie in taipei
May 14, 2008 at 12:09 PM
Comment #29I think Enrique is very good and still improving, so whether is be Shorey, Bridge or Riise – who cares they all decent back up and they decent players themselves – will create good competition which i hope will only push Enrique to get even better !
Whumpie
May 14, 2008 at 12:16 PM
Comment #30We’ve seen how good he can be, and we have the one manager you can count on to get him to his best consistently. The transfer fee (if it’s right) is a steal – so if he can come without too huge a wage, I think he’d be a great buy.
Also, his skills are very different to Enrique – much more a Keegan-type player, with good attacking runs, head up, and a decent cross. Not such a bull at the back, but that’s what KK needs – different players for different matches.
CRAIGG
May 14, 2008 at 12:27 PM
Comment #31I cant get this negativity towards Dunne and now Shorey, They are very good premiership players at the right ages that we need 27-28 year old, In positions that we lack numbers in
But im sure theres left backs on youtube that can juggle the ball on their bellends who are apparently better.
ED Shorey has played twice for England both at Wembley against Brazil and Germany.
emantoon
May 14, 2008 at 1:13 PM
Comment #32i like his crossing technique. one of the best in epl.
very useful for dead ball situation
sign him!
iain
May 14, 2008 at 1:20 PM
Comment #33If cherry picking relegation teams, there really is only Larrson, Muamba (wrong spelling) and Zarate (on loan) of any real quality.
thats true to an extent, but its not like were trying to replace rooney and ronaldo.
were talking about replacements for smith/shola who are utter crap and replacements for emre who may be quality but never plays, as for lb id say just about anyone is better than the current situation of having no back up left back.it seems for the last 3 years left back has been deemed an unecessary position for nufc until we got enrique.
Obafan
May 14, 2008 at 1:38 PM
Comment #34Would be happy with Shorey as LB. He and Enrique will have tough competition to get the starting spot, which is not only good for them but also for the team. They both have other skills and I think KK wants to have a choice of who he will play as LB according to his tactical plan.
1. If he wants to play an attacking side I think it will be better to play Shorey; he has got good runs, good crossing and can give the last pass.
2. If he wants to play defensively KK will pick Enrique cause he is a very good defender, but his attacking skills need to be developed much more.
It would be good to have that choice, but we don’t know how much truth is in it. So I will try 🙂 to only get excited whenever a player is really presented in a black and white shirt.
figsdad
May 14, 2008 at 1:45 PM
Comment #35indeed we carnt be picky and its a boost to our squad…
valle
May 14, 2008 at 3:05 PM
Comment #36The rumor that Bridge is injury prone is unfair… He is just in a Chelsea team where he plays second fiddle to Cole… As a matter of fact, Bridge played his last season in Southhampton without missing a second before he moved to Chelsea (As far as i remember that was the record that year).
ende
May 14, 2008 at 3:06 PM
Comment #37jose/shorey combo would be very welcome.
Though, imo, we should look for fullbacks who are in that age range but who can also cover at CB.. makes it a lot easier to argue for a spot for them on the bench.
valle
May 14, 2008 at 3:15 PM
Comment #38Your kiddin yourselves if you think a player like Shorey or Bridge will be backup for Enrique… Im glad you like Enrique, but really people, you must be able to see that he’s not THAT GOOD… Enrique would be the backup player and rightly so!, his forward play is quite good, but his defensive play is leaving allot to be desired.
chuck
May 14, 2008 at 3:27 PM
Comment #39One prior commentator complained about 28-29 year olds being bought, think about it, these are seasoned pro`s who can hold the fort while our Kadars and Tozers, Edgars et all are developing.
Besides they come cheap, which allows for the one or two Velosos or Gomis`s to be added each year.
It`s crazy to think the first team can be fully stocked by players coming through the youth system and never have to buy big , look at Arsenal and Man. U. But by the selective buying of the likes of Kadar etc. @ an affordable price certainly helps and is a policy that should be continued.
valle
May 14, 2008 at 3:47 PM
Comment #40I 2nd that!
Worked fine to sign Beye, tho he was 30 i reckon.