After Newcastle have presumably walked away from trying to sign Richard Dunne from Man City, because he’s too old at 28, they may now have a hard job signing their top choice, Carlos Cuellar from Rangers.
Carlos Cuellar - wants to stay and Walter Smith wants to keep him
Sky Sports is reporting that Rangers boss Walter Smith has warned off clubs planning to make a move for Carlos Cuellar, and that includes Newcastle.
The Spanish defender has been in terrific form for Rangers all season, and performed particularly well in the UEFA Cup, where Rangers lost the final to FC Zenit St. Petersburg 2-0 at the City Of Manchester Stadium a couple of weeks back.
Rangers signed the 6′4″ center-back from Osasuna last summer for around £2.3M.
Cuellar was vital in Rangers’ pursuit of honors last season and he helped them win the Scottish Cup and CIS Insurance Cup.
Newcastle United have continually been linked with Cuellar since late last year, and Kevin Keegan has watched him several times, and has been quoted as saying he’s one of the best stoppers currently playing in Britain.
But Smith is an old hand and an extremely wily and experienced manager, and he says that says Rangers will pull out all the stops to keep the 26-year-old at Ibrox next season.
Walter told Sky Sports News yesterday:
“We don’t want any enquiries for him,” “He has played exceptionally well for us this season.”
“For his first year in a foreign country he has had a fantastic season.”
“We don’t want any enquiries for him. If we do we will try as hard as we possibly can to keep him.”
Over to you Newcastle.
Comments are welcome.
24 responses so far ↓
1 Ben_BKK // May 26, 2008 at 10:44
He kinda reminds me of James Blunt, with braces…
2 Geordie Gerrard7 // May 26, 2008 at 10:48
Absoloutley qaulity, one of the best around atm. so solid
3 Tom4NUFC // May 26, 2008 at 10:59
Lets hope we sign him… you never know
4 Marat18 // May 26, 2008 at 11:00
Dunne is too old at 28,
and Cuellar is ok at 26?
5 Geordie Gerrard7 // May 26, 2008 at 11:05
like i have said before marat, two years in football is like a decade of real life age
6 Leo // May 26, 2008 at 11:13
haha james blunt. i think we need to do what rangers did, find a playerwho isnt too well known then in one season turn him into a world beater
7 Ben_BKK // May 26, 2008 at 11:27
I do think he’d be a good player though, even if he does look like James Blunt. Showed his class in the UEFA cup, which is something Boumsoung didn’t do, which is the argument many people seem to put forward against buying him (”look what happened to the last good defender we got from Rangers” etc etc).
8 Bill F // May 26, 2008 at 12:15
Someone like say, Edgar or Kadar Leo.
I watched the Rangers/Zenit game + the other highlights and don’t remember Cuellar having outstanding games. Having said that really good players often just get on quietly doing their stuff, more appreciated by their team mates than the fans. I think he may be in this mould a bit like Makalele. He isn’t coming to us anyway so this post is a waste of time anyway but i’ve done it so I might as well send it.
9 Jesus of Nazareth // May 26, 2008 at 12:23
When someone is 26 and another is 28 those 2 years do not equal a decade. 28 is prime time for a CB, most play untill their mid 30’s. If we decided the only reason not to sign Dunne is his age then I think we all have reason to be concerned.
10 Spyro // May 26, 2008 at 12:37
Dunne is not all that, i do not care about missing out on him, he has been awful for man city ever since micah got injured
11 trueblue // May 26, 2008 at 12:50
you may as well forget it he aint going anywhere he said hes got a 3 year deal at rangers and hes quite happy to see it out why would he want to go to newcastle anyway its a step backward
12 Jesus of Nazareth // May 26, 2008 at 12:52
Agreed. I don’t think Dunne is amazing but if the reason we turned him down is his age it doesn’t look good for the future.
13 The Entertainers // May 26, 2008 at 13:02
Bottom line is we need a CB and a quality one at that. Have’nt seen much of Cuellar, but the how Boumsong senario reminds me of this guy. Being a top CB in Scotland does not make you a world beater. However as i have said not seen much of him, but would still prefer Metzhelder. Possibley cheaper, more experienced and a german CB!
14 Tom_Toon // May 26, 2008 at 13:03
Ye and injured 80% of the season
15 ronaldeano // May 26, 2008 at 13:39
Cuellar is top drawer, easily the best CB in the SPL, hope we can get him
16 Jóhann // May 26, 2008 at 13:41
Why aren´t we after “Edu” He was immense for Arsenal a few seasons back. How he and Gilberto combined that season was unbelieveable, they bossed the midfield every game. Arsenal didn´t miss Viera and when he came back it started to go downhill. Edu now thanks!!!
17 Tom_Toon // May 26, 2008 at 13:47
Aye, Edu is qualiy but injury prone atm.
18 Geordie Gerrard7 // May 26, 2008 at 13:49
edu, used to be class. but he has been out for ages now and wont be making a full scaled comeback
19 Ross // May 26, 2008 at 14:00
newcastle, a step back from rangers, you having a laugh true blue?
20 Punk Skunk // May 26, 2008 at 14:17
Bill F, Lol, funny as mate!..
21 Geordie Gerrard7 // May 26, 2008 at 14:39
haha, step back, you having a laugh you smelly little man?
22 daiv // May 26, 2008 at 18:16
Cuellar looks class but so did Boumsong in Scotland. Worth the risk at £6M.
23 Toooooooooooooooooon // May 27, 2008 at 1:04
Cuelar = No Premiership Experience = Scottish league = B o u m s o n g
24 robertsa // May 27, 2008 at 13:04
id love to get cuellar and dunne.
dunne will keep cuellar right for his first season
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