We reported in mid-May that Newcastle United had registered an interest in Birmingham City’s 27 year-old Olivier Kapo.
Olivier Kapo – good player who is available
The Daily Mail is reporting tonight that Newcastle have joined the queue to sign French 6’2″ midfielder, Olivier Kapo, now that his team, Birmingham City, will allow him to leave in the summer to reduce their total wage bill
We’re not sure if this is new news or just a recirculation of the previous story.
The French international had an excellent debut season in England with Birmingham, following his £3M move from Juventus last summer.
Newcastle are said to be willing to bid up to £5M for Olivier, and that would be difficult for the Midlands club to turn down.
That’s two Birmingham midfielders Newcastle seem to be pursuing, with the other one, 23 year old right midfielder Sebastian Larsson still wanted by Birmingham City, in the Championship.
But whether they can keep him is a completely different matter.
Both players seem quality and would appear to be good additions to the Newcastle squad, at fairly reasonable prices.
We’ve already bid £4.2M for Larsson and probably could capture Kapo for less than £5M.
Olivier Kapo, full name Narcisse-Olivier Kapo-Obou was born in September 1980 in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
He is a French international, Ivorian-born football player who has previously played at Auxerre and Juventus (then off to Monaco and Levanate on loan) and signed for Birmingham Cityonly last summer.
He appeared for Birmingham 26 times last season and scored 5 goals, and played for France 9 times from 2002 until 2004, scoring 3 goals.
Comments welcome.
64 comments so far
true toon
Jun 13, 2008 at 10:56 PM
Comment #1We don’t KNOW that there has been a bid for Larsson although i hope there has. Kapo just doesnt float my boat i’m afraid. He’s decent but nothing special. . .definately not a Turan, Arshavin!!!
Tom_Toon
Jun 13, 2008 at 11:06 PM
Comment #2Kapo is a good player. More to the point its another mdfielder and one that can pass and score!
catawbamag
Jun 13, 2008 at 11:10 PM
Comment #3Considering the state of our midfield, I’d welcome the addition of Larsson or Kapo. I’d like better, but we not only need starters, we need backup players also. Barton looks to be out, and Butt isnt getting any younger.
DMAG
Jun 13, 2008 at 11:12 PM
Comment #4Great!
Let’s buy Kenny Miller and that little Twat from Reading the Shite across the water want!
thelonghanks
Jun 13, 2008 at 11:14 PM
Comment #5Would love to see some development in at least agreeing a deal with a club for a player we want.Would love to get larsson,he was briminghams best player when we played them couple of months ago.Havent seen much of kapo this season but rated him at juventus. 8m for the both of them cuz we need midfielders big time.
Israel will die by the sword (51times)
Jun 13, 2008 at 11:17 PM
Comment #6I quite like him.
scotty
Jun 13, 2008 at 11:19 PM
Comment #7ticks all the right boxes for me.
Yahya Ahmad
Jun 13, 2008 at 11:22 PM
Comment #8I would prefer Larsson and other more high class players!
Rafael Van Der Vaart
Jun 13, 2008 at 11:27 PM
Comment #9i would like him as a squad signing. but he is haunted there is ghost beside his ear lol
Toonboy
Jun 13, 2008 at 11:32 PM
Comment #10Never happen as he’s to old,imo i dont rate him.
Gateshead Mag.
Jun 13, 2008 at 11:44 PM
Comment #11He’s alright. Nout special. For 5 Million I’d like to see better. Decent player though.
geordiekk
Jun 13, 2008 at 11:52 PM
Comment #12teams seem to be holding out till after euro’s hoping the players value will go up so surely after gomis displays in the last 2 games we should lower our bid its only fair i think
ToonKing
Jun 13, 2008 at 11:54 PM
Comment #13I really rate Kapo, him and Larsson would be two perfect signings for us.
ToonTimbo
Jun 13, 2008 at 11:55 PM
Comment #14Larsson – relegated last season, Kapo – relegated last season, Shorey – relegated last season, Marion – plays for second division spanish team! What are Newcastle chasing these players for? if they were good enough to play for newcastle, they would be playing for spurs or at least be in the premier league – not be looking foward to a fixture gainst doncaster rovers next season!
Tez131
Jun 13, 2008 at 11:56 PM
Comment #15I think if we could get both of these for under £10 mill and we should go for it.
Larson is a great player good passing, got a smashing shot and also has good flair/vision.
Kapo is something we really don’t have at the minute. He is 6′ 2 strong and positive running. He would give our midfield a bit of presence and height. Although we still need a younger Def Mid to eventually take over Butt.
It really depends on how much money we have to spend, I would not be happy with just these 2 if we are selling Emre and N’Zogbia/ Milner …
I hope we start to get some news on players so I know the level of backing keegan has…
I am hoping for £30mill + whatever he makes on selling players…. or an I being too hopeful?
ToonKing
Jun 13, 2008 at 11:57 PM
Comment #161 or 2 players don’t make a team ToonTimbo. the teams were relegated not the players, they are good players.
Tom_Toon
Jun 14, 2008 at 12:06 AM
Comment #17Id say to Brum: £10mil for Kapo, Larsson, De Ridder.
tanya toon
Jun 14, 2008 at 12:15 AM
Comment #18Tom toon are there any British players you rate? Israel blah blah what sort of name is that meant to be.
Spyro
Jun 14, 2008 at 12:17 AM
Comment #19They would never accept 10 million for those 3. However, i think 15 million is still a good deal and would be accepted.
To all the doubters on here, Kapo is definite quality and he would be a great addition to our team. He has pace, strength, and very good technical ability. I rate him very highly and he is one of the reasons i wanted Birmingham to get relegated, so he would be back on the market.
Also, it doesn’t matter what team the player comes from, that is an idiotic outlook on things. e.g. Aaron Ramsey is a class youngster and just signed to Arsenal from Cardiff…YES CARDIFF
Spyro
Jun 14, 2008 at 12:21 AM
Comment #20@ Tanya Toon
De Ridder is Dutch and is a very good young player. Birmingham didnt play him much for some strange reason, but he was one of the players who really impressed in the U-21 world cup
HATE PRAWN SANDWICHES
Jun 14, 2008 at 12:28 AM
Comment #21Is he actually a target or more paper talk? unsure about Kapo!! would look at better players first! but once again is there money or not? IMO we will have to bring in 9 – 10 talented/quality players thus we need to spend £60million to get any decent position in the league next season! unsure what MA wants! or is playing at!!
tanya toon
Jun 14, 2008 at 12:33 AM
Comment #22Cheers Spyro sounds good if we get those 3 for 10mill.
gordond
Jun 14, 2008 at 12:33 AM
Comment #23Are Valencia not trying to sell some players ? What about Carlos Marchena play’s center back / defensive midfield & only 28 years old 3 or 4 good years still in him.
Tom_Toon
Jun 14, 2008 at 12:35 AM
Comment #24Tanya toon – Joe Cole and Hargreaves, rest are overrated piles of shite. I rate most of the english players however most of overrated to the hilt and overpaid and way too expensive for what they are.
Tom_Toon
Jun 14, 2008 at 12:36 AM
Comment #25Spyro – Not 15mil mates, maybe more than 10 but about 12. They got De Ridder for free and they dont play him because McCleish actually said hes too good a technical player to play for them while in a relegation battle.
HATE PRAWN SANDWICHES
Jun 14, 2008 at 12:43 AM
Comment #26A question for you guys! in you opinion!
How many more of our Crap players will go?
How many will come in?
realistically who are our targets?
How much is MA going to spend? after our selling!
Bluenosesol
Jun 14, 2008 at 12:43 AM
Comment #27Folks, re the derogatory comments about Larssen playing against Doncaster next season – He is currently doing something that Gerrard, Terry and co are not – playing for his country in the Euros!, Please bemoan him here and say what a poor player he is – that way he will be playing against you in the prem season after next!!!
Tom_Toon
Jun 14, 2008 at 12:46 AM
Comment #28Tanya Toon – Take Gareth Barry for example. Yes a good, steady player. Worth £15-20mil?!?! Is he hell!
You can buy a european of his quality for about £8-10mil.
Dont give me any of this ‘6+5’ crap, its not going to happen, EU law will not sanction this.
Spyro
Jun 14, 2008 at 12:48 AM
Comment #29fair enough tom toon. tell the truth, i would be happy if we got any two of De Ridder, Muamba, Larsson or Kapo. All a good players who would improve our squad, especially Kapo
Tom_Toon
Jun 14, 2008 at 12:49 AM
Comment #30Bluenosesol – 95% of here think Larsson is quality. Now take you blue arse off this site and look forward to hoofball in the fizzy pop league with a chance of you making the playoffs after your best players leave you for better teams.
Tom_Toon
Jun 14, 2008 at 12:49 AM
Comment #31Not Muamba, he cant pass for shite!
Leo
Jun 14, 2008 at 1:23 AM
Comment #32how the funk did birmingham get relegated is what i want to know…
with players like de ridder kapo muamba larrson zarate and that striker whos name slips my mind erm the one who played for everton who ripped faye when we played them…
Leo
Jun 14, 2008 at 1:25 AM
Comment #33if we could get kapo muamba and larrson it would be good they would add alot to our midfield
muamba is good at what he does, he may not be able to pass great but isnt he the nicky butt style player (but tall) if we can bring some good midfielders in it will be good for butt (or muamba) because they can give the easy passes to them for them to then make the killer pass
damn i am drowning on now, had a top night, pulled a cracker and it isnt even xmas lmao
LLLLLarsson
Jun 14, 2008 at 1:31 AM
Comment #34After the Euros do not expect to get much change from £10 mil for Larrson. TBH you can have Kapo, far to lazy to play in the Prem but has a left foot like a rocket. McFadden and Larsson are out untouchables thats why we are cashing in on Muamba to the trotters for £6mil. Oh and if we can do a straight swap for N’Zogbia for Kapo then great!
ScottyT
Jun 14, 2008 at 2:33 AM
Comment #35haha nooo muamba is a no go.. ad ratha nt buy ppl frm birmingham unless they come cheap.
wers tha quality man?!?!
Tom_Toon
Jun 14, 2008 at 2:39 AM
Comment #36Goalissimo just did a piece on Chermiti. ‘Africa’s best young talent’.
bluenose gaz
Jun 14, 2008 at 2:51 AM
Comment #37you can have kapo, he started off well, then when things got cold (in the weather sence) he disappeared, so god only knows how he will cope with the geordie weather
LyNx18
Jun 14, 2008 at 4:07 AM
Comment #38Honestly I prefer we should go for Arshavin…Aimar
petworth (DC) magpie
Jun 14, 2008 at 4:51 AM
Comment #39Off but… Milner for Kuyt?
catawbamag
Jun 14, 2008 at 5:06 AM
Comment #40“that striker whos name slips my mind erm the one who played for everton who ripped faye when we played them…”
Leo,
McFadden was the striker. Played a canny game against us.