One thing that will be interesting Newcastle United fans this morning, is that two of our targets before Euro 2008, Andrei Arshavin and Arda Turan, are still at their clubs, and have not yet been transferred.
 Andrei Arshavin – not worth anywhere near £24M
What does that mean? Probably not much other than there could still be hope that a miracle could occur and one of them could still end up on Tyneside.
Arsenal target Andrei Arshavin has today criticized his home town club, Zenit St Petersburg, for putting a £24M transfer tag on him, that may well prevent him moving to the London club.
The Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is said to be in a tussle with Barcelona for the Russian play-maker.
Andrei, a top target at Newcastle since last December, was one of the stars of his country’s fabulous run to the semi-finals of Euro 2008, although the midfielder had a very poor game in the semi final tie against eventual winners Spain, who were certainly the best side there.
Barcelona have already had an £11.9M offer for Arshavin turned down last month – and the 27-year-old is now somewhat fearful that he could be left high and dry this summer, since Barcelona have just signed Alexander Hleb from Arsenal for the same price.
Arsene Wenger does not overpay for any player, and if he cannot get Andrei at the right price, it’s likely Arsenal will just not bother.
The problem Andre may have, is that Arsenal may sign someone else for their midfield, and then the Russian may indeed be left high and dry, and if that happens, maybe, just maybe, Newcastle could be back in for him again.
A tall order we know, but stranger things have happened in football.
Andrei spoke today about his transfer price today, and is not happy:
“Zenit are asking for so much money,”“I know Barcelona offered £11.9M, but Zenit are asking for £23.8M.”
“I have made my decision, and Zenit coach Dick Advocaat knows I want to go.”
“I do not know if it will be to London, but my desire is well-known.”
Interesting last sentence there, on where exactly he may end up, and it may not be London.
And we have no idea what is going on right now with impressive Galatasaray winger, 21 year-old Arda Turan.
Quite honestly, the less we hear about Arda the better, because there’s always a chance Newcastle can shock everybody again, by announcing his transfer – hope springs eternal.
However, it could be that both players are just out of reach, period (full stop) – but there are still some very good players available to us, that could do a job for keegan in the seasons ahead.
These include Carlos Cuellar at Glasgow Rangers, Seb Larsson at Birmingham, 6’5″ Dorin Goian of Steaua Bucharest, Nigel De Jong of Hamburg, Eren Derdiyok of FC Basle, and Nicky Shorey of Reading, to name but a few.
In fact, if we could get all six, we’d be in pretty good shape.
Comments always welcome.
Comments welcome.
64 comments so far
Will
Jul 20, 2008 at 11:35 AM
Comment #1Should have come in January my Son
Tom_Toon
Jul 20, 2008 at 11:35 AM
Comment #2Drop it! We arent interested in Arshavin anymore!
Bungle
Jul 20, 2008 at 11:36 AM
Comment #3I totally agree – said this ages ago.
We may be the only realistic option for him.
No we’re not in the Champ League – but with him in the team – next season we should be in Uefa at least – then who knows…
Will
Jul 20, 2008 at 11:39 AM
Comment #4Why not? Barcelona wanted him? Certainly not for 24mil but 11 would be good value.
stumpofthetoon
Jul 20, 2008 at 11:40 AM
Comment #5he only played 3 games god dam it not interested anymore
Greg
Jul 20, 2008 at 11:41 AM
Comment #6we havn’t a chance fro Arshavin
Mac
Jul 20, 2008 at 11:41 AM
Comment #7We don’t need any of them. One place we are covered in is both wings. Now get Inler, Larsson,Derdiyok,Collocini and a lb not shorey and we’re done
CRAIGG
Jul 20, 2008 at 11:45 AM
Comment #8Cuellar wants to stay at Rangers, He has said on many occasions
Larsson will end up staying at Brum as they dont need to sell and will be promoted next season anyway.
Goian I read a few days ago had been itching to move to blunderland and was close to the move.
I cant see any point in signing Derdiyok as we have Owen, Viduka, Martins as well as Smith and Ameobi who will doubtless be with us next season and a hell of a lot of young strikers who given time can be first choice internationals.
I would love De jong but i dont think Hamburg will sell even with KKs influence at the club or a hefty transfer fee.
I would like Shorey as well and a £3.5m bid would probably seal the deal by the end of the day but as we are constantly linked with him without bidding i cannot help but think it is paper talk.
I would target Blackburn they seem to be a sinking ship Samba and Nelson would be worth a punt as both are experienced quality premiership performers.
I think David Dunn is when fit an exceptional versatile attacking midfield player who i was gutted about when Bobby didnt follow up his interest a few years back.
£2m for Warnock is a ridiculously low price for a plyer who has developed the way he has in recent seasons, A fair £5m bid could do the deal and end our search for a LB.
laurent32
Jul 20, 2008 at 11:46 AM
Comment #9still a quality player but i doubt he will come even if he is made available to us by zenit. as we have been told the club only want young hungry players that want to play for the club. as arshavin has said he wants to go elsewhere and has kinda snubbed us and as well as that is slightly older, i really doubt anything will happen.
p.s. ed whats the crack with all adverts!!! feels like im trying to watch a film on itv!
Graeme
Jul 20, 2008 at 11:47 AM
Comment #10we already got Gutierrez so you can forget Arda.
beye the great
Jul 20, 2008 at 11:50 AM
Comment #11arshavin is good as he can play in the centre but in terms of arda do we realy need another winger coz if there is 1 area we have strength in it is definately on the wings with milner and gutierrez who can play on the right and zog and duf on the left aswell as gutierrez who can play on both sides people say we should sign seb larsson for our cm but i always thought he was best as a lb and if we are going for a lb then it may aswell be shorey
Shearer#1
Jul 20, 2008 at 11:53 AM
Comment #12No chance with Arshavin. I’d rather see us spend that sort of money on Diego from Werder Bremen. He’s younger & just as good & no one’s bid for him yet. I don’t rate Seb Larsson, Goian, or Eren Derdiyok. We can do alot better. Rather have SWP or Lennon than Larsson.
paul the pom
Jul 20, 2008 at 11:54 AM
Comment #13arshavin wont come even if we offered 30 mill.he wants to play in the best teams and who can blame him.why would we go for arda when we have two left wingers and two right wingers already on the first team squad.we need a holding midfielder to replace butt.a centre half who is better than taylor,faye and cacapa.cover for beye and cover for enrique.we already have six strikers so we wont be signing a forward.keepers are ok.
realistic first team squad.
given
harper
krul
enrique
new signing? cover
beye
new signing?cover
taylor
faye
cacapa
edgar
new signing?
butt
duff
zog
milner
jonas
guthrie
barton
lua lua
new signing?cm
owen
oba
dukes
carroll
ameobi
smith
plus young kids.we dont need much more competion for first team places.
gorskino10
Jul 20, 2008 at 11:59 AM
Comment #14But as Arsenal won’t pay that much for andrei they will go for n zogbia I think. I still see arda a possibility as nothing has been said and gala will put there price down to around 10 the same as what we will get from Charles.
Mac
Jul 20, 2008 at 12:00 PM
Comment #15Paul are u in Australia?
Danny
Jul 20, 2008 at 12:06 PM
Comment #16It’s been a very interesting transfer season for us, very different from others.
Last summer we picked up NINE players, this one we’ve got TWO!
And i can’t remember the last time we were linked with this many players. And both our signings were out of the blue.
It’s a very tight transfer team we’ve gotten, with KK the only saying anything about it, and he isn’t saying much. Everything behind the scenes has a lid on it.
I’m done rambling about roumered players coming to us, we don’t know anything before it’s official anymore.
And sooner or later, the papers will pick up on that too, and not link us with so many players.
It’s not good for their credibility.
Would like atleast 4 more players tho. *crossing fingers*
AussieToon
Jul 20, 2008 at 12:15 PM
Comment #17mac – im from aus:)
Mac
Jul 20, 2008 at 12:18 PM
Comment #18Where abouts in Oz are u? I’m in the UK but my wife was born in Australia and we are considering re locating
WIGAZ
Jul 20, 2008 at 12:20 PM
Comment #19I agree ED would be amazing to see all 6 at SJP! just imagine how much of a threat we’d be going forward not just from Mid but from the back too with beye & shorey! I must say the more this AA saga goes on the more confident i am something miracuolous could happen, maybe Zeint dont want him to possibly come back & put them out of Champs league? maybe Turan is in the bag hence why there’s no talk of him anymore, & maybe shorey is too? maybe Cueller will come once Gers get a replacement! i think we’ll Keep faith with Owen/Oba/Viduka/Smith next season! no CF comin in!
Shearer#1
Jul 20, 2008 at 12:27 PM
Comment #20Viduka’s always injured & Smith is rubbish! Gotta sign a CF. Anelka or Gudjohnsen I think. What’s happening with Inler? He’d be a good replacement for Butt.
WIGAZ
Jul 20, 2008 at 12:38 PM
Comment #21I agree Shearer we do need another CF but just dont see the fat man stumping upwards tp £12m or so for any of those 2, but both would improve our squad! i would love to see us buy Huntaleer, but dont think we have much chance! we should of bought Ashton, he’s signed new deal now but he would have been ideal!
Gateshead Mag.
Jul 20, 2008 at 12:41 PM
Comment #22You know who would be a brilliant signing for us. Xabi Alonso.
Imagine. This midfield..
Turan Alonso Milner Jonas.
Nice!
HATE PRAWN SANDWICHES
Jul 20, 2008 at 12:43 PM
Comment #23We are desperate for a Quality striker to replace Viduka and any other injuries!! that was evadent yesterdays match!! esp.. if we also get rid of Smith and Ameobi?? which I doubt now!!
valle
Jul 20, 2008 at 12:43 PM
Comment #24Dont want him anymore, so even if he was to consider it i wouldnt want it to happen… His a merchant and there are better options out there if we are going for the big buys anyway.
HATE PRAWN SANDWICHES
Jul 20, 2008 at 12:46 PM
Comment #25Gateshead Mag – yes that would be a brilliant signing but totally unrealistic as MA wont pay what liverpool want for him!
Gateshead Mag.
Jul 20, 2008 at 12:53 PM
Comment #26How much do Liverpool want for him?
HATE PRAWN SANDWICHES
Jul 20, 2008 at 1:00 PM
Comment #27Gateshead – you are probably looking at £12m or so!!!
valle
Jul 20, 2008 at 1:03 PM
Comment #28wasnt it around 20 million?
Sav
Jul 20, 2008 at 1:05 PM
Comment #29Smith seems to have his constant admirers among the ‘old pros’ of the game. He should be useful as a bargaining chip to get Rangers to release Cuellar or maybe Portsmouth to release Diarra. Personally I see him as a liability.
Remark above about targeting Blackburn is true. They have decent players in their squad. I’d add Steven Reid to the list if he’s fit again.
BosnianAussieToon
Jul 20, 2008 at 1:09 PM
Comment #30I agree with mr “paul the pom” !
Well done explained!
I wish we could sign more stars but we must be realistic.. The only thing is we cannot loose any more players!!!
NUFC FOREVER!!!
Tom_Toon
Jul 20, 2008 at 1:09 PM
Comment #31They want £16mil for Alonso i think.
micepie
Jul 20, 2008 at 1:10 PM
Comment #32Though an exciting buy, we don’t need Turan! Not when we have so many good wide players already.
And it’s much better to sign several players for a lesser price than it would be to sign Arshavin.
Best forget about him.
Gateshead Mag.
Jul 20, 2008 at 1:11 PM
Comment #33So £15 million for someone who would be a brilliant signing. Why not?
micepie
Jul 20, 2008 at 1:12 PM
Comment #34Danny, I think most of the 9 players we got last summer came pretty late. I can’t remember exactly but I know there was a very long wait (as there is now) without anything happening.
robertsa
Jul 20, 2008 at 1:13 PM
Comment #35agree micepie. Just go all out for collocini cuellar rat
robertsa
Jul 20, 2008 at 1:19 PM
Comment #36how does everyone feel about warnock coming?
im not too impressed. Much rather have rat or konchesky.
HATE PRAWN SANDWICHES
Jul 20, 2008 at 1:22 PM
Comment #37gateshead – why not?? ONE WORD ASHLEY!!! he wants to play in spain if not l’pool
HATE PRAWN SANDWICHES
Jul 20, 2008 at 1:24 PM
Comment #38robertsa – agreed but its all down to money!!
valle
Jul 20, 2008 at 1:29 PM
Comment #39robertsa… Well since our bid was rejected it wont be a problem i guess.
Gateshead Mag.
Jul 20, 2008 at 1:30 PM
Comment #40Ashley isn’t as tight as you’s all think. I said somewere else, We offered top money for Modric, If Keegan wants a player Ashley will back him. Trust us, stop being so negative and support your team!