If we can get Coloccini to Newcastle, which now seems very likely our next top priority has to be a left back.
Inter-Milan’s Nicolas Burdisso and Lens’ Nadir Belhadj
Since we’ll have two Argentines at the club if Fabricio comes, why wouldn’t we go after his team mate for Argentina, Inter Milan left back Nicolas Burdisso?
The 27-year-old star, who suffered a broken nose during a Champions League scrap with Valencia, could be tempted with a move to England if Newcastle are indeed willing to offer up to £6M to Jose Mourinho at Inter, for the defender.
But with two of his colleagues at the club, that would presumably be a good choice for the player. We’re not sure if £6M is the price, but he has lots of experience, and would probably be the starting left back at the club, with Jose fighting to get back in.
Newcastle need another left back to challenge the young Spaniard coming season, and Nicolas can also play in the center of defense too.
Blackburn’s Stephen Warnock - transfer fee probably too high
We are still presumably after Stephen Warnock of Blackburn and we are reported today to be chasing yet another left-back, Lens fullback Nadir Belhadj.
Portsmouth and Newcastle United are among clubs chasing the player, according to L’Equipe, the French nationwide daily Sports newspaper.
L’Equpe are saying the player is rated at around £3M by Lens, and wants a move following their relegation of Lens from the French first division last season when they finished 3rd bottom, with Metz bottom.
That seems much like the case with Sebastien Bassong, whom we signed recently from Metz.
Because of their relegation, Lens will not be in strong negotiating position, and we could probably get a good deal on Belhadj.
He is also said to be a target for Monaco, as well as the two premier clubs.
Belhadj is a Saint-Claude, France born Algerian, who has just turned 26 and stands 5′10″ tall, and he has played 25 times for Algeria since 2004, with 3 goals.
Some details on his playing career:
Belhadj began his career at Ligue 1 club RC Lens in 1999 and joined Ligue 2 FC Gueugnon on loan in 2002, and after making 26 league appearances signed permanently in 2003. Belhadj played 36 more Ligue 2 games for Gueugnon before moving to CS Sedan in 2004 and made over 30 appearances in each of his two full seasons with Sedan in Ligue 2.
In January 2007 Belhadj was bought by French champions Lyon for €3.24M (£2.6M) and signed a four and a half year deal. He was then loaned back to CS Sedan until the end of the season and joined Lyon again in the summer of 2007. He made just 9 appearances for the club, with the left-back position held by World Cup champion Fabio Grosso, and Nadir left the club in January of the following year.
On 7th January 2008, he signed a three and a half year deal with his former club RC Lens, with Lens paying €3.6M (£2.9M) for the player.
Comments welcome.
80 responses so far ↓
1 clinta // Aug 2, 2008 at 11:18
On the BBC website, in the ins and outs of transfer it says that young Ramsay has signed up for Arsenal after all?
did I miss something ed? thought i heard on here that he had/ was in the process of signing for us?
2 GoesseN // Aug 2, 2008 at 11:20
sorry but he musnt be that good of a defender if they got relegated!… we need top signings not unknown young kids that are strugling in the FRENCH league of all leagues, its slow enough… if they got relegated there, then there is no way he’ll cope with the premiership.
3 simon winham // Aug 2, 2008 at 11:21
Lets just get coloccini then look at a left back i would like to see us sign Nicky Shorey not Belhadj.
4 SingaporeToon // Aug 2, 2008 at 11:21
Ramsey signed with arsenal. We signing aaron spears.
The algerian full back seems quite good on youtube. Might worth a punt.
5 dougnufc // Aug 2, 2008 at 11:21
Clinta, I think u got a little mixed up because we were not after Ramsey, instead we are after Aaron Spear
6 Ben // Aug 2, 2008 at 11:22
You’re getting confused with Spear. Ramsay signed ages ago for Arsenal (and looked very good in pre-season).
7 Spyro // Aug 2, 2008 at 11:22
Clinta, we signed Aaron Spear, not Aaron Ramsey
8 GeordieJamie // Aug 2, 2008 at 11:23
Its Aaron Spear we are signing not Ramsay
9 Danny G // Aug 2, 2008 at 11:24
I don’t think Ramsey was ever gonna sign for us Clinta…Wish we did get him though!
I have heard lots of good things about Belhadj, Supposedly a very quick player and if he was signed by Lyon then he must have stood out in France.
He is still very young and would probably represent the best deal of all these left backs.
Although if I had my choice then I would still go for Warnock.
10 Tom // Aug 2, 2008 at 11:28
I’d go for a fourth option, Shorey : )
11 Graeme // Aug 2, 2008 at 11:29
Burdisso is a top quality player and can play at variety of positions but he wants to stay with Inter so we can’t sign him.
12 Danny G // Aug 2, 2008 at 11:31
Buying players from relegated clubs gives any team the chance to get a good deal, Just because he played for Lens who got relegated does not make him a bad player.
Aimar got relegated and everyone was raving about him, The same with Seb Larsson!
Are you trying to tell me that McFadden, Zarate, Larsson and Kapo are bad players because Birmingham got relegated?…Grow up!
It is splashing out on average players from big clubs that has always been Newcastle’s downfall in the transfer market…
Duff, Geremi, Smith….for example!
We got N’zogbia from Le Havre who play in the second tier of french football and he is one of our best players…
13 Punk Skunk // Aug 2, 2008 at 11:35
Warnock 0r Torosidis would be my picks for LB!..
…Still think we need a play maker tho’!..
14 Jeff // Aug 2, 2008 at 11:43
Actually, I think Bassong is talented enough as the back up of Jose Enrique,
and with the addition of Coloccini, our defenders are good in both quality and quantity!
So I think we better splash our money on a striker or playmaker, or even both! like someone said, Smith and Ameobi are invisible on the pitch!
15 Ericles // Aug 2, 2008 at 11:45
I no longer believe a word anymore. When I see a player in the stripes at a news conference I will.
I have no trust in the media and no faith in the recruitment team of NUFC. After Friday evening it is obvious we only have two strikers and they did not play. It is not funny playing Smith and KK is not a comedian for playing him.
What does Ashley want? The best supported side in the Championship?
16 MattyDread // Aug 2, 2008 at 11:48
Jeff - I agree 100%
17 Big Dave // Aug 2, 2008 at 11:51
Clinta. It wasn’t Ramsey, it was Aaron Spear.
18 robertsa // Aug 2, 2008 at 11:51
burdisso wud be my choice. then my next shot wud be rat
19 AndyNUFC // Aug 2, 2008 at 11:52
I think i’d go with Burdisso just for the fact that he can play in central defense as well… but seeing as that looks more than covered, I think a cheap £3-4M? Full back who (somebody said was) quick, just turned 26… instead of a fringe player who everytime somebody mentions him they include his broken nose.
As long as Faye/Taylor/Bassong/Edgar pull their finger out this season and look worthy to be standing next to Colo then i’ll go with this Algerian. However, we need right back cover?
What about Torisidis? Isn’t he able to cover both flanks?
20 gorskino10 // Aug 2, 2008 at 11:52
as there team is relegated u could get Belhadji and Paquet (YouTube him he’s amazing) for under 10mill which is ideal for a left back and striker.
21 Danny G // Aug 2, 2008 at 11:55
I agree jeff…I think maybe 3 million on Belhadj and then splash the cash on a the best playmaker we can get!
…
22 chuck // Aug 2, 2008 at 11:56
Moutinho or Veloso would be my choice for the midfield role.
Bent up front.
Evans backup and eventual RB.
Tough choices for LB but would pefer someone with experience, untill Miguel comes into his own.
23 Leisure Suit Larry // Aug 2, 2008 at 11:56
Ed, the article was spot on until you said “World Cup champion Fabio Grosso”, should’ve read “World Cup CHEAT and general lowlife Fabio Grosso…” part from that TOP article, and keep up the good work!
Howay the lads!!!!
24 51times // Aug 2, 2008 at 11:57
Burdisso is not a left-back. He rarely plays there, and even if he was he wouldn’t come plus I think we can get better. I’d like Torosidis because he can cover all across the back four and in midfield, as well as looking a good player anyway.
25 daiv // Aug 2, 2008 at 11:57
Our priority is a creative midfielder who can run at defences and deliver clever passes. Is it just me or could nobody see that we created nothing. The defence did not look too bad. Why a re we concentating on defenders. we were awful going forward.
26 Richard D // Aug 2, 2008 at 12:00
I would prefer Nicky shorey who has EPL experience. News regarding a final bid for Eren Derdiyok could be true ?
http://footylatest.com/news/news.php?extend.1425
27 Campo67 // Aug 2, 2008 at 12:01
danny g - duff basically cost next to nothing, geremi was a free transfer, and i agree smith was a waste of time. lets hope we sign coloccini and another defennder as well as a Att midfielder
28 Punk Skunk // Aug 2, 2008 at 12:02
Y’right Daiv,
but we did only have 9 players on, none of them strikers…Therefore none running into space, peeling off defenders etc, etc…We do NEED a PLAYMAKER tho’!..
29 toon1978 // Aug 2, 2008 at 12:03
Rich D you beat me to it mate i was gonna put the link up myself but i wont cother now grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr lol.
30 AndyNUFC // Aug 2, 2008 at 12:04
Does Paquet play for the same team like?
31 robertsa // Aug 2, 2008 at 12:06
burdisso wud come if collocini came i rekon. he is a right back but i doesnt matter two much its the same job just on the opposite side.Plus I think he is left footed so hes probly better at left back.
32 Tom // Aug 2, 2008 at 12:10
Heres hoping the news about Derdiyok is accurate!! He can take the Viduka role when the Duke isn’t fit, and come off the bench when he is fit, just so we can get him used to English football!
Does anyone else get the feeling that maybe, just maybe, we may have spoken too soon about the poor recruitment policy?
It also really irritates me when reading people (not necessarily on this blog) calling Jonas, Guthrie or Bassong average players, or squad players! Jonas looked the part yesterday, Danny Guthrie has played really well in all the games he’s played, his passing has been precise and really measured, and Bassong looked composed and confident, albeit against Doncaster. Lets hope he gets another run against Mallorca, preferably alongside Taylor, he seemed to be really bossing the backline. If he keeps it up, I’d be all for a Collicini/Bassong centre back pairing this season!!
33 Taiwantoon // Aug 2, 2008 at 12:11
If Colo is secured. I think our priority would be a big striker…The duke is a great player but he is too injury prone and we really need to do something as shown in the preseason so far. Smith and Ameobi are just helpless…Someone like Heskey would do for me and this shows how desperate I am…
34 Shearer#1 // Aug 2, 2008 at 12:12
What about Taiwo from Marseille? He’s quality. Setanta are saying Stoke have made an £8m bid for Zigic.
35 51times // Aug 2, 2008 at 12:15
Taiwo would be class.
36 AndyNUFC // Aug 2, 2008 at 12:15
Tom, put it this way, we’ve spent £6.5 million tops on 3 players, 2 of which fit straight into the first team and one a promising youngster. Sunderland have spent what, over £10million on 2/3? I have to say i’m getting more and more trusting of Wise etc and certainly do NOT think Ashley is tight.
37 Punk Skunk // Aug 2, 2008 at 12:16
PLAYMAKER!..
38 hitman // Aug 2, 2008 at 12:17
burdisso and coloccini are best mates so that might swing it
39 CRAIGG // Aug 2, 2008 at 12:18
I thought Taylor was very good last night he never put a foot wrong and to be fair Cacapa until the goal was decent, We looked good at the back and that was with two wingers as full backs
Unlike any Keegan side of the past we lack creativity in the midfield
40 Rooneytoon // Aug 2, 2008 at 12:18
We do need a left back for sure but first and foremost we need a creative midfielder. We didn’t have one last year apart from emre and now he’s gone… We’re gonna get no where without 1. Guthrie looks a good prospect but is not the answer. We’re clearly not gonna spend much more so heres a few relatively cheap options… De guzman, kallstrom, ever banega. We need to do what mancity did last year and get someone like elano for 8m or under?
41 Punk Skunk // Aug 2, 2008 at 12:20
Yes Craigg,
who are we gonna bring in for AMF?..
42 Shearer#1 // Aug 2, 2008 at 12:22
Per Ciljan Skjelbred or Arda Turan would be good playmakers. We get linked with these players for ages, why don’t we just make a bid for them?
43 CRAIGG // Aug 2, 2008 at 12:23
AndyNUFC i agree we have signed a couple of bargains with Gutierrez and Guthrie and im looking forward to seeing Bassong
I wouldnt be happy if we had had signed who sunderland have, 3 overrated spurs reserve rejects, that prick Diouf and some shite keeper who couldnt even get a new contract at ipswich
Keep up the good work Royston
44 Punk Skunk // Aug 2, 2008 at 12:25
Ain’t seen Skjelbred…& is Arda a stricktly playmaker?..Still have him like!..& maybe stick Gutierrez in the middle!..
45 51times // Aug 2, 2008 at 12:25
I like Skjelbred because he supports Newcastle, but I’ve never seen him play so I can’t comment on whether he’d be a good signing.
And I don’t think Turan is leaving Gala this season.
46 figsdad // Aug 2, 2008 at 12:26
Per Ciljan Skjelbred blackburn had put in a bid for him..
47 Punk Skunk // Aug 2, 2008 at 12:26
Same here…Like the idea of him ‘cos he supports us, but is he any good?..
48 figsdad // Aug 2, 2008 at 12:27
turan a winger we need a creative centre or attacking midfilder..
49 CRAIGG // Aug 2, 2008 at 12:27
I dont know punk i think Barton can play a more attack minded midfield role well certainly his last couple of seasons from city he was outstanding there gaining his England cap, I would go for De Jong to replace Butt long term allowing Barton to get forward more.
50 Punk Skunk // Aug 2, 2008 at 12:31
Aye, agreed about Barton…But i got a sinking feeling that the fa (fukc all) are gonna cntu us up, with regard to him…He didn’t even play for us when he did dabo!..
51 AndyNUFC // Aug 2, 2008 at 12:31
Haha I think the selling point for everyone on Skjelbred is that he supports us. However, he really would be an unneccesary buy. We’re overfilled with central midfielders, and we may as well have Guthrie who’s the same age, English and looks very good.
52 Punk Skunk // Aug 2, 2008 at 12:32
Aye, agree about Barton, but i think the fa are gonna screw us, even tho’ he didn’t play for us when he did dabo!..
53 Michael // Aug 2, 2008 at 12:32
I would love to see us sign zigic, and monnet-paquet as backup. If we get those we can get shot of Ameobi and Smith.
Then of course, we desperately need a creative midfielder. No realistic ideas on who this could be.
54 Punk Skunk // Aug 2, 2008 at 12:33
Aye Andy, but i’d still have Larsson in!..
55 JP...from The Rock of Gibraltar // Aug 2, 2008 at 12:33
Isn’t Aaron Spear supposed to be signed by now?? WTF is going on with that?
56 AndyNUFC // Aug 2, 2008 at 12:35
Aaron Spear is like 15, I doubt we’ll hear anything high profile about it.
Our 2 “strikers” last night were shocking, put in a £2M bid for Paquet, even if he doesn’t score that much, his pace is unreal.
57 Shearer#1 // Aug 2, 2008 at 12:35
I’ve seen Per Ciljan Skjelbred play. He’s really talented & he’s got the physical attributes to cope with the premiership. Arda’s right footed but he mostly plays left wing for Gala. I would play him behind two strikers coz he’s got brilliant skills & vision. Skjelbred supports Newcastle & Arda said 2 months ago he’d like to play for us coz he liked the Goal movie!
58 51times // Aug 2, 2008 at 12:37
AndyNUFC - Who cares if a player is English? That 6 plus 5 rule would break European Law so it’ll never happen.
59 Punk Skunk // Aug 2, 2008 at 12:38
Yes Andy,
’strikers’…Trades discription mate?..
60 Alex // Aug 2, 2008 at 12:38
Tom it irritates me too , Jonas is an Argentine international You have to be good to get in that side . You also have to be an Argentinian of course
61 Punk Skunk // Aug 2, 2008 at 12:39
Aye, who gives one wheather they’re english?..
…Over-priced usually!..& can’t even make it to the euros…
62 Shearer#1 // Aug 2, 2008 at 12:40
Chronicle are reporting we might make a £4.5m bid for Skjelbred & he’s turned down west Brom.
63 Tom // Aug 2, 2008 at 12:54
You also have to be an Argentinian of course
Haha, yeah Alex that is a key requirement! Lol.
I’d be delighted if we brought in Collocini, a left back, Skjelbred and Derdiyok. I’d be perfectly happy with that and would look forward to the new season with a little optimism!
64 Hadji // Aug 2, 2008 at 12:57
GoesseN…..Zaragoza was full with top players and they still got relegated.
And if you havent seen Belhadj in action dont say he aint good cause one thing’s for sure at the minute and that is he can give Enrique private lessons in football.
65 Ashton // Aug 2, 2008 at 13:11
Skjelbred is very similar to guthrie we don’t need him we just need three more players imo Derdiyok , De la red and Turan
my team for the manu game
—————-Harper
Beye —- Coloccini —- Faye —- Enrique
——– De la red ——- Barton
Jonas ——————————— Turan
————– Owen —— Martins
subs : Derdiyok , Krul , Geremi , Guthrie , Bassong , Taylor , Lualua
66 Alex // Aug 2, 2008 at 13:13
Lets not forget last nights starting 11 will be nothing like the11 that will start against man utd . Beye Faye ,coloccini ,Owen ,Martins if he is mentally ready and Barton if not banned will all figure at some stage . Viduka & Carroll are the only players expected to miss the kick off to the new season .
67 Punk Skunk // Aug 2, 2008 at 13:16
Still say play 433!..
…Alex, that was a starting 9!..
68 Lacedaemonian // Aug 2, 2008 at 13:17
Belhadj looks great!! Though Shorey is tried and tested at this level.
69 51times // Aug 2, 2008 at 13:22
Ashton - Turan is not leaving Gala, De la Red is not leaving Madrid, end of, shut the f*ck up about it.
And I very much we’ll see Barton play, we’ll probably not see him until Christmas.
70 canmag // Aug 2, 2008 at 13:26
if we are after another left back to push jose why not give tozer the chance hes might be young but so is gareth bale at the spuds and he seems to be doing alright comments please.
71 micepie // Aug 2, 2008 at 13:28
A couple of interesting things. Not that I’m too bothered about Everton but this bit from the Times articles just goes to show that there must be other team’s fans who have been kicking walls in frustration the past few weeks,,
“A 2-0 defeat by Chicago Fire in the United States on Wednesday was Everton’s third loss in five preseason games and Moyes, who has yet to make a single signing this summer, wants “five or six†new players in before the club’s opening game at home to Blackburn Rovers on August 16…” etc
So let’s not get too frustrated. We did also play in crazy heat against Berlin (who didn’t play that well either), and on the transfer front if we get Coloccini we can move on to hopefully adding more quickly……ah, f##% there’s a freakin’ big mosquito buzzing round my head in here! I’ll be so glad when the NY summer is over!
And I see Bullard has not had a new contract extension given at Fulham. I don’t get that, seeing as he was their best plarer last year. Still think he’s worth 3M, but I know others won’t agree.
LB - what happened to that young Polish lb at Real Madrid, by the way? Just a thought! A more established buy would be better though, but I also agree with others on here that we should look at mf and strikers first.
72 Punk Skunk // Aug 2, 2008 at 13:35
Aye micepie, & moyes is trying to keep hold of Arteta & van de meyde by saying they’re ’slightly injured’…Skank!..
73 Bucks_mag // Aug 2, 2008 at 13:39
agreed belhadj looks pretty good on youtube
74 xfer // Aug 2, 2008 at 15:47
Why would Inter sell burdisso?
75 robertsa // Aug 2, 2008 at 16:06
everyone has a price. mourinho might not want him etheir
76 Tom // Aug 2, 2008 at 16:48
Burdisso is meant to have fallen down the pecking order at Inter hasn’t he. I doubt we will get him, I believe he wants to stay and fight for his place though.
77 Ashton // Aug 2, 2008 at 19:39
51 times
No one asked for your opinion you squeaky scottish twat
henry said that he wont be leaving arsenal but we saw what happened ! so shut the f*ck up
78 Tom // Aug 2, 2008 at 19:52
Shorey is apparently leaving Reading. Heres hoping we are in for him!!!
http://www.teamtalk.com/football/story/0,16368,1780_3901203,00.html
79 Gateshead Mag. // Aug 3, 2008 at 2:32
Would rather have Burdisso at LB than Shorey and the other lot.
80 Tom // Aug 3, 2008 at 9:29
The idea of signing Burdisso is fantasty football. He isn’t going to leave Inter Milan for Newcastle, and he is predominantly a centre back.
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