There is a report in the Guardian today that Newcastle United are interested in Rangers’ Algerian central defender Madjid Bougherra.
Madjid Bougherra – 26 year old 6’2″ Rangers center-back
The 26 year old 6’2” defender only moved to Rangers last summer from Charlton Athletic for a £2M fee, so we don’t think the transfer fee, if Newcastle are indeed interested, would be much more than that.
The reports say that the Algerian international has impressed Newcastle manager Joe Kinnear after some impressive displays in the Scottish Premier League for Glasgow Rangers.
But there’s a huge difference in class between the Scottish Premier league and English Premier League so that’s not saying too much.
Madjid was at Sheffield Wednesday for a year from 2006 and before that was at French football club FC Gueugnon, playing in the Championship National League.
So he has never played in any top class leagues yet, and we can only assume his performances for Rangers this year have been very good.
The news is that Bougherra’s representatives have informed the Glasgow Rangers club of the interest from Tyneside, and that is expected to be followed up with a formal offer within the next week or so from Newcastle.
Rangers are said to want about £3M for the 26-year-old, and manager Walter Smith is said to want to cut down the size of his his squad, so it is debatable whether he would want to lose one of his better players.
However, because of the money they could get for Bougherra, Rangers may find it hard to turn down a good bid from the Magpies.
And while Newcastle need another center-half to fight it out with Bassong, Taylor and Coloccini, full backs are a much more important position to fill in January.
Bougherra was born in Longvic, France in October 1982, and so far has played 25 times for Algeria.
While it would appear that Bougherra is a decent player, we wonder if he’s being brought in more as a squad player, and there’s no evidence he plays at either full back position either.
What do you think?
Comments very welcome.
33 comments so far
wigaz
Jan 1, 2009 at 9:02 PM
Comment #1Not excactly wow like but if he’s good then why not? Personally if i was signing players from gers it would be Boyd & Davis.
Toon1978
Jan 1, 2009 at 9:10 PM
Comment #2M.Ashley is f*****g serious about spending as little as possible. I cannot understand the greed coming from this pie munching bear swilling self indulgent pr1ck.
Robby Bobson
Jan 1, 2009 at 9:11 PM
Comment #3I like Thomson. seen him against Celtic once and he domiated the game. But then got strechered/sent off after diving.
Bougherra is decent, not better than colo, bassong or Taylor tho. Would be 4th choice and wouldnt allow Edgar or Kadar to come through. If we were going for a centre back id prefer Samba who would most likely contesting to start.
Robby Bobson
Jan 1, 2009 at 9:14 PM
Comment #4Toon1978 – two things:
1. its only a link and we are probably looking at loads of players
2. More than 2-3 milion shouldnt be spent on a centre half, where there are greater priorities, where we need to spend 5-6 million for a first team starter, such as left back and centre midfield ( i like the Diop link).
Toon1978
Jan 1, 2009 at 9:18 PM
Comment #5Roddy Robson
You are right i should chill out a bit. Just annoying being linked with sub standard players.
adam
Jan 1, 2009 at 9:19 PM
Comment #6are newcastle close to signing anyone
Turkish Magpie
Jan 1, 2009 at 9:19 PM
Comment #7look at 16:27 maybe we can make a move?
http://www.skysports.com/football/transfer_clockwatch/0,,14896,00.html?reloaded
Toon1978
Jan 1, 2009 at 9:21 PM
Comment #8We are close to signing Ant n Dec and maybe Jimmy Nail and our star signing will be…………………….wait for it…………..Tim Healy
scottish mag
Jan 1, 2009 at 9:21 PM
Comment #9dont like him, well i am biast(celtic fan)
Tom_Toon
Jan 1, 2009 at 9:23 PM
Comment #10Dossena has looked awful at Liverpewl.
No point in getting Bougherra, waste of money.
He is a good Cb, better than Taylor but not Coloccini or Bassong. However, he would just hinder the progress of Kadar and Bougherra can only play CB, he isn’t versatile at all. No point.
Toon1978
Jan 1, 2009 at 9:26 PM
Comment #11WHY waste money on this kid when we have the likes of Kadar and Tozer waiting to push through. Kadar is probably better then Bougherra anyway. What a waste.
Ross
Jan 1, 2009 at 9:28 PM
Comment #12turkish-dossena is horrendous
sirjasontoon
Jan 1, 2009 at 9:32 PM
Comment #13Not exciting me.
Pondstretcher sale.
richie
Jan 1, 2009 at 9:33 PM
Comment #14hangover from hell here lads lol, boupa diop should b our first signing
scottish mag
Jan 1, 2009 at 9:35 PM
Comment #15dossena would be ok for around 3m but liverpool would want to get their 7m bak
daniel...
Jan 1, 2009 at 9:36 PM
Comment #16toon 1978
tim healy is a mackem lmao
could be our michael chopra though and probly better than what we have :p
C'est moi
Jan 1, 2009 at 9:37 PM
Comment #17BOUMSONG
Toon_Ksk
Jan 1, 2009 at 9:39 PM
Comment #18I have developed a phobia for any signings from Rangers. Any defenders from Rangers will remind me of how the club paid 8mil for Boumsong.
I’m beginning to accept that having little transfer funds may not be bad for the club. It is better that way than to have the club in debt due to flop signings like Boumsong and Viana. Time to make smart signings, but first, can we forget about signing anyone from Rangers?
richie
Jan 1, 2009 at 9:41 PM
Comment #19peter crouch anyone?
Toon1978
Jan 1, 2009 at 9:42 PM
Comment #20Great post by a lad on the Evening Chronocle forums courtesy of M AGPIE 2 have a read lads its bang on what he is saying.
The papers have been telling me for some time that I want you back, so welcome back. I was really excited by your statement on Sunday, especially the part about moving the club forward together. Now, just for clarification, I understand “together” to mean all of us, and “moving the club forward” to mean improving, getting better, climbing the table, becoming contenders and – gulp! – WINNING THINGS! Glad you agree.
So, why not start the ball rolling by buying a few players? It’s January sales time, so let’s start looking – together! You can have more than 11, you know, and they don’t need to have Spanish as their mother tongue. Don’t worry about money, either. Those nice people from SKY have given you rather a lot; then there’s the tidy pile you got for that young winger. Oh, and I almost forgot – the good folk of the Toon have donated enough of their hard earned wages to see you through the next three years.
Now let’s look at the manager. Your good friend, Joe has proved he can steady the ship, provided that ship isn’t the Titanic. However, we’re a mighty big vessel, so perhaps Joe needs to be moved aside, so that we can move forward (together). I need to warn you, though, that there are some out there who, curiously, see our club as a bit of a basket case and may not wish to join us. Never fear, though, a sheet metal worker’s son from Gosforth is waiting in the wings. Don’t be afraid to consider him as manager. It’s his destiny. It is written.
Whatever you may think of the supporters, I assure you that we really are the salt of the earth. We may wear very few clothes on occasion, but, trust me, we don’t paint our faces blue and attack small children. we especially don’t threaten your children, at least not your real children, the fruits of your ample loins. Your adopted children are a different matter. I suggest you find foster homes for the wee lad from Chelsea, the casino kid, the Spanish boy and, err, the other one. That will really help us to move the club forward together. You have seen, too, how upsetting a Messiah is not a good move in these parts. Verily there was much wailing and gnashing of teeth among the multitudes. Some even lost the ability to spell (boycoutts, anyone?)! Although this problem still needs to be resolved, I’m afraid I can’t help with it. There are higher powers at work . . .
Moving on . . . my almost final piece of togetherness is a request that you look at a map of this country. NEWCASTLE IS NOT, NEVER HAS BEEN, NEVER WILL BE IN LONDON. It’s a controversial idea, I know, but why not run the club from Newcastle? I’m sure it’s possible.
My absolutely final piece of advice is this. When you rejoin us in the stands, you’ll need a new shirt, as your other one is out of date. Don’t be disappointed, though, when you fail to hear 52,000 lusty voices singing “Ashley is a Geordie”. That, dear sir, is stretching ambition to the point of incredulity!
So that’s my job done, now it’s your turn. Happy New Year, Mr. Ashley, and welcome back. Enjoy yourself, and don’t worry about us – we’ll carry on taking the happy pills and dreaming of the glorious day our nightmare finally comes to an end.
All the best.
Ross
Jan 1, 2009 at 9:45 PM
Comment #21i just remember watching Liverpool/Spurs in the cup with a bunch of scousers and they were fuming, dossena was at fault for pretty much every single one of the spurs goals
Shot Bru!
Jan 1, 2009 at 10:04 PM
Comment #22Bougherra is a championship player at best, hence the reason he looks good in the SPL. I mean why don’t we just buy back Gary Caldwell, after all he looks good for Celtic at the back. Every team in the SPL plays with 1 up front against the old firm hence the reason the likes of the aforementioned donkeys look good along with Boumsong, Cuellar and the likes.
Ger in Glasgow
Jan 1, 2009 at 10:47 PM
Comment #23Lads, Bougherra is pish in the air. He started aff well but he started to fade in November and has been ‘injured’ for most of December.
Personally, if the Mags offer 3 mill for him I’d bite yer hands off.
I still can’t believe the Gers got 8 mill for Boumdong and big Curly Sue tae Villa. LMFAO for ages over those 2 dumplings.
Anyway, best of luck to the Mags.
oga
Jan 1, 2009 at 10:56 PM
Comment #24Need someone better than Colo or Bassong tbh.
nightfall
Jan 2, 2009 at 12:05 AM
Comment #25swap him for smith
Macowen
Jan 2, 2009 at 12:05 AM
Comment #26Boogie’s probably worth £7m+ TBH.
PapaToon
Jan 2, 2009 at 1:21 AM
Comment #27Dont need a CB, need RB and LB in defence. Already have Bassong, Colo Taylor, Cacapa and Edgar. One of the two Cacapa or Edgar will leave but we still have enough CB.
wsq
Jan 2, 2009 at 1:55 AM
Comment #28THIS IS THE REGIME THAT WILL SELL OUR BEST PLAYERS
come end of jan
Given will be no more
owen will be no more
Ashley OUT! Ashley OUT!
Sav
Jan 2, 2009 at 4:24 AM
Comment #29Agreed. We need a LB, a CM, a Striker (big lad, decent touch and mobile like Kevin Doyle), a RM and a CB in that order (though possibly 2 CMs, 1 defensive and 1 attacking). I have a bad feeling about buying anyone else from the bluenoses. Thanks to Ger of Glasgow for the realistic assessment.
Ericles
Jan 2, 2009 at 9:43 AM
Comment #30Ashley and Wise etc will wreck NUFC. Toon1978 summed it up very well indeed.
Tom_Toon
Jan 2, 2009 at 9:58 AM
Comment #31Quality player. Now all we need to do is sell both Given and Owen as they are not necessities, bring in Bale, Topal and Almeida and we are all set!
tooner
Jan 2, 2009 at 3:10 PM
Comment #32boumsong awfull
moore average
cuellar bad
kizanishvilli crap
hutton over rated
theres a shortlist of defenders who have been good at rangers but have been crap in the prem with the excption of moore. bougherra is no where near good enough to get into our first team.
we need to buy from west ham, the news the day says there near to administration maybe we can nik neil davenport upson or tomkins.
but heres one for yaz.
bougheraa for 2 million.
OR
delph for 4 million.
Vansam
Feb 25, 2009 at 11:14 AM
Comment #33Well to be honest, Newcastle, one manager after the next are awful, I personally would not like to see any more Rangers players plying their trade in the Championship. The saying ‘The Bubble has Burst’ comes to mind……