Sky Sports is reporting that Newcastle United have again won the race to sign another highly-rated youngster, this time it’s Slovenian 16 year-old youngster Haris Vuckic from NK Domzale.
Harris Vuckic – 16 year old attacking midfielder
Sky Sports is reporting that the gifted 16 year old teenager is regarded as one of Europe’s brightest talents, and reports suggest he underwent a recent trial at AC Milan. We’re not sure how much Newcastle paid for him but we understand it’s around £400K, for the young Solovenian.
But Newcastle have definitely secured his signature, with the attacking midfielder Vuckic signing a three-and-a-half-year deal at St James’ Park. The youngster currently stands at 6’2″ tall and is probably still growing.
So another top youngster will be arriving at the club in January, along with 18 year-old Brazilian forward Cai Ferreirra, so we continue to bring future top players (hopefully) into the Tyneside club – sounds good to us.
The capture demonstrates Newcastle’s growing policy of scouring the world in the search of top up and coming talent to bring to Tyneside, and then develop the youngsters through the Newcastle Youth Academy, under the watchful eye of Director, Richard Money.
Just rounding off the current transfer situation with half of the 33 day transfer window over today:
- It looks like Reenes have turned down our offer of £5M for midfielder Stephane Mbia – so we’re not sure what happens now
- There will be a trial game next Tuesday involving Peter Lovenkrands and our two proposed loan signings – one Italian and one Argentine – so presumably we may hear we have three players into the club after that trial game, if all goes well
- At least two top youngsters will come into the club in January, and hopefully even more – we got five top youngsters in last January.
- Joe has said there will be new investment in players in the summer, and we assume at some point he will accept the formal offer made by Ashley – but it may not be until the summer.
We just cannot see Joe turning away from what he has said many times before is the dream job for him - There was news today that we had had an offer of £1.3M accepted by Espanyol for former Liverpool full-back Steve Finnan, after the Hull City deal fell through. But we have heard nothing more about that – so we’re not sure if it is a true story or not – but we hope it is, because we can use Steve for the rest of the season, and maybe another season to allow some of our youngsters to come through at the club.
But we must keep pushing ahead in the transfer market as we’d like to see at least 5 top players into the club by February 2nd, when the window closes – which is two weeks on Monday.
Comments welcome.
71 comments so far
dcbashore
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:11 AM
Comment #1The youth model seems to be working well. What they seem to be forgetting is that the Arsenal model also calls for the board applying funds as necessary to buy established players in order to keep the team competitive at the highest level (see Cygan, Gallas, Rosicky, etc.). That’s where we’re missing the boat, for the most part (Coloccini is the general exception and we’re seeing him prove more and more to be the weaker of our first-choice defensive pairing with every passing match).
Cheers on the other updates, Ed, I was wondering about Lovenkrands since he wasn’t listed as available for tomorrow’s game.
Tom_Toon
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:14 AM
Comment #2Never seen him, only heard about him a week or so ago when Milan was talked out. He is 6ft 2 apparently, AM or a ST.
Can only be good for the club really cant it.
Ed Harrison
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:15 AM
Comment #3He’s in trial game with the other two potential loan signings next Tuesday – and then Joe will decide on each of the three.
Archie Mag
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:15 AM
Comment #4We can say what we want about Wise (and I do as much as anyone) but he does seem to be doing well when it comes to building a team for the future, I like what Ashley is doing there, if Keegan never got shot of the youth system first time round we would have been in a much better position today, Carrick would likely still be here for starters…
However its the present that is most worrying, these top young stars aren’t going to want to stay if were playing in the pepsi league.
Ed Harrison
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:15 AM
Comment #5That’s Peter Lovenkrands.
Warwick Hunt
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:15 AM
Comment #6Colo cost us £10M and Bassong cost us next to nowt and iknow who I’ve been most impressed with. Just goes to show!
Dan_Scott157
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:19 AM
Comment #7M’Bia was obviously a waste of time. Rennes will have been told by clubs like Everton that they will put bigger bids in for him during the summer. This news about youngsters is only good if it’s combine with players that are the finished article coming into the club or else what sort of future will we be preparing for. Jimmy Bullard is available for the right price and Jermain Pennant for about £2 million. We could do far worse that getting these 2 in that have a lot of premiership experience.
Dan_Scott157
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:20 AM
Comment #8*combined
Warwick Hunt
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:21 AM
Comment #9@ Archie.
Thats what people seem to forget about Keegan, he nearly destroyed NUFC by getting rid of the reserve team. I like what I see about the youth policy but like you I believe we need new recruits at Senior level or else try some of the youngsters out at that level. The problem lies that when you bring in Kids to a side that is losing they are not geared for it, you’ve got to bring them into a system and team that works and wins
Tom_Toon
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:22 AM
Comment #10If Kinear wans an African DM we could do far worse than geting Mohammed Ali Nafkha for under a million, probably about 500k.
Ed Harrison
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:22 AM
Comment #11Tom_Toon – yes you’re right – just verified he’s a little over 6’2″ – 1.89 meters.
Brutooon
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:23 AM
Comment #12I dont know about this guy but this sound promising for us.
Next, hopefully this youngsters will get chances in the first team. Hope we can use arsenal and how they handle the youngsters….(look at fabregas, he is nobody before he play for arsenal)
Dan_Scott157
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:23 AM
Comment #13Tom_Toon
Who is he?
Dan_Scott157
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:25 AM
Comment #14Steve Finnan £1.3 million
Jermain Pennant £2.5 million
Jimmy Bullard £6 million
Warwick Hunt
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:25 AM
Comment #15@Ed Harrison.
Is ton_Toon the lone rangers Geordie sidekick? As I remember it Ton_to was his sidekick?
Tom_Toon
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:25 AM
Comment #16A Tunisian international, defensive midfielder, players for Etoile Du Sael, bit of a key player for them, they won alost every cup going last year, African champions league, league, league cup. Enter the FIFA world club championships too.
Girth
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:26 AM
Comment #17warick hunt
just goes to show what?
vidic and firdinand? how much? £50 mil!!
we got them two for £11 mil ish, and your complaining? you really need to have a look at our recent defenders and realise what a nob you sound like!
they are quite simply the best defenders we have had in a long time, no matter of the price!
Norn Iron Magpie
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:27 AM
Comment #18Need a mixture of both. Youth and experience
Dan_Scott157
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:28 AM
Comment #19Tom_Toon
How old is he?
Tom_Toon
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:30 AM
Comment #2022
Tom_Toon
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:31 AM
Comment #212 other vey good players we could sign from Tunisia. Mouhibi, 23, attacking midfielder and Wissem Ben Yahia, 24, goalscoring box-to-box midfielder.
All dirt cheap, all quality.
Dan_Scott157
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:33 AM
Comment #22Tom_Toon
Do you think our club knows about these players?
Little Willie
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:34 AM
Comment #23Finnan had a medical today at the Nuffield hospital in Newcastle, not sure if it was for us or Sunderland as both clubs are after him.
Archie Mag
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:34 AM
Comment #24Just goin back to the manager issue for a sec…
I’ve been shot down by mates for saying this but I still would have liked us to go after Steve Bruce in the summer… Aye, there are better managers out there, but ones that wouldn’t dream of coming here, Bruce is the kind of calibre we were looking at before the JK offer.
I think he’d jump at the chance to manage us and has shown what he can do with limited resources, knows the prem and knows what NUFC means to geordies. I’d obviously prefer a big name who could attract world class talent but those days are gone lads.
Archie Mag
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:35 AM
Comment #25Tom Toon,
Send wisey an email lol, you might get a job mate.
reillers
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:35 AM
Comment #26And that’s going to help us NOW..??
We can’t afford to be wasting money on kids. Great in the long term. But time and money is a luxury that we don’t have on our side.
RyanToon
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:36 AM
Comment #27is this the 400,000 loan signing, joe said about?
Warwick Hunt
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:36 AM
Comment #28@No Girth.
Exactly my point, sometimes stupid transfer fee’s count for nowt. Now before you call me a knob in future learn how to spell it first. Imagine you have a tattoo along the length of it and try to remember, and don’t come on here calling me a kb next EH!!!!!
Waldo P. Barnstormer
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:37 AM
Comment #29Yeah really like the sound of the kids where bringing in BUT can we please have a manager that’s willing to give the youth’s a chance. Kinnear another two years thats comical
Tom_Toon
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:41 AM
Comment #30Dan, doubt it.
But the Tunisian, South Africa and Egyptian league are the hot beds of Africa, especially the Tunisian league.
Etoile Du Sahel in particular have produced a lot of talent, Chikhaoui, Chermiti, Austin Ejide and in particular Kader Keita who cost Lyon £15mil last summer.
Warwick Hunt
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:45 AM
Comment #31@Tom_Toon.
What ever happened to Chikaoui and Chermiti then. I remember you talking about them 2 a few years ago? How much did they go for?
Dan_Scott157
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:45 AM
Comment #32Kinnear is very similar to Keegan in that he doesn’t really fit into a system that is focussed on bringing young players through as every team sheet he makes is based on seniority. If it’s a choice between Duff and N’Zogbia he chooses Duff. When it was a choice between Carrol and Ameobi he chose Ameobi. We had a brilliant young lad called Nile Ranger on the bench the other night but never got a look in simply because Xisco was older, never mind that he hadn’t kicked a ball since August, not even in the reserves. We need a young manager in this time, something we have never had since Keegan’s first spell.
RyanToon
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:45 AM
Comment #33tomtoon
the reason english clubs dont go for players from these african countries, is because of trouble getting a work permit,
oh and bit out the blue, but ill tell you all now, hugo rodallega will be a huge hit at wigan and by next season all of the big clubs will be after him, quality player
Dan_Scott157
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:49 AM
Comment #34RyanToon
Wigan have a habit of unearthing good players.
Figueroa
Palacios
Valencia
Zaki
RyanToon
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:49 AM
Comment #35http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emad_Motaeb
like to see us go for this guy, could have same impact as amr zaki, i think hes too good for the championship
RyanToon
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:50 AM
Comment #36wigan have got alot of good talent, i like wigan apart from cattermole!
Norn Iron Magpie
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:51 AM
Comment #37Tom_Toon /
Never heard of these players. Any good.Went on holiday to Port El Kontoia a few years ago. All the young fellas wanted to buy my toon top of me.
Tom_Toon
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:54 AM
Comment #38Norn – Been there too, bought a Ronaldinho PSG top, fake of course and scorpian in a frame, haah and a watch, but it broke after 5 days.
Ryan – They will get work permits, they are internationals.
You dont want Moteab either, really poor player.
Shikabala, Zaki, Mido are all far better forwards.
Tom_Toon
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:56 AM
Comment #39Dan – Id barely say Wigan unearther any of those except Figueroa, Palacios was going on trials to so many clubs around europe and Wenger recommened him to bRuce after his trial at Arsenal.
Valencia was loned to Wigan for 2 seasons before they bought him and Zaki was pretty well known.
Tom_Toon
Jan 17, 2009 at 1:58 AM
Comment #40Warwick – Chermiti moved to Hertha Berlin in the summer but got ligament damage soon after, came backa few weeks ago and score din a friendly a few days ago.
Chikhaoui, could have ended in tears, thankfully i didn’t, he got an injury, but it almost turned out to be career ending, been out since April, he’ll be back in full in about 2 months. Glad it didn’t end his career as he has the potential to be one of the best players ever to come out of Africa, definitely one of the most techincally gifted.