It’s becoming clear that Kevin Gameiro is Newcastle’s number one target this summer.
Shane Long – Newcastle seem interested
But if Newcastle find it difficult to persuade the French International to move to Tyneside, it looks like they will turn their attention to Ireland International striker Shane Long.
The Daily Mail is reporting today that Newcastle will make a £5M bid next week for the player, with Celtic and Everton also interested.
The Reading player scored a good 25 goals for Reading last season, and seems a natural old fashioned goal poacher, and could score a lot of goals for Newcastle.
Reading lost the Championship play-off final 4-2 to Swansea last weekend, and will be in England’s seocnd division again next season, and Reading now seem resigned to losing the 5’11” Gortnahoe born player.
Celtic are keen on the lad, but we wonder if that is a good career move for any decent young player.
Celtic do have European Champions League competition every season, but the league is of a low standard and the pitches are just awful.
The chance for Long to play in the best league in the world should give Newcastle a big edge over Celtic, but we wonder just how serious the Magpies will be in going after Shane Long – if they cannot get Gameiro?
And the news last week was that Newcastle would be after Gameiro or Gervinho, but wouldn’t sign both, so why wouldn’t they try to get Gervinho next?
Trying to make some sense out of what’s being reported in the papers on the transfer front, gets to be hard of course, since you never know which parts are true and which parts are not.
Royals manager Brian McDermott wants to keep Long, but Reading owner John Madejski seems willing to sell – at a good price of course.
This is what the owner said last week about Long:
“I’m aware of interest in Shane Long,” he said. “How confident am I we can ward off that interest? Not very.”
“It’s sad we didn’t get promoted because Shane would have liked to stay if we had reached the Premier League, but that has changed because we will be in the Championship.”
“What value would I place on him? £20M. I don’t know if he will end up at Celtic, but what is certain is that he will not be at Reading next season.”
Long was voted Reading’s Player of the Year for last season, but however well these players look in the Championship, there’s no guarantee they will make it in the Premier League, which is a huge step up in class.
But what we’ve seen of Long, he looks a good player, who can still improve, and the 24 year-old could be a good buy for the Magpies at around £4M to £6M.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
86 comments so far
toonbelmonter(mr.T...iote)
Jun 4, 2011 at 10:53 AM
Comment #11st?
sweendog
Jun 4, 2011 at 10:53 AM
Comment #2from what I’ve seen he’s not good enough .. rather gameiro or sturridge .. or is that wishful thinking
CheickTiote
Jun 4, 2011 at 10:53 AM
Comment #32nd?
sweendog
Jun 4, 2011 at 10:54 AM
Comment #424 .. and needs to step up .. rather give ranger a chance
CheickTiote
Jun 4, 2011 at 10:54 AM
Comment #5Yeah I don’t think he’s good enough. Gamiero or Sturridge would be my first choice. I’m sure there are better strikers than him if I’m honest.
Any news on Gervi?
BonVoyageBenny
Jun 4, 2011 at 10:56 AM
Comment #6I’ll pass thank you very much. He is playing in the championship for a reason, and I would rather put that 4 – 6 million towards someone with proper talent.
toonbelmonter(mr.T...iote)
Jun 4, 2011 at 10:57 AM
Comment #7yey… anihu…. a like long to be fair as long as hes not our only forward brough in,, if our forwards were like this next season ad be thrilled
erding/ruiz/remy/gamerio/gomis
long
best
shola
loan out airey n ranger
use loverman as a winger or sell him
Zangwill_Ho
Jun 4, 2011 at 10:58 AM
Comment #8Thx He is not out cup of tea, bye
barryvenison
Jun 4, 2011 at 10:59 AM
Comment #9NNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. Not Good enough and that’s saying something with our current strike force.
elpaso_geordie
Jun 4, 2011 at 11:00 AM
Comment #10I dont understand this tbh.
Our alledged top targets are Gervinho and Gameiro then if we are unable to capture either we are dropping our standards to Shane Long ??????
How can u go for players like the 2 mentioned showing ambition and determination to move to the next level then if we dont get them we go for Shane Long , darren Pratley etc,
Something doesnt add up here really cos Gervinho and Gameiro are A list for us currently but then we dont seem to have a B or C list , if our Alist targets dont come off then we seem destined to go straight to a D list of players.
Unless this A list is only around for season ticket sales ……………….. longer its taking the more suspicious i am becoming
Nufc_mo
Jun 4, 2011 at 11:00 AM
Comment #11Sigh.
cheikmate
Jun 4, 2011 at 11:01 AM
Comment #12an irish attack supplied from a french midfield… who wud of thought.
WWJBD
Jun 4, 2011 at 11:02 AM
Comment #13He out performed all our lot in the same league. Get him and a big name striker in and jobs done up front.
Also off reading Ranger on loan for the season as part of the deal.
Kris
Jun 4, 2011 at 11:02 AM
Comment #14What about Demba Ba! Would be a decent buy!
toonbelmonter(mr.T...iote)
Jun 4, 2011 at 11:02 AM
Comment #15long has proper talant tbf, n hes looked 10× the player carroll did n hes dun great, hes fast and a lot of the time hes played out wide,, n just coz hes in the championship means nout, tim cahill was 24 26ish wen he went to everton n hes looked good,, so personaly ad be happy to risk him
toonarmymike
Jun 4, 2011 at 11:03 AM
Comment #16a guy thats not good enough to start for ireland. no thanks would even rather have doyle.
ochytoon
Jun 4, 2011 at 11:04 AM
Comment #17I hate to say it but a lot if this transfer news just stinks of bs, we could announce the signing now as thats what Norwich are about to do with Morrison who’s having a medical and discussing personal terms. Why has Cabaye not done that yet if he’s joining
The Entertainers
Jun 4, 2011 at 11:04 AM
Comment #18Potentially excellent player, but after one stand out season just not ready. Gameiro AND Long yes, Long on his own, no !
Lille are stepping up efforts to sign Payet from St Etienne. Gervinho replacement without a doubt and may explain the hold up, if the French side want replacement in first .
cheikmate
Jun 4, 2011 at 11:04 AM
Comment #19French paper linking us with monaco defender Nicolas Nkoulou they say he wud cost 3-4 million euros cos thy bin relegated. any1 know much about this guy ?
CynicalasEva
Jun 4, 2011 at 11:04 AM
Comment #20WWJBD ? wot league game?
He didnt do anything in the play off final – not for me – double the bid and go for Sturridge who has shown he can score in EPL
Stuart
Jun 4, 2011 at 11:05 AM
Comment #21to be fair to the lad, hes outscored AC in the championship by around 8 goals yet we all thought AC was able to make the step up to the prem.
If we sign him I’ll be happy aslong as we also sign a bigger name striker aswell.
Indian Magpie
Jun 4, 2011 at 11:05 AM
Comment #22News: Reports in France claim Liverpool and Newcastle are chasing Sochaux winger Ryad Boudebouz.
Stuart
Jun 4, 2011 at 11:07 AM
Comment #23cheikmate, not the best way of judging a players talent, but Nkoulou is class on Football Manager haha!
Turns into one of the best CB/RB’s in the world.
toonbelmonter(mr.T...iote)
Jun 4, 2011 at 11:08 AM
Comment #24look people are saying sturridge will only cost about 10mil, n tbh hes worth about 20,
hes young with potential
english
bought from an english club
hed cost alot more than 10mil
n you dnt get 24 goals in the championship and not be a good player
WWJBD
Jun 4, 2011 at 11:09 AM
Comment #25Cynicalaseva
He scored 24 goals in the season…how can you judge him on a game where he barely saw the ball?The first 10-15 minutes if that match when Reading were on top he was like a bull dog in the box after that swansea ran the game
toonbelmonter(mr.T...iote)
Jun 4, 2011 at 11:11 AM
Comment #26awww yes now were talkn Ryad Boudebouz will be amizin for under 10mil,
WWJBD
Jun 4, 2011 at 11:11 AM
Comment #27Toonbelmonter
Totally agree am getting the hint of deluded fans about haha
ilovetoon8788
Jun 4, 2011 at 11:13 AM
Comment #28For about 5mil. We should definately go for him as its clear we are not going to get Gamiero. We have more than able backup in Leon Best. Long and Best can fight the starting spot. Cabaye and Tiote in the centre with Nzog Arfa and Jonas/Gervinho.
Surely those 3 are going to put it on the platter for Long to finish. Could be easy 20 goal for Long if those 3 are our attacking midfielders.
giimps
Jun 4, 2011 at 11:14 AM
Comment #29We probably wont hear about who were really after until its done, Who had us linked with Cabaye until he and his manager came out and said he`s joining us?
Gameiro an Gervinho are different as were actually waiting for the International matches being over before they decide.
Cash is king though, so dont be suprised if we have good transfer windows from now on.
once team owners/agents etc realise that all funds are paid up front we will be offered all manor of players (some good and some not so).
I`m just wishing it was all sorted and we had who we are getting in place so we can get back to some semblance of normality.
HWTL
Gordo
Jun 4, 2011 at 11:14 AM
Comment #30Ed not all the pitches in the SPL are bad only a couple,seen some bad English one’s Wembley is not the greatest and as for Celtic they are in the Europa league not Champions league.
toonbelmonter(mr.T...iote)
Jun 4, 2011 at 11:15 AM
Comment #31a mean wikham is rated at 16mil, hes no were near as good as sturridge so hed easily be worth 20
NathanH NUFC
Jun 4, 2011 at 11:16 AM
Comment #32I think he could cut it in the EPL, id be happy to see him & Gervinho/Gamiero at the club next season, with the possibility of N’Zogbia
geoff777
Jun 4, 2011 at 11:16 AM
Comment #33The round of international games is the reason for there being no action in the market.
I think we’ll know more by the end of next week.
ilovetoon8788
Jun 4, 2011 at 11:17 AM
Comment #34@toonbelmonter(mr.T…iote) // Jun 4, 2011 at 11:15 AM
Agree with you. English players are overpriced in the first place. 10mil for strurridge maybe we can get his boots for that. Atleast 15-20mil for him i’d say.
GeordieGerman
Jun 4, 2011 at 11:22 AM
Comment #35Wonder who we’ll be connected with tomorrow? Mad Sunday.
Mark
Jun 4, 2011 at 11:24 AM
Comment #36http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/3617605/Liverpool-want-Wigans-NZogbia-and-Sunderlands-Henderson.html
I know it is the sun, so most likely not true.
CheickTiote
Jun 4, 2011 at 11:24 AM
Comment #37cheikmate, I bought that player on FM manager not so long ago… he was okay… Average rating of like 6.9 or something, so had to sell him. Sold him for like 10M
Nufc_mo
Jun 4, 2011 at 11:33 AM
Comment #38No. why buy Shane for 5mill when he is unproven in the EPL… we also have Nile who is younger and already at the club. Rather give Nile a shot then Long.
Munster Mag
Jun 4, 2011 at 11:34 AM
Comment #39Long is a good player with serious potential and a brilliant attitude. Unlike some of the foreign and english guys, this fellow has no “big attitude” , finishes well, is fast, technically good, and can play in more than one position. I’d pursue this, but still try to get Gervinho. We may still need a powerhouse up front, if we decide that Shola isnt good enough to be first choice….
roshan MAGPIE
Jun 4, 2011 at 11:35 AM
Comment #40i think we should sign gervinhio and long good pace and goal scoring ability