Supposed Newcastle prospect Blaise Matuidi says he is flattered by the interest he has been receiving from other clubs.
Blaise Matuidi – Newcastle are one of the big clubs
The St Etienne club say that Newcastle have not contacted them at all, about their 24 year-old defensive midfielder, but it seems that Newcastle are ready to push ahead and try to capture the Frenchman.
Matuidi is also attracting attention from PSG, Lyon and Roma, but it seems he would love to move to England, and says today that Newcastle are one of England’s big clubs:
“I am flattered by the interest from clubs abroad, and I have always loved the Premier League,”
“It is the best league in the world, so exciting, and I really want to be part of that one day, however St Etienne has its say about that.”
“Newcastle are one of the big clubs in England but, like I said, it is all rumors at the moment, but you never know.”
The St Etienne club have also released a statement, which is based on all the Newcastle rumors, and this is the statement:
“To date ASSE [St Etienne] has had no contact with the English club Newcastle.
“The club’s management will observe the utmost discretion in the transfer market, and confidentiality is one of those rules for success in this area,”
It’s good to know that Newcastle are still regarded, at least in France, as a big club, and we sometimes forget just how well Newcastle United are known around the world.
The release clause for Matuidi though seems huge, and is set at €15M, which is composed of €13M in cash with €2M in potential add-ons for suture performance.
€15M is around about £13.2 in today’s exchange rate of 0.8818.
There’s just no way Newcastle would pay that kind of money for Blaise, but they may be able to get a good deal done, which – to their credit – they’ve been quite good at over the last couple of years.
And of course money should be in ample supply at Newcastle this summer since the club got a reported £4.5M for Kevin Nolan, and have both Joey Barton and Leon Best currently on offer, at around £4M each.
And the French International would seem to be an excellent acquisition for Newcastle, and he also has good leadership abilities.
The Toulouse-born midfielder is of Angolan descent, and here’s a YouTube video of the player courtesy of reader Jimmy Waff.
Comments welcome.
89 comments so far
Jimmy Waff
Jun 17, 2011 at 12:09 PM
Comment #1I’m really starting to warm to the idea of us signing Blaise Matuidi … him and tiote in front of the back four would be immense, and allow our flair players to unlock the opposition. I think our poor attack last year brought more pressure on the defence and led to some disappointing goals conceded. Also check this out from Matuidi:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zc4sA5I892s
Special!!
Drona
Jun 17, 2011 at 12:10 PM
Comment #2whatever happened to ba deal getting confirmed within 24 hours? something gone wrong i guess, probably his knee blew up while giving a medical i think
BOOM BOOM THE 1ST
Jun 17, 2011 at 12:11 PM
Comment #3wont be signing him unless hes areplacement for tiote fact.
sephir0
Jun 17, 2011 at 12:11 PM
Comment #4naaaaaaaa decent player but id rather spend that kind of money on other areas of the team where we are weaker, i think midfield we are pretty well set.
Toonboy_83
Jun 17, 2011 at 12:13 PM
Comment #5BOOM BOOM THE 1ST // Jun 17, 2011 at 12:11 PM
Journal said yesterday he was a different type of player to Tiote,
sephir0
Jun 17, 2011 at 12:15 PM
Comment #6come to think of it though…. him and Mr T would be pretty immense in front of the back four, but 13.2m is a huge gamble as he’s not PL proven, havent we had enough gambles on players already? lol
BOOM BOOM THE 1ST
Jun 17, 2011 at 12:17 PM
Comment #7@ Toonboy_83 hes not really that different hes definitly a holding midfielder and we are not in a position to buy 15m players to sit on the bench 2 holding midfielders is not the way to go. just my opinion of course but i would be AMAZED if this were to happen while keeping tiote.
Jimmy Waff
Jun 17, 2011 at 12:17 PM
Comment #8I think the main formation for next season will be 4-2-3-1 so in this scenario then matuidi would be the perfect partner for Tiote just in front of the back four. If a deal could be struck for less than the release clause then i think he would be a good buy, and should help sure up our defensive capabilities.
Nick 69
Jun 17, 2011 at 12:19 PM
Comment #9how does signing him mean hes a replacement for Tiote? people keep banging on about how well of we are in midfield, but fact is, we’re not! they will be working to move barton and smith on, so we then have tiote, and cabaye, with an injury prone gosling, and guthrie, who is garbage!
and considering 90% of people on here wen putting there formations up for nxt season have a 4-2-3-1 set up, him and tiote would go perfectly as the 2 DM’s allowing cabaye, ben arfa etc to concentrate on attacking without worrying too much about defending
ash-out
Jun 17, 2011 at 12:19 PM
Comment #10If any one believes that we are gonna pay 13 mil for a midfielder, they must have sniffed an industrial sized sack of glue.
Howay man lads, get real.
Nathaaan
Jun 17, 2011 at 12:19 PM
Comment #11App skybet aren’t taking any more bets on Joey barton to join arsenal?
belfastmagpie87
Jun 17, 2011 at 12:20 PM
Comment #12just after hearing leon best is up for sale???? best or ameobi,i know who i would want to keep.
dave 1961
Jun 17, 2011 at 12:21 PM
Comment #13The current rate in the eu is 88.3p to the euro so fatty could save a few bob by his timing’s.
Nick 69
Jun 17, 2011 at 12:22 PM
Comment #14ash-out – well until the transfer window slams shut, neither you, me nor anybody else knows how much we’re gonna spend on anyone. granted past windows dont bode well, but you never know!! we did bid 12m for nzogbia and 10m for gameiro
tiotal football
Jun 17, 2011 at 12:22 PM
Comment #15This guy isn’t anything like Tiote. Isn’t he a deep lying playmaker? Which would be very different to tiote…
Then i’m guessing cabaye would be used as the connection in the middle between attack and defence as a box to box midfielder
BOOM BOOM THE 1ST
Jun 17, 2011 at 12:23 PM
Comment #16jimmy waff what about cabaye
Nick 69
Jun 17, 2011 at 12:25 PM
Comment #17Nathaaan – just checked, he’s went odds on to sign for them definitely, havent stopped takin bets yet, but evertone were odds on yesterday so must be something happening
toon95
Jun 17, 2011 at 12:25 PM
Comment #18“Sky Bet: We’ve seen money for Joey Barton to join Arsenal and have consequently cut his price to 1/2”
sephir0
Jun 17, 2011 at 12:26 PM
Comment #19here’s hoping Mr Carr is guna find another gem like he did with Tiiiiote, 3.5m…what a steal! and all this transfer talk about players that clubs are demanding stupid amounts of money for is just one big smokescreen while Mr Carr does what he does best! ever thee optimist, well…. what more could u expect from a Newcastle fan! lol 😀
gorgonzola
Jun 17, 2011 at 12:27 PM
Comment #20Barton to Arsenal and he will be in the starting 11 when?
BOOM BOOM THE 1ST
Jun 17, 2011 at 12:27 PM
Comment #21toon95 thats ludicrous
solano
Jun 17, 2011 at 12:28 PM
Comment #22toon95..would be interesting if JB goes to the Arse given that we are following their blueprint of player recruitment and age restrictions?
ilovetoon8788
Jun 17, 2011 at 12:29 PM
Comment #23Is something going on regarding Joey Barton? Apparently SkySports odds are now 1/2 for Barton to join Arsenal and are about to suspend betting soon.
Something is definitely going on between Arsenal and Joey Barton but i sincerely hope not!
Eastander
Jun 17, 2011 at 12:30 PM
Comment #24Barton plus 5m for ramsey anyone?
onepeterb
Jun 17, 2011 at 12:32 PM
Comment #25Apparently the bookies have slashed the odds of joey moving to the arsenal. Seems unlikely to me but there must have been some big money moved
Smooth moves Shola
Jun 17, 2011 at 12:32 PM
Comment #26Barton for Clichy?
grumpy_old_sod
Jun 17, 2011 at 12:34 PM
Comment #27Can’t see Barton going there, I don’t think wenger would take a trouble maker like Barton.
Shot Bru
Jun 17, 2011 at 12:34 PM
Comment #28Eastander i reckon you could be onto something there…Barton plus cash for one of Arsenal’s players, just hope it’s not Bendtner
sephir0
Jun 17, 2011 at 12:34 PM
Comment #29speaking of arsenal…. i do still take great pleasure watching this!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQYob9E0q-Y
only plastic surgery could wipe the smile of my face 😀
belfastmagpie87
Jun 17, 2011 at 12:35 PM
Comment #30any other new news today apart from ba????
ilovetoon8788
Jun 17, 2011 at 12:35 PM
Comment #31anyway i just can’t see us signing 15mil rated matuidi. no chance.
Toonarmy1993
Jun 17, 2011 at 12:35 PM
Comment #32why are we suddenly desperate to sell strikers? something were clearly short on. Best and shola should stay, sell loverboykrands and loan nile out, then sign 2 or 3 other strikers. Best has proven that he can score goals in the premier league, just needs to be given more of a chance of proving himself
toon95
Jun 17, 2011 at 12:35 PM
Comment #33smooth moves shola.. Id be happy with that.
Davies
Jun 17, 2011 at 12:36 PM
Comment #34Boom Boom @ comment 3 – What’s your source for that fella?
I assume it isn’t just your opinion, since you’ve put “fact” at the end of your sentence….
roshan MAGPIE
Jun 17, 2011 at 12:36 PM
Comment #35well i think him and Tiote will be a great partners both i guess will stop those leaking goals of ours especialy those deflected goals
NUFC_Richyg01
Jun 17, 2011 at 12:36 PM
Comment #36Must be something in it if the bookies have slashed the odds so much.
Im not too worried if Barton leaves, was only in the starting XI last season coz we had no right winger.
leeb1982
Jun 17, 2011 at 12:36 PM
Comment #37Could this be fabregas going because if arsenal think he is a replacement for him then wenger has defo lost the plot
BOOM BOOM THE 1ST
Jun 17, 2011 at 12:37 PM
Comment #38thats bullshit ive just been quoted 12 – 1 by paddy power over the phone so i wouldnt read too much into it.
P.I.
Jun 17, 2011 at 12:38 PM
Comment #39Perhaps we’ve been linked because it appears to be common knowledge that he has a release fee?
To be honest it’s a long shot, but maybe closer to the £10M mark we would be loking at doing a deal?
Im a bit frustrated at the lack of any Nzogbia rumours. But then again if it’s being done hush-hush and we announce the signing it would be a fantastic suprise.
leeb1982
Jun 17, 2011 at 12:39 PM
Comment #40And where the rumours that 3 players are at the marriott coming from