With the news in the local papers we had thought it was almost a cast iron certainty that the striker that would be coming in early January would be Mobido Maiga of Sochaux.
Olivier Giroud – Newcastle are a big club – so who knows?
Newcastle were close to signing the 24 year-old on the last day of the transfer window last August but it fell through, as did an attempt to bring center-back Liam Ridgewell of Birmingham to the club.
But one player Newcastle have been continually linked with over the last couple of months is top striker Olivier Giroud of Montpellier.
Certainly it’s true that Newcastle scouts have been watching the Montpellier games this season, and the club is top of the French League with 36 points from 16 games and 3 points above new moneybags club, PSG.
Another player that Newcastle have been linked with at Montpellier is 22 year-old Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa who can play center-back or full back and with Steven Taylor out for the rest of the season, the 22 year-old would appear to be a decent buy in January for around £5M.
It’s a fair bet that Chief Scout Graham Carr has seen a decent player or two at Montpellier, and he is tracking them closely, but exactly who they are is still not crystal clear.
The 25-year-old Giroud has had a terrific season scoring 12 goals in 14 appearances, including one on Saturday in Montpelier’s 4-0 defeat of Lorient.
Olivier signed for Montpellier in January of last year and has scored 24 goals in 52 appearances since that time, and the 6’4″ striker certainly looks a decent player.
He has talked about being happy at the French club, although he has admitted today that Newcastle are a big club:
“I am very happy with the start of the season. I am in good form, in good physical condition so I am lucky at the moment and enjoying my football.”
“It is normal to be linked with clubs when you are scoring goals.” “I like the English Premier League. Newcastle are a big club, so who knows?”
“But at the moment I am thinking about Montpellier and putting them on the European map at the end of the season.”
One thing is almost certain, and that’s Newcastle will bring in another striker in January, and they could also bring in two defenders, who could be Erik Pieters of PSV and Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa of Montpellier.
Both defenders can play at both center-back or full-back, and those seem to be the type of defenders Newcastle need at the moment.
Those two players plus either Maiga or Giroud would be excellent transfer business for Newcastle in January, and hopefully that could happen early next month too.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
91 comments so far
alec6247toon
Dec 5, 2011 at 6:02 PM
Comment #1Would be great news to get those 4, but if I had to choose, would have to be Giroud over Maiga personally. Yanga-Mbiwa would be a fantastic signing, but we desperately need CBs now.
Ollieh51
Dec 5, 2011 at 6:15 PM
Comment #2Agree on Giroud over Maiga – Seems to have a better attitude and would not leave us for the ACN.
Also, the versatile defenders are always a massive bonus to a team and squad. Bassong (when he played for us and was good!) being the perfect example of this Pieters/Yanga-Mbiwa type.
Ben_W
Dec 5, 2011 at 6:17 PM
Comment #3This is random but i never knew Graham Carr was Alan Carr’s dad! Giroud would be a great signing!
LeedsMag
Dec 5, 2011 at 6:20 PM
Comment #4All well and good,but how many times do we have to suffer the speculation and promise of quality signings only for the reality to be rather different come deadline day. There’s just as much risk of losing key players eg Tiote – which is likely to be the only way an incoming deal would be financed.
Sorry lads, I’m from the believe it when I see it school
NUFC STEVE
Dec 5, 2011 at 6:21 PM
Comment #5If pardew thinks WILLIAMSON is the answer Were F!!!!It’s a risk but SANTON or KADAR have to be tried sometime and at 26 points were not under that much pressure?????
Ollieh51
Dec 5, 2011 at 6:28 PM
Comment #6@ LeedsMag – Who was released for us to get Ben Arfa?
It has happened previously and can happen.
The sale does not necessarily initiate the purchase. The only players that have left us have done so under a cloud.
Keep the faith!
Lynxie
Dec 5, 2011 at 6:32 PM
Comment #7Personally, Gary Cahill will do nicely for me. English (no ACN loss), young (with good sell on profit for fatty), Knows exactly what the Premier League is all about (Bonus), and strong. Out of contract next summer, so a cut price deal looks likely (another positive knowing how tight our purse strings are being kept)
Ollieh51
Dec 5, 2011 at 6:40 PM
Comment #8@ Lynxie – He’d still cost a fair bit more than the others we’ve been linked with and will want some serious wedge?
Also, he hasn’t exactly set the world on fire this season and isn’t he a bit too big a profile player to play a bit part as I’d personally prefer Saylor over him alongside Colo?
davybtoon
Dec 5, 2011 at 6:41 PM
Comment #9Gary Cahill will cost 15million don’t think that will happen I’d personally go for samba he’s a beast
colwell
Dec 5, 2011 at 6:48 PM
Comment #10Gary Cahill is the most overated CB in the prem!
TheHeyman
Dec 5, 2011 at 6:51 PM
Comment #11We take our time with scouting so this could be a potential signing in the Summer.
davis_toons
Dec 5, 2011 at 7:08 PM
Comment #12Willing to trade our utility player Rtylor for Everton Leighton Baines plus cash.
Nagatomo – Lb/Inter
Jordan Lukaku (LB/W)
Emmanuel Mbola
Carl Jenkinson ? On Loan (Arsenal)
Cheik M’bengue
Emiliano Insua- (LB) not a bad player actually
(Pool / Average Player, 4million + Rtylor part of the exchange to Pool)
Oscar Wendt – Copenhagen (L/RB)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nT4eaYnwmwE&1&fmt=18
Left and Right Back
César Azpilicueta of Osasuna (RB)
(contracted to Osasuna until 2012. He has a £14m buy-out clause written into his deal.)
http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/opinion/blogs/football-spy/Who-the-hell-is-C-sar-Azpilicueta-10-things-you-need-to-know-about-the-Manchester-City-transfer-target-article208775.html
http://www.imscouting.com/players/cesar-azpilicueta/
http://www.imscouting.com/global-news-article/Arsenal-enquire-about-Osasuna-full-back-Azpilicueta/8367/
Gregory van der Wiel (RB)
Kid in the making (Self promo video)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rRBE5WK7qc&1&fmt=18
Dannyo
Dec 5, 2011 at 7:10 PM
Comment #13When does Gary Cahills contract run out?
davis_toons
Dec 5, 2011 at 7:14 PM
Comment #14Willing to trade our utility player Rtylor for Everton Leighton Baines plus cash.
Left and Right Back
Nagatomo – Lb/Inter
Jordan Lukaku (LB/W)
Emmanuel Mbola
Carl Jenkinson ? On Loan (Arsenal)
Cheik M’bengue
Emiliano Insua- (LB) not a bad player actually
(Pool / Average Player, 4million + Rtylor part of the exchange to Pool) Or 10 million for Rtylor (can be paid by installment)
Gregory van der Wiel (RB)
Oscar Wendt – Copenhagen (L/RB)
César Azpilicueta of Osasuna (RB)
(contracted to Osasuna until 2012. He has a £14m buy-out clause written into his deal.)
Arsenal&Manchester-City-transfer-target
http://www.imscouting.com/players/cesar-azpilicueta/
davis_toons
Dec 5, 2011 at 7:16 PM
Comment #15http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/premier-league/2011/11/23/2771191/bolton-defender-gary-cahill-remains-coy-on-future-with
NO Chance at all
davis_toons
Dec 5, 2011 at 7:17 PM
Comment #16With his current deal at the Reebok Stadium finishing at the end of the campaign, the 25-year-old has refused to comment
davis_toons
Dec 5, 2011 at 7:20 PM
Comment #17With the way he reply, he will leave Reebok Stadium. Hofpfully ended up in Newcastle but our wages structure is too low to attacted locals
obamagic
Dec 5, 2011 at 7:25 PM
Comment #18Nedum Onuoha and Liam Ridgewell would be nice.
I’d rather have Giroud over Maiga. No ANC!
davis_toons
Dec 5, 2011 at 7:32 PM
Comment #19Mamadou Sakho, very strong CD. (Samba lookalike)
Jan Vertonghen – (Left footed CD/ Very strong as well)
Geordie-Jake
Dec 5, 2011 at 7:35 PM
Comment #20i’d take nagatomo and van der wiel
GeordieGerman
Dec 5, 2011 at 7:39 PM
Comment #21davis_toons, when you say “locals.” You mean English born and not Newcastle? Because Cahill is Sheffield.
pardew no 1
Dec 5, 2011 at 7:41 PM
Comment #22this is the kid we need good head good foot and not shy to try a wonder goal sign him up
seantoon
Dec 5, 2011 at 7:41 PM
Comment #23Sakho doesn’t he play for PSG? They sound very expensive to me them two Davistoon
toonarmy1986
Dec 5, 2011 at 7:42 PM
Comment #24Cahill will not go to Newcastle, far to much competition for his signature for any deal to ever happen. I would take a punt on Alex from Chelsea if the money is right plus we need a little bit of experience encase Colo was to get injured long term.
Mings
Dec 5, 2011 at 7:47 PM
Comment #25Since carr is watching montpellier alot, are we interrested in Younes Belhanda also?
GeordieGerman
Dec 5, 2011 at 7:48 PM
Comment #26toonarmy1986, (In whisper) Shhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Don’t mention experience. Ashley will bring Campbell back.
seantoon
Dec 5, 2011 at 7:49 PM
Comment #27I think we should go for samba. Hopefully if we declared interest he will then hand in a transfer request and we will get him cheap. I wonder how much we could get jagielka for, everton are skint
dmac
Dec 5, 2011 at 7:53 PM
Comment #28Alex from chelsea would be a very good signing! He is solid in defence and can hit a mean shot.
Ben_W
Dec 5, 2011 at 8:00 PM
Comment #29Jagielka would be a very good shout. Could probably get him for a fiver and a bag of chips with Everton’s financial state!
dawid182
Dec 5, 2011 at 8:00 PM
Comment #30Ridgewell would be great, but he is fragile too, and he’s injured now. so we’re not cralwing out of the hole with him….
GeordieoftheSouth
Dec 5, 2011 at 8:14 PM
Comment #31We have no chance getting the likes of Samba, Cahill, Alex, Jagielka…if they leave they will wind up at the Champs league teams or Liverpool. I’d personally take Bassong back, was immense for us and has played with Collocini before. I think the Maiga is already a done deal so believe this story will not materlise. Anyone else we can get will be a bonus, hoping Fashley might spend a bit more now Taylor is out and how well we are doing…but we will see!
Thump
Dec 5, 2011 at 8:23 PM
Comment #32Wouldn’t mind Bassong like but wouldn’t pay the price ‘Arry will slap on him
seantoon
Dec 5, 2011 at 8:38 PM
Comment #33Squillaci from arsenal could do a job
GeordieToon89
Dec 5, 2011 at 8:47 PM
Comment #34a would rather have Pieters than Ridgewell both same type player left back who can play centre back
GeordieToon89
Dec 5, 2011 at 8:48 PM
Comment #35well other way round for Ridgewell hes a CB who can play LB
Jail for Ashley
Dec 5, 2011 at 8:51 PM
Comment #36If they hadnt messed about with the Pieters deal he could have switched from left back over to centre back and we would have Perch in for just a few games,if not having cover costs you five or six points that could easily be two or three places at the end of the season more than enough place money to cover a greedy agents fees,nobody likes getting ripped off but considering we probably got 30 million more than Andy C was worth I think we could have stomached it.
jordijohnty
Dec 5, 2011 at 8:52 PM
Comment #37does anyone know why ridgwell hasnt been playing for birmingham?
simsanator
Dec 5, 2011 at 8:53 PM
Comment #38ALEX TRANSFER LISTED BY CHELSKI. DROPPED FROM FIRST TEAM SQUAD. SURELY WERE GOING TO ENQUIRE.?
davybtoon
Dec 5, 2011 at 8:54 PM
Comment #39jail for ashly those greedy agents is the reason petiers didnt happen i think
Oleg G
Dec 5, 2011 at 8:56 PM
Comment #40I think Pardew thinks now that he needs 3 players – LB, CB and ST. (If no one is leaving).
Midfield is sorted for this season, GK is great.
Simmo will do so, Help in the back, and one in front.