News in the Daily Express today that Mobido Maiga will be flying into Newcastle to have his medical today.
Mobido Maiga – having medical in Newcastle today
If you are believe the news in the press for the last month or so a deal has already been completed for the 24 year-old 6’2″ Mali striker, and terms have been agreed between his club Sochaux and Newcastle, and the fee is said to be around £7M.
The deal to bring the striker to Newcastle fell apart on the last day of the summer transfer window and left manager Alan Pardew far from happy.
But we think what has happened is that Derek LLambias and Mike Ashley then assured the Newcastle manager the will get this lad in very early in January, but of course he will be off to the African Cup of Nations in mid-January.
The news is that Maiga will fly in today for his medical on Tyneside, and once that has been completed they will do the deal, and it will become valid on January 1st.
There’s nothing like getting a jump on the transfer window, and Maiga will sign a four and a half year deal at the Newcastle club.
Maiga has scored 6 goals and two assists in 10 appearances for Sochaux this season, and will add something different to Newcastle’s strike force.
And it will leave the door open for Peter Lovenkrands to leave when his contract runs out in the summer and he becomes a free agent.
Maiga signed for Sochaux in 2010 from Le Mans, and he has scored 21 goals in a total of 44 appearances for the French side, and while at Le Mans he struck up an excellent partnership with Gervinho, who is now at Arsenal.
He played 88 times for Le Mans and scored 15 goals there, and it was at Le Mans, whom he joined in 2007 from Casablanca-based Raja Club Athletic, that he became a top prospect in French football.
Last summer he went on strike as he made is clear that a big club like Newcastle going after him was a chance in a lifetime, but he finally went back to Sochaux and agreed to stay.
This lad is desperate to come to the Magpies, and in that sense he is another player who wants to be here, but the news is also that Newcastle have also tripled his wages.
On November 21st Maiga was asked if the deal would be sealed at Newcastle, and he had this to say to Footafrica365:
“I do not know, we’ll see.” “What is clear is that all players dream of playing for a club like that, and I hope it will happen, either this winter or in the summer.”
“There are no more problems with Sochaux, everything is back to normal.”
Maiga has played 27 times for Mali with 4 goals, and is yet another player who has been watched for a while by Chief Scout Graham Carr, who is a very important cog in the Newcastle wheel these days.
We hope Newcastle will continue to strengthen their squad in January with new defensive recruits, and also keep their top players – like Cheick Tiote – as just one example.
Comments welcome.
Update: The Journal is validating this news today, but says he will be having his medical in London, and not in Newcastle, as reported in the Daily Express.
34 comments so far
Jail for Ashley
Dec 13, 2011 at 7:58 AM
Comment #1Death by a thousand cuts is too good for Ashley
Klatoon
Dec 13, 2011 at 7:58 AM
Comment #2Skeptical until i see pics of him in Toon
roshan MAGPIE
Dec 13, 2011 at 7:58 AM
Comment #3this IS happening way to quickly if we belive in press IS this guy that great
Toon! Toon!
Dec 13, 2011 at 8:01 AM
Comment #4Shrewd transfer movements by the board.
Of course we are still a striker down from last January’s sale of Judas so Lovenkrands would need replaced in the summer also (great having a couple of good strikers, but what happens when they get injured etc)
Now for a centre back and left back (Santons gonna be on the right?)
All the best
Toon! Toon!
Dannyo
Dec 13, 2011 at 8:11 AM
Comment #5I know there’s sceptisism towards this player, but to try to sign him for an entire window, then wheely dealy when the window is out, just to have him read for 1st of January…
This player must be more than decent.
Easily other options we could’ve turned to here tbh.
I feel a bit excited, will look forward to watch him play.
Dannyo
Dec 13, 2011 at 8:12 AM
Comment #6@roshan
What do u mean is happening too quickly? We’ve been after this lads for the 5 months.
Jail for Ashley
Dec 13, 2011 at 8:16 AM
Comment #7Toon
I’d add a right winger onto that xmas list as well,somebody to keep Obertan on his toes,unless young Sammi is ready to step up to the plate on a regular basis,I dont think we’ll see much of Marveaux in his time here.
Jail for Ashley
Dec 13, 2011 at 8:22 AM
Comment #8Dannyo
Should try to get these African lads contracts to skip every other ACN,I dont know why it has to be every two years anyway.
Dannyo
Dec 13, 2011 at 8:27 AM
Comment #9@Jail
Lol, i think we should be happy it’s not the French thats gone 😛
Obviously it’s not often that the african play for their country, or so it seems, so i’d think u’d have a hard time convincing them to say no.
But, Maiga plays for Mali, he won’t be there nearly as long as Tiote…
Jail for Ashley
Dec 13, 2011 at 8:37 AM
Comment #10I suppose Best and Shola will have to do the job in January,I’m more concerned about the defence though it would be great if Collo signed a new deal it might even put to bed these stories of Tiote being sold knowing that your captain had commuted long term.
Jail for Ashley
Dec 13, 2011 at 8:38 AM
Comment #11Commited
Solaidback
Dec 13, 2011 at 8:54 AM
Comment #12Sorry but this guy doesn’t sound that prolific a striker & thats in a weaker league than the PL… he sounds more like another No10 to me, for which we already have HBA, Cabaye, Vickuc, Gutherie & possible BA too…. what we really need is an out & out striker, someone like Sturridge, Adebayor, Drogba etc… and before you say they’re way too expensive, I said someone like them, not those players particularly.. lol
We already have decent players like Ba, Cabaye & HBA who can score goals & play that backup striker role but we only have Bestie who can hold the ball up, bring in the MF & other players… we need another Shearer ffs….
Another thing, both Ba & Mobido will be off to the ACoN mid Jan, so that leaves Best, Strola & Loverman as out goalscorers, isn’t anyone else worried we won’t score many!!
markmac
Dec 13, 2011 at 8:57 AM
Comment #13i bet big al’s still got it! how old is he now bout 40/41?? give him a call…. lol
stuart no9
Dec 13, 2011 at 9:10 AM
Comment #14i would look at this as being good news except for the fact that ash is not going to spend money on a player, without getting double back from somewhere ( business run remember) so is that bye bye to tiote for £25m . this deal smells, Ashley and recruiting players early, just dont go together, unless he has a very good reason for doing it. My thinking is… get him in the bag now for a few mill, tiote to chelsea £25 m jobs a gooding, or am i talking shite ?……. feel free
keeganjr
Dec 13, 2011 at 9:22 AM
Comment #15this is going too happend.. the medical is in London today, and he’s ready too go first game in january against manu(4jan). and then we send him too africa, too play 3 shit games and he will be back 1feb.. that means we have too buy more people
boywonder
Dec 13, 2011 at 9:39 AM
Comment #16Not too bang on about the Carroll sale (which has turned out to be the best sale since Johnathan Woodgate), however, when he was sold Llambias pointed out that the infamous £35 was in part spent on giving Tiote a bumper new contract. So to sell him a year later is frustrating foe the fans. You can’t improve the squad and their position by taking every good offer for your best players. £35M for Carroll was ridiculous, £20M for Tiote is his market value. Unless the offer rockets, I hope Tiote stays in Toon.
wynsleap
Dec 13, 2011 at 10:00 AM
Comment #17Stuart No. 9 – of course you are right about Ashley.
I think we all (apart from the Controller groupies) know exactly how he works.
There isn’t a cat in Hell’s chance of spending around £7 mill. without a greater offset somewhere.
I don’t think we’re ever going to “build” a great team – we’re just going to move the pieces around each season
to put more and more surplus cash into Ashley’s pocket.
toonswan14
Dec 13, 2011 at 10:29 AM
Comment #18As a man of Nigerian origin i find comments about the ACN highly ignorant and arrogant. Firstly the ACN has been played since 1957 three years longer than the Euros. If someone said to Taylor not to play in the Euros do you think he would say yes? also it is every two years in order to gain the revenues so badly needed in that part of the world and the January months are the best time to hold them weather wise. So stop the ignorance.
stuart no9
Dec 13, 2011 at 10:38 AM
Comment #19wynsleap , exactly……. if we are ambitious , and looking to build a team for the future, then how can we do that , when everytime a player is wanted by a top team( ambitious team) he is gone. ash and pards have stated that every player has his price. you cannot then build a team that is going to fight rhe top 4 for a place in europe, it is impossible, it cant be done,if anyone on this site knows how to do it , id love to know. we are not ambitous , we are going to win F,,k all, no chance of europe, unless some one has a master plan , whereby you win leagues and cups by selling your top men, and recruiting cheap imports, but selling them when they improve. cmon lads , einstein would scratch his head at that one
Howden Mag
Dec 13, 2011 at 11:10 AM
Comment #20The problem with having an improving team is that the players will be looked at by other,bigger,clubs,it is natural. Players who are getting older, not getting a game or troublesome will be passed on to lower clubs. It is football. Unless like Man C, clubs should hope to steadily improve depending on finance and good management. I believe we are improving and have a decent financial structure. With improvement the quality of player recruitment and hopefully retention will rise along with greater expenditure and expectation. I believe it might be called a five year process? Sound familiar, or forgotten.
stuart no9
Dec 13, 2011 at 11:47 AM
Comment #21howden mag , this 5 year plan is becoming a bit of drawn out process, would it be fair to say ?( and i am not being critical of your thoughts) that in the next 5 years , at least, forget all hopes of attempting to assemble a side that will push for honors due to the time scale needed to stabilize our club finances , then probably another few years down the line to gel a side to go for the title.
valle
Dec 13, 2011 at 11:50 AM
Comment #22How come, every fecking post ends up with the angry kids whining about Ashley? Stop being so obsessed with the owner, its not healthy for you.
Focus on the positives, this is another possitive of how the club have improved! in recent years. The fact that we are doing our homework and getting deals done in the beginning of the window… Sure we also have the endings of the windows where we all hope for 1 more signing to come through and all the big kids gets disapointed if they dont get that last toy they wanted. We have had a VERY good transfer window in the summer though, with a few contenders for signing of the season comming to our very club and by the looks of it, we look set to continue that trend.
valle
Dec 13, 2011 at 11:51 AM
Comment #23How come, every freakin post ends up with the angry kids whining about Ashley? Stop being so obsessed with the owner, its not healthy for you.
Focus on the positives, this is another possitive of how the club have improved! in recent years. The fact that we are doing our homework and getting deals done in the beginning of the window… Sure we also have the endings of the windows where we all hope for 1 more signing to come through and all the big kids gets disapointed if they dont get that last toy they wanted. We have had a VERY good transfer window in the summer though, with a few contenders for signing of the season comming to our very club and by the looks of it, we look set to continue that trend.
stuart no9
Dec 13, 2011 at 12:11 PM
Comment #24valle . ok mate , i am sure that you can tell me and the rest of the confused, how we are goung to get a team together to fight the top 4 for a place in europe, or a realistic chance of the title……..go ahead.
Howden Mag
Dec 13, 2011 at 12:17 PM
Comment #25Stuart no 9.
Yes a 5 year plan is a drawn out process, I agree, we would all like it to be now. IMO we are probably at year 4 at the moment. However, the greater step is to compete with the Big four or five. That is going to be very difficult, they have the upper hand in attracting top names, European competition and seriously greater income. If you were a good player would you rather compete for the title or 6th position, champions league or league cup even on competitive ludicrous wages. Buy potential, develop and hopefully retain is our only way of catching up with the top. The higher we are the more attractive we become to good players. Forget the fantastic support, money and medals is what players desire. No matter what they preach or badge they kiss.
Sav
Dec 13, 2011 at 12:27 PM
Comment #26This bloke sound like he goes on strike more than he’s a striker.
Time will tell.
Sav
Dec 13, 2011 at 12:30 PM
Comment #27Storey is that Tiote is off seeing a witch doctor to get his mojo working on his knee. Is this a euphemism for getting his Chelski medical?
keeganjr
Dec 13, 2011 at 12:44 PM
Comment #28it have nothing to do with ignorance.. i have the respect for them who chose to play for they countries. it’s just a bad time to have it. its the most important time of the season. i whatch it, and it is a lot of shit games. have nothing to do with africa or the cup..
stuart no9
Dec 13, 2011 at 12:51 PM
Comment #29howden mag you hit the nail bang on the head , ” to develop and retain” is imo the only way to do it IF you havnt got the money the other clubs have however “retaining” is something our owner is not prepared to do if any of them attract interest from a top club ash will sell at the drop of a hat, so back to square 1, find another talent buy cheap sell off at a profit.It is never endingwe have to keep our top stars , but we wont
wynsleap
Dec 13, 2011 at 2:37 PM
Comment #30Valle – I’m sure any kid will be happy “getting the last toy they wanted” but I’m equally sure they also wouldn’t be too happy if it meant that their current favourite toy (or toys) were being taken away to get it.
It would mean that:
a) they never build a decent toy collection and
b) they may get so attached to their current “last toy” that they’ll resent a new one coming in.
Sounds familiar.
And if you think that by disagreeing with that ongoing scenario it makes us kids angry whiners – well, tough.
Munster Mag
Dec 13, 2011 at 2:40 PM
Comment #31Stuart, completely agree. There has to come a point where we say “not for sale” . I’ll be Chelsea would love Colo ahead of Luiz …..so why not them have botgh. At that rate we’re just a feeder club to all intents and purposes. Pards will be pulling his hair out if Tiote goes – how do we build a platform , and continuity on that basis.
Hoovernose
Dec 13, 2011 at 3:23 PM
Comment #32I think Carr is bob on with this guy. Big, powerful, quick and with an eye for goal. Very much what you would get if Demba and Jonas had a baby together. He will fit right in on our already very offensive style (when we are going forward). Can’t see the likes of Ashley Cole pushing him off the ball that easy. A couple of big African defenders would do while they are at it. Sweet one, some good news!
YankeeToon
Dec 13, 2011 at 6:32 PM
Comment #33Is it me or does it seem that some of our recent signings indicate that Pardew would 2-3 years down they line prefer a 4-3-3 or 4-3-2-1 set up. With Arfa, Maiga, Marveaux and being linked with other winger types with a record for scoring goals. Looking something like this with current squad:
Simmo/Raylor Colo Saylor Santon
Cabaye Tiote Gutti
Arfa/Marv Maiga/Marvueax
BA
I think this really sets up nicely because our current midfielders show a real commitment to defense but have class to move foward, and with the pace of the two fowards causing problems leaving BA with only one defender to mark would leave a lethal couter attack. Seriously with what BA has showed so far, if only one guy defending he could put up monstorous goal totals.
brklyngeordie
Dec 13, 2011 at 9:52 PM
Comment #34First and foremost any signing is a plus in this regime, is it not? So please beggars cant be choosers and im not saying that i am either but many on the boards are and all they do is think of transfers and if they complete them in FIFA games that it should be so simple when in reality they are not. So if we do get Maiga ill be happy with the addition and reserve my judgment on him once i see him play in the black and white as should everyone else. For those who fear Tiote departure i feel you i absolutely love the lad and by no means think he is perfect but hell i’d love to see him get close to it in the black and white. So again im AGAINST Tiote being sold but if Chelski do approach us i think the lads we should ask for are not sturridge only cause i dont think they will depart with him but either Kakuta who was tipped for stardom or Mcheachern excuse the spelling if wrong a or both plus cash or even 1 plus Malouda and cash obviously not much cash but some if we do the Malouda plus 1 but if we do the 2 young guns plus significant cash. What do you think of that?