The latest defender Newcastle are said to be interested in is Ajax’ 6’3″ center-back Jan Vertonghen.
Jan Vertonghen – Newcastle interested?
Earlier this week there were reports in the Dutch press that Newcastle could be interested in the Belgium International.
Several Dutch sources have been reporting that Newcastle may attempt to buy the 24 year-old next month, or wait until the summer.
Newcastle must bring in a center-back next month, and that’s their number one priority in the January transfer market, and various names are being mentioned in the press.
Jan attracted attention last summer from other top English clubs like Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur, and his contract at Ajax runs out in only 18 months time.
The Belgium International is a left-footed player who usually plays at centre back, but he can also play anywhere on the left side, or in defensive midfield.
Vertonghen started his career with Belgium club Beerschot AC, before moving to Ajax in 2007, and he has played 195 times for the Dutch powerhouse, with a good 23 goals.
We should keep a close eye on this player, because the news is that he is being highly recommended by Newcastle Chief Scout Graham Carr.
And we all know that when Graham speaks these days, the powers that be at Newcastle listen – and listen very intently because of Graham’s excellent track record at Newcastle.
Comments welcome.
41 comments so far
alex84
Dec 21, 2011 at 9:44 AM
Comment #1Match night tonight whoooo!!! a win tonight puts us back on track!
Dannyo
Dec 21, 2011 at 9:46 AM
Comment #2I’ve heard and seen this lad. He brings a certain Philipe Albert to mind 🙂 Can be very attack minded, a no-nonsense player, strong and assertive.
Also belives he can fly according to that picture.
A good buy this one, but dunno if he’d be as cheap as we would want him to be.
toon-hendy
Dec 21, 2011 at 9:55 AM
Comment #3Does anyone have of know anyone that has a spare ticket/tickets for the Bolton game on Boxing Day? Any help lads?
dmac
Dec 21, 2011 at 9:55 AM
Comment #4I think he is more likely to join up with his belgian counterpart at Arsenal if i am honest.
Brutooon
Dec 21, 2011 at 10:00 AM
Comment #5Belgian players are good players. go sign him!
dutchy
Dec 21, 2011 at 10:01 AM
Comment #6Him and Vermaelen played together at Ajax too, so thats a good shout dmac.
I was watching the game on saturday and it struck me that there was almost no noise from our fans..whats going on lately? The lads needed encouragement from the stands but it stayed quiet.
Dannyo
Dec 21, 2011 at 10:17 AM
Comment #7Loven is out for 3 weeks, calf injury. Doubt he’d get playtime anyway, cant see him staying in January if given the oppertunity to leave.
dmac
Dec 21, 2011 at 10:34 AM
Comment #8Crowd did seem fairly quiet i remember thinking the same thing mate. Lets hope we really get behind the lads today.
jayphoto
Dec 21, 2011 at 11:02 AM
Comment #9Can’t see us shelling out for the belgian lad! Think Pardew has been watching Jose Fonte of southampton! looked a great player this year and would cost a 10th of what Vertonghen would cost!
alkinou
Dec 21, 2011 at 11:05 AM
Comment #10As a belgian i’ve probably got a biaised opinion but this lad is really good, hope it’s true and we get him but I really doubt it. He’ll be aiming higher for his next step probably and might be too expensive for our owners…
Dannyo
Dec 21, 2011 at 11:07 AM
Comment #11James Nursey @JamesNursey Close
@simonbirdmirror @MsiDouglas told Haris Vuckic set to start tonight & no room for Alan Smith even on bench despite midfield absences. #NUFC
ilovetoon8788
Dec 21, 2011 at 11:18 AM
Comment #12anything less than a 3 points today and its a disaster for us.
NuFc RoB
Dec 21, 2011 at 11:18 AM
Comment #13WHERE THE F***S MA NEWCASTLE VS WBA PREVIEW?!?!?!?!
FrankfurtMag
Dec 21, 2011 at 11:26 AM
Comment #14Don’t get too excited about this one guys. Sounds like the next Michael Owen to me.
He was quoted as saying he doesn’t want to come to Newcastle, but is prepared to “listen to any offer” we make.
I wouldn’t want a player with this mentality anyway. His attitude stinks.
Greedy greedy boy.
ge08dey
Dec 21, 2011 at 11:39 AM
Comment #15I would go along with any player Graham Carr recommends and not be lumbered with Pardews reported preferred signings Ridgewell or Collins.
jj
Dec 21, 2011 at 11:39 AM
Comment #16………………………………………KRUL……………………………………………
SIMPSON………..PERCH……………COLLO………….SANTON
……………………………………..TIOTE…………………………………………..
OBERTAN……………………VUCKIC………………………..JONAS
……………………………………..BENARFA……………………………….
…………………………BEST……………………BA………………………….
HARPS
WILLO
ABEID
SAMMI
SHOLA
FERGUSON
RAYLOR
Leave willo on the bench so perch can help out with pace at the back as long and odemwingie dont provide much threat in the air, lets go for all out attack and wrip them apart, leave tiote in front of the back four to provide cover.
PureGeordie
Dec 21, 2011 at 11:44 AM
Comment #17sneak in ben arfa for good measure, just to make sure we have a 1 man advantage 😉 lol
GeordieGerman
Dec 21, 2011 at 11:46 AM
Comment #18jj, do you think we’ll get away with that line up?
drongo
Dec 21, 2011 at 11:51 AM
Comment #19Id actually take a chance on Willo for this one – we need the 3 points.
My team:
————-Krul
Simmo—Willo—Colo—Santon
Raylor–Tiote—Vukic—Jonas
—————-HBA
—————-Ba
Darling27
Dec 21, 2011 at 11:53 AM
Comment #20Jan Vertonghen is a very good defender as is his current defensive/national team partner Toby Alderweireld.
Darling27
Dec 21, 2011 at 11:55 AM
Comment #21There are some very good young footballers coming out of Belgium at the moment.
Pardew_is_a_geordie
Dec 21, 2011 at 11:55 AM
Comment #22Gk-krul
Rb- simpson
Cb- williamson
Cb-colo
Lb- santon
Rm-obertan
Cm-vuckic
Cm- tiote
Lm-guti
Cam- ben arfa
St- ba
No best in the starting 11 for me dont think he contributed hardly anything on satutday
Dannyo
Dec 21, 2011 at 12:00 PM
Comment #23If Smith is not in the squad tonight, then i think that signals that Pardew is done with him, aswell as Kadar.
Pardew is making his mark, and he knows who’ll be able to contribute.
jayphoto
Dec 21, 2011 at 12:02 PM
Comment #24@21 yeah, there really is! Add those 2 you mentioned to Thibault Courtois (whos just signed for chelsea), Romelu Lukaku, Kevin De Bruyne and the Hazard brothers Eden and Thorgen, Steven Defour, Axel Witsel – all under 25 years old!
jj
Dec 21, 2011 at 12:02 PM
Comment #25lol yeah didnt even realise lol, but id like ot see benny in behind two strikers and why not tonight against an average defence with cabaye out and tiote in to cover
Shot Bru
Dec 21, 2011 at 12:12 PM
Comment #26@11…it would be good to see Vuckic finally get a chance
He’s been doing well in the reserves most times i’ve watched him…only thing i would say about him is that he seems a bit injury prone….if he can stay fit he might have a good chance to live up to his potential
Shot Bru
Dec 21, 2011 at 12:14 PM
Comment #27For what it’s worth i don’t think Pardew will start Vuckic and HBA in the team together….so i guess HBA might be on the bench again tonight
jayphoto
Dec 21, 2011 at 12:22 PM
Comment #28Think Vuckic looked ready in preseason, would have played more had he not been injured! Time for him to show us all what the hype was about!
toonincheek
Dec 21, 2011 at 12:22 PM
Comment #29Frankfurt – don’t be too dismissive.
He’s probably been misquoted, just to make it more of a story.
He has to show some loyalty to his club to enhance any fee by saying he is happy there, and that has been quoted as “he doesn’t want to come to Newcastle”.
nodramasuk
Dec 21, 2011 at 12:24 PM
Comment #30Just seen the west brom squad out for a jog on the quayside
tdt
Dec 21, 2011 at 12:24 PM
Comment #31This is the team I’d like to see tonight:
—————Krul————-
Simspon–Perch–Collo–Santon
Obertan–Tiote–Vuckic–Jonas
————–HBA————–
—————Ba—————-
Subs: Harper, Williamson, Abeid, Ferguson, R.Taylor, Sa.Ameobi, Best.
With Abeid and Sa.Ameobi coming on for Vuckic and Obertan respectively after 60-65 mins.
However I would also be please with:
————–Krul————-
Simspon-Williamson-Collo-Santon
Obertan–Tiote–Vuckic–Jonas
———–Best–Ba————
Subs: Harper, Perch, Abeid, Ferguson, R.Taylor, Sa.Ameobi, HBA.
With HBA, Sa.Ameobi and Abeid coming on for Best, Obertan and Vuckic respectively after 60-65 mins.
Mo Drysdale
Dec 21, 2011 at 12:25 PM
Comment #32Pick the bones out of this team lads:
I think Raylor is injured Drongo.
BenAfa roaming and changing with Vuckic.
———————————KRUL———————————-
SIMPSON———-WILLO——COLLO————-SANTON
——————————–TIOTE———————————–
——-OBERTAN——–BENARFA———-.JONAS———-
——————————-VUCKIC——————————–
———————————-BA————————————-
HARPS
BEST
PERCH
ABEID
SAMMI
SHOLA
FERGUSON
RAYLOR
toonincheek
Dec 21, 2011 at 12:25 PM
Comment #33If Smithy is not in the squad tonight (and I suspect he will be), to me, that would signal that AP expects to dominate the game and wants plenty of forward options, rather than a holding midfielder to protect a position.
Not necessarily that his days are done.
supatoonkid
Dec 21, 2011 at 12:35 PM
Comment #34This lad looks like the perfect signing for us can play CB, LB & CDM. Sign him up!
Ian Magpie
Dec 21, 2011 at 12:35 PM
Comment #35dutchy……….. As for atmosphere at out ground, sadly we are about 20 too late! Its gone, as simple as that and anyone who says different hasn’t got a clue! The only hope we have is if the safe standing campaign that has just got the go-ahead in Scotland works and is implemented here! Thats the only way we are going to see a real and proper football atmosphere at our ground. I praise the efforts of the lads in the Strawberry corner who give it a go but whats the point when you risk being ejected from the ground for daring to stand up???????????????????????? Its embarrassing these days and although we have much better facilities I really pity those fans who missed the Noise and passion of the Old covered Leazes or the Gallowgate corner and score board!!!! My dad would turn in his grave if he could see how crap the atmosphere is at St James Park and the English Prem these days. CRAP CRAP CRAP!!! Keep you fingers crossed that we get safe standing cos if we don’t prepare to be boreeeeeeeed!
Ian Magpie
Dec 21, 2011 at 12:39 PM
Comment #36@35…….and pay a salary for the pleasure!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
beddersmag
Dec 21, 2011 at 1:36 PM
Comment #37@22
Dont forget best has been missing for a while and one thing he did contribute was winning a lot if headers- something we struggle with badly. His form will return. On thr other hand you have put in hba as his vontrubution this season when played has been stellar….
BOOM BOOM THE 1ST
Dec 21, 2011 at 2:41 PM
Comment #38ª32 whos gona keep the ball in midfield too many ?marks about that side in my opinion its gona be 4 4 2 i believe it will be krul simmo perch (not again argh) collo santa claus obertoon tiote abeid guti strolla and ba. only my opinion
JAMSHA
Dec 21, 2011 at 2:55 PM
Comment #39Sign him plzzz . He’s im.my fifa 12 squad n football manager 🙂
max
Dec 21, 2011 at 4:18 PM
Comment #40just sign player. no more rumour