Newcastle will be signing a center-back this summer.
Adrian Mariappa – Newcastle unlikely to go after him this summer
Newcastle failed to bring in a stop-gap center-back in January, when they couldn’t agree a price for Watford’s Adrian Mariappa.
But they are unlikely to go back for Adrian in the summer, and the four center-backs we have been linked with are Douglas of FC Twente, James Tomkins of West Ham, Yanga-Mbiwa, the captain of Montpellier and Jan Vertonghen of Ajax.
Douglas Franco Teixeira – known as Douglas – turned 24 last month and stands 6’4″ tall and the Brazilian joined FC Twente in 2007 from Brazilian club Joinville Esporte Clube.
Douglas is a commanding center-back and very good in the air and is no nonsense defender, and has played around 115 time for FC Twente with 9 goals.
He is considered one of the best defenders in the Eredivisie and maybe could be brought to Newcastle for around £5M?
James Tomkins stands 6’3″ tall and he turns 23 next month, and he’s played 102 times for West Ham with two goals.
He made his debut back in March of 2008, but James could be expensive, with West Ham said to want around £8M for him.
James has played for all the English Youth teams including 10 times for the England U21 side.
Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa is the captain of French club Montpelier, who are second and just one point behind leaders PSG in the French League, and he can play anywhere along the back-line.
He was born in Bangui, Central African Republic but moved to France when he was very young and joined Montpellier back in 2006.
Yanga-Mbiwa has already played 175 times with four goals for Montpellier, and he has also played 8 times for the French U21 side.
Mapou stands 6′ tall and is valued at around £5M.
Jan Vertonghen has played for Belgium 35 times and he stands 6’3″ tall.
There are a number of clubs after this player, and he could be expensive with Ajax said to want up to £10M for him.
He has played for Dutch club Ajax 201 times with 23 goals after joining the Ajax Academy back in 2003.
120 comments so far
tomtoon7
Feb 14, 2012 at 7:15 PM
Comment #1got 2b the belgium 4me
dikko750
Feb 14, 2012 at 7:16 PM
Comment #2No sign of Erik Pieters?
Dannyo
Feb 14, 2012 at 7:17 PM
Comment #3Mbiwa for me.
Young, quick, unafraid.
gaz 44
Feb 14, 2012 at 7:18 PM
Comment #4Belgium lads by far the most experienced and most likely to adapt to prem the quickest imo.. this is why o think we should go for him.. however can see arsenal manure n a few other of the top teams will b in after him
tomtoon7
Feb 14, 2012 at 7:20 PM
Comment #5as well as pieters 4left back,young ferguson is a bit lightweight 4 the prem.league.HBA startin on the wing wub b a huge boost,as e is class!!Tempremental & lazy at back trackin but his skill alone should merit more starts 4the lad.HWTL
StuW
Feb 14, 2012 at 7:21 PM
Comment #6I would go with Mbiwa. Verthongen will have bigger clubs than us after him, and he would cost a fair bit.
nick_9
Feb 14, 2012 at 7:35 PM
Comment #7Has to be Douglas for me. I thought he was out of contract next summer so I checked and it turns out he is:
http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/newcastle-united/nufc-news/2011/12/19/fc-twente-s-douglas-franco-teixeira-is-nufc-target-72703-29976399/
Surely it has to be him then? One thing we look for in a signing is value. Douglas is the right age, free, tall and has played with Tiote before. I think if we can get a composed full back such as pieters or cisohko then we will be much better off. Also we could do with some cover at fullback as well as centerback. The only legitimate cover we have at full back is tavernier who is out on loan. We need cover at lb because Ryan Taylor is slow and easily gets outplaced. If we actually get 2 players for each position then we will be much better off.
Van anholt
Clyne
Cisohko/peiters
And Douglas for me.
Probably cost us in the region of 7-8 million for all of the above because two are free agents.
TinoToon
Feb 14, 2012 at 7:37 PM
Comment #8Hi lads, I just read the post about Mark Davies from Bolton, and i instantly remembered about Chris Eagles, what do you thing about him?. Myself rate this player above Davies, seem like a future promise.
Lew Davies
Feb 14, 2012 at 7:48 PM
Comment #9It all depends where we finish this season.
If we somehow manage a europa place, then we can and probably will spend more, so Vertongen might be within our cross hairs.
If not, I can see it being Tomkins or marriappa.
magpiebop
Feb 14, 2012 at 7:49 PM
Comment #10Vertonghen and Douglas will sign at seasons end. Collocini could be away then also.
wingspan
Feb 14, 2012 at 7:53 PM
Comment #11ED SORRY FOR THE CAPITALS BUT IVE BEEN TRYING TO CATCH YOUR ATTENTION WITH THIS FOR A FEW POSTS. TOMKINS RECENTLY SIGNED A NEW DEAL THERES NO WAY WE WILL BE IN FOR HIM IN THE SUMMER.
Darling27
Feb 14, 2012 at 7:55 PM
Comment #12Spot on nick_9. Douglas for me as he’s on a free transfer.
We’ll then still have funds for other targets.
Another left back is a must!!!
JDdubai
Feb 14, 2012 at 7:59 PM
Comment #13Wingspan, didnt Andy Carroll sign a 5 year deal months before buggering off??? It means nowt man, wake up.
Scottishtoon95
Feb 14, 2012 at 8:03 PM
Comment #14douglas would be the most economical being a free transfer in the summer but would prefer and love the man with the impossible to spell name (for me anyway) from belgium, anyone reckon alberto has some influence there.
SwedishMagpie
Feb 14, 2012 at 8:09 PM
Comment #15mbiwa
WWJBD
Feb 14, 2012 at 8:10 PM
Comment #16Douglas and Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa for me though Id prefer Vertonghen I think he will be a Spurs/Arsenal/Utd/City/Chelsea player tbh out of our price range
But Douglas and Mbiwa for a total cost of 7-8 million would be top draw business though I could see that spelling a end for one of my current heroes 🙁
Add Pieters/Clyne to that in box and for me we have a back four with ample options, cover and competition
kilcline
Feb 14, 2012 at 8:30 PM
Comment #17Vuckic just scored for Cardiff, could be a great loan move for the lad.
JackButler
Feb 14, 2012 at 8:31 PM
Comment #18Douglas and M’Biwa for me, one on a free transfer the other for around 5/6mil
darrenfletcher88
Feb 14, 2012 at 8:33 PM
Comment #19Mbiwa,cissioko,hollett,zaha,them four wud take us to the next level, next year abied,fergusion and sammy will break through aswell,what a squad,Krul and harps,colo,s.Taylor,Mbiwa,cissioko,santon,Simpson,willimson,r.Taylor,tiote,cabaye,jonas,Guthrie,hollett,all the young lads!!ba and cisse being pushed by best and zaha,not bad at all!!!!
mattyNUFC
Feb 14, 2012 at 8:34 PM
Comment #20anybody watching Barca v Bayer?
anybody else notice how many times Messi’s lost the ball?
anybody notice that one moment of brilliance for the assisst to Alexis Sanchez?
Not trying to rub people’s noses in the HBA issue again, but contribution far exceeds an ability to maintain the ball, because with or without HBA, we have a hard time maintaining it to begin with. It’s the spark Messi provides in the Barca squad that HBA could very well provide in ours if given the chance
anyway, in reguards to this post, dunno about douglas. people seemed to have made up their minds on him, though i’ve never seen him play and i’d venture to say most others haven’t either. Please no Tomkins….anybody but him. I’d gladly take Mariappa ahead of him. Ideally, of course, Mbiwa…..
JackButler
Feb 14, 2012 at 8:35 PM
Comment #21Would love us to look at bringing Matty Phillips in from Blackpool, a young lad with massive pace who can play on the right or as a striker
mattyNUFC
Feb 14, 2012 at 8:35 PM
Comment #22kilcline
thanks for the update! so glad for him…..his first senior goal i think….
mattyNUFC
Feb 14, 2012 at 8:36 PM
Comment #23JB
me and you will just stay on this Matty Philips kick……regurgitate the name out enough you’ll never know what’ll happen 🙂
mattyNUFC
Feb 14, 2012 at 8:37 PM
Comment #24….also plays RB too! (though his talent would undoubtedly be wasted there)
Sheikh MagToon
Feb 14, 2012 at 8:37 PM
Comment #25Vuckic needs the experience so good to see him doing better than Saturday when he was hauled off at HT. My bet on CBs is that there’s one line up already, as was Cisse but we got him early, and my money’s on Douglas as he can negotiate with foreign clubs after 1 Jan. BTW, Chris Eagles is rank; an ex ManU egomaniac.
davybtoon
Feb 14, 2012 at 8:38 PM
Comment #26Glad to see Vukic scoring we need abeid to go on loan aswell
JackButler
Feb 14, 2012 at 8:38 PM
Comment #27Another player I’d like to see is Jarvis from Wolves
JackButler
Feb 14, 2012 at 8:40 PM
Comment #28davy – Seems strange that Abeid is still with us, he’s not playing when we’ve had a few midfielder’s missing so why not send him out on loan and let the kid get some playing time
mattyNUFC
Feb 14, 2012 at 8:41 PM
Comment #29JB
i like guti, his work rate is second to none, but getting in someone more direct like Jarvis could do the world of good for us…..I’m always split on deciding whether Jonas’ defensive inclination has held us back or aided in where we are….it’s difficult to tell because he just doesn’t have as much influence in the final third as a winger usually should
WWJBD
Feb 14, 2012 at 8:44 PM
Comment #30JB
Haha u and ur Rhodes, Jarvis and Philips touts
Jarvis was great last season but this one seems to of gone of the boil imo for a 10 mill price tag that he had over the summer he certainly hasen’t lived up to the hype (Id still have him in a flash though).
Philips is cracking but is it individual skill or the fact he has developed a wonderful understanding with who he plays with? I have no idea
Rhodes I have not seen so have no real opinion of him tbh but have heard nothing but good things.
Id have all three but I dont think we will be getting them 😉
JackButler
Feb 14, 2012 at 8:44 PM
Comment #31Matty – Jonas had to spend so much time and energy protecting Raylor and still needs to help cover Santon who is still learning his trade. He was far more of a threat when Jose was with us, but I think his efforts have left him knackered and in need of a rest
GeordieToon89
Feb 14, 2012 at 8:44 PM
Comment #32Jack – Agree with you about M.Phillips av been saying his name on here for ages, he was class in the prem last season and he’s been unreal fo Blackpool and Sheffield this season he’s only 20 aswell :\ immense pace and technique got a class delivery he can pass a ball and he can score goals!!
nick_9
Feb 14, 2012 at 8:45 PM
Comment #33Guys I’ve just been on a website looking at free agents in the summer and it seems there is plenty of value to be had. Notable names are:
Royston drenthe
Tranquillo barnetta
D hoilett
Douglas
Clyne.
Imagine signing a couple of those, they would be real coups in my opinion. Imagine if we signed pieters, drenthe and van Anholt. We would have a nice young Dutch connection and a really good left wing.
Krul. Elliot.
Pieters, Van anholt, Ferguson
Douglas, Williamson
Taylor, Collocini
Santon, Clyne, tavernier
Drenthe/Barnetta, Marveaux, Ferguson
Cabaye, Guthrie, Vuckic, Arfa
Tiote, Abeid
Jonas, Arfa, Obertan
Cisse, Rhodes
Ba, best
Cracking young team in my opinion. I imagine we could sign:
Drenthe/hoilett/barnetta – free
Pva – 1.5/2.5 million
Pieters – 5 million
Douglas – free
Clyne – free
Rhodes – 2/2.5 million.
So that’s 8.5 to 10 million spent. Wages would be very similar after losing smith and a few others players. Revenue could be raised be selling Simmo and Ranger giving us a net spend of around 5-6 million 😀
Exciting times if you ask me. Happy to see vuckic has scored
GeordieToon89
Feb 14, 2012 at 8:45 PM
Comment #34Jack – Also Abeid will be going onloan apparently but were waiting for Tiote back so expect news in the next couple weeks Champ clubs who want loans are timing it so if they get into play offs the loan player can play in the final as the loan deals are only 90 days
tomtoon7
Feb 14, 2012 at 8:46 PM
Comment #35We’ve got a great winger in the TOON e’s called HBA!!!
JackButler
Feb 14, 2012 at 8:46 PM
Comment #36WWJBD
You owe me after my backing of your Shane Long plea’s, so you have to back me on the Phillips, Jarvis and Rhodes call 🙂
Dondatta13
Feb 14, 2012 at 8:47 PM
Comment #37Thanks for the update Kilcline…
Very interested to see Vukic excel. He’s 19 now and although I know players develop at different rates, you can’t help but think of players like Rooney, Walcott, Chamberlain and Ramsey and Wilshere doing the business in the EPL
JackButler
Feb 14, 2012 at 8:48 PM
Comment #38GT89 – Good to hear that mate, he needs playing time, he’s a raw talent and could become a huge player us in the coming years
Oleg G
Feb 14, 2012 at 8:54 PM
Comment #39I will be “Big eyes” as my wife says.
Jan Vertonghen and Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa 🙂
Why? Because we need them, both, or any other TWO really good defenders, that will help us to go to the next level. And add a winger or two.
moonraker
Feb 14, 2012 at 8:54 PM
Comment #40Despite the shock result at the weekend against Spurs, it is strange that Newcastle seem to have such a sound rebuilding policy in place rather than going for obvious signings and paying them a fortune.
Reminds me a bit of KK’s very early days when he brought in Philipe Albert, Rob Lee and Ginola etc. 🙂