We have seen the reports out about Barcelona midfielder Seydou Keita possibly being a Newcastle target.
Seydou Keita – Barcelona central midfielder
Keita has played 172 times for Barcelona with 19 goals following his £12M move to Barca from Sevilla in 2008, and the news is that Barcelona are willing to listen to offers in the region of £5M for the Mali International in the summer.
Keita started his career back in 1999 at French club Marseilles, and he has played for Lorient, Lens, Sevilla and Barcelona since then, and the six footer has 464 total club appearances and 47 goals.
In addition he has represented his county, Mali, 70 times with a 19 goals.
There’s no doubt the 32-year-old is a very good central midfielder, but one thing against him – in addition to his age – is that he is expected to command £80K/week in wages and Newcastle will no longer pay out inflated wages for players past their best.
Newcastle prefer to sign younger players, whose value will increase on Tyneside, and they either become regular fixtures in the squad, or they are moved on at a profit.
That’s the way Mike Ashley is running the Newcastle club, and it’s starting to show some success, with some really good acquisitions over the last couple of years, even though very little transfer money has bee paid out.
Liverpool are said to also be interested in the player, so they will no doubt be willing to pay £5M in transfer fees, and £4M a year in wages to a 32 year-old.
There’s no doubt that Mike Ashley is running Newcastle in a financially stringent and thrifty way, but that’s not really a bad thing, when you consider clubs like Portsmouth and Glasgow Rangers are going belly up.
And that’s all because they are spending money they just don’t have, much like Newcastle did when Freddy Shepherd was running the club, and those clubs are now paying the consequences by going into bankruptcy, and it could be a long road back to financial stability.
It’s a good story about Keita, but there’s no way Newcastle will be interested in this lad – as good as he is.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
NUFC News 24/7
63 responses so far ↓
1 SurefootedShola // Feb 24, 2012 at 7:16 PM
32 years of age, pah! Not a chance.
2 Indian Magpie // Feb 24, 2012 at 7:16 PM
i have heard commentators describe him as a rolls royce of a player
3 Indian Magpie // Feb 24, 2012 at 7:26 PM
okay lads good night
4 hainesy // Feb 24, 2012 at 7:29 PM
No chance. He’s 92 in the eyes of Ashley. A total no go.
5 JP...from The Rock // Feb 24, 2012 at 7:33 PM
Too old not gonna happen.
6 hainesy // Feb 24, 2012 at 7:35 PM
Cristian Tello is more likely.
7 Niff in the USA // Feb 24, 2012 at 7:46 PM
When I saw the title I thought we were signing Fabregas or Xavi
8 moonraker // Feb 24, 2012 at 7:46 PM
Dont know why you bothered to post this one Ed. Aint gonna happen and why would we want him?
9 MagpiesFlyHigh // Feb 24, 2012 at 7:55 PM
What we really need is a rock solid back four. Anyone who’ll strengthen that line has got to be a bigger priority than another midfielder, unless its another DCM for cover for Tiote.
If we only brought in 3-4 defenders next window I’d be happy.
I’d shift to a 4-3-3, next season, as soon as we have got a quality back line across the width of the park – we have real choice for the mid 3 and a front 3 with strength behind means there is space for Benny to cause chaos.
I’m sure HBA isn’t getting regular starts because AP is stuck with a 4-4-2 or variation as the wingers need to cover back so much.
10 sirtoongospel // Feb 24, 2012 at 8:05 PM
The HBA debate is one that will run and run. But perhaps it wouldn’t be if we had a good right back and adequate cover at CB.
It’s guaranteed that with a top 6 defence (at the moment we don’t have one) then we could attack more.
Fingers crossed in the Summer we can invest where we need to and Pardew can really have a go at teams. with the personnel he has available now though, I can’t criticise Pardew at all. He genuinely tries to do the right thing for our club.
11 Jonny // Feb 24, 2012 at 8:08 PM
Keita? No thanks but i have noticed that we have alot of winners in our team: Tiote, Ben Arfa, Cabaye and Santon have all won leagues and trophies so no wonder they are all talking Champions League! Big game tomorrow in preperation for the bigger one on March 4th 12pm!!!!! 10 points from 12 against the unwashed i think!
12 Tsunki // Feb 24, 2012 at 8:09 PM
If NUFC have the money to finance an old folks home why don’t they put their money to good use and supports the womens NUFC team? No offence to the lad this is obviously Barca/agent flogging their soon-to-expire horse to any team that has a liking for French players. How long would he last? Not long evidently which is why Barca are offloading him. The words ‘By’ , ‘Date’ and ‘Sell’ spring to mind. Meh.
13 JamesP32 // Feb 24, 2012 at 8:12 PM
This is probably the most ridiculous story Ive heard in a while.
14 Dennis Twice // Feb 24, 2012 at 8:15 PM
…Tiote s gonna get red tomorrow….i saw it…i just saw it….just
15 Scottishtoon95 // Feb 24, 2012 at 8:20 PM
Assumed it was thiago with the title, as ed says, too old and too expensive (wage wise).
16 Ollie666 // Feb 24, 2012 at 8:24 PM
TEAM vs wolves
Krul
Simmo Willo Colo Santon
Tiote
Guthrie Cabaye
Benny Cisse Ba
Pardew will play
Krul
SImmo Willo Colo Santon
Raylor Tiote Cabaye Jonas
Cisse BA
17 darrenfletcher88 // Feb 24, 2012 at 8:31 PM
Hahahaha,this site is getting worse!!!!!!!!!
18 Tsunki // Feb 24, 2012 at 8:50 PM
Friday night is pub night ha ha
19 JackButler // Feb 24, 2012 at 9:01 PM
32 and 80k a week, no chance. Total BS story
20 Baro // Feb 24, 2012 at 9:08 PM
OHHHHHHHHH YESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!
I’m totally PUMPED up for this game!!!!!
For those who live for football, well two weeks
W /O a game is just INSANE!!!!
Lets get all 3 points, put on a show for the supporters, and give them a thrashing!!!!!!!!!!!!!
………………………………………………..
Repeat this comment ……… If liked!!
21 ToonDownSouth // Feb 24, 2012 at 9:18 PM
I really don’t think playing Guthrie alongside Cabaye & Tiote is a good idea.
No width whatsoever, and Simpson & Santon are both defensively lacking.
It may seem like a nice idea, but our players just are not good enough.
22 toonarmydownsouth // Feb 24, 2012 at 9:20 PM
13JamesP32 // Feb 24, 2012 at 8:12 PM
This is probably the most ridiculous story Ive heard in a while.
The most ridiculous one i heard was wen we git promoted about barca wantin a swap deal staylor for puyol!!!!
23 Baro // Feb 24, 2012 at 9:21 PM
Krul
Simmo-Willy-Curly-santoon
Raylor-Cabaye-Tiote-Jonas
Cisse-Ba
HT
Krul
Simmo-Willy-Curly-santoon
Ben Arfa-Abeid-Tiote-Fergie
Cisse-Ba
5-0 TOOON WiiiiN!!
Cabaye 4 min
Ba 34 min
Cisse 41 min
Ba 67 min
Ba 70 min PK
24 stuart no9 // Feb 24, 2012 at 9:32 PM
not too sure about the wages – but too old ? – RIO – 34 – scholes – 37 nn- giggs -38 – or lanpard 35- ash cole -32 too old??????????????
25 Scottishtoon95 // Feb 24, 2012 at 9:38 PM
stuart no9
the difference is those players were at the club when they were younger and got old at the club they weren’t signed on at age 30 because you won’t get your money’s worth out of an older player, and will have no sell-on value which is what ash is aiming for.
26 Niff in the USA // Feb 24, 2012 at 9:41 PM
Just to add to the age debate.
Since when was 30 years old the deciding factor on how good a player is? 30 is like your prime form, 35 you may start losing your engine but up too 37 is where the player isn’t gonna be able to keep up with the EPL standard IMO
27 gaz 44 // Feb 24, 2012 at 9:43 PM
27 is the prime for in my opinion.. 30 you lose too much pace want that extra touch n a bit too late in tackles.. don’t lose the technical ability but the physical aspects
28 SurefootedShola // Feb 24, 2012 at 9:52 PM
Erm, these aren’t robots we watch you know. Each individuals prime and subsequent decline happen at varying times and at various rates.
MA will never buy somebody who is older than 27, that’s a fact.
29 SurefootedShola // Feb 24, 2012 at 9:52 PM
*From now on
30 joe // Feb 24, 2012 at 9:55 PM
Its a fact that MA will never buy a 32 year old.. But anyone who doesnt want Seydou Keita in their team is either deluded or just plain ignorant! Even for 2-3 seasons he would have a massive impact on our immediate fortunes! That guy is a born winner and has played at the highest level alongside some of the greatest players in the world! You really Cant win anything with just kids you know!
31 stuart no9 // Feb 24, 2012 at 10:01 PM
scottish toon @ 25 – would he be good enough to help get us iinto europe ?
32 stuart no9 // Feb 24, 2012 at 10:04 PM
so any body over the age of 29 have lost therir pace but have bundles of experience they cant use because they are 30 ??????
33 JamesP32 // Feb 24, 2012 at 10:06 PM
@toonarmydownsouth
“The most ridiculous one i heard was wen we git promoted about barca wantin a swap deal staylor for puyol!!!!”
LMFAO, now that is worse =P
34 tarie4 // Feb 24, 2012 at 10:11 PM
Stuart no9 he has never played in the epl…he will need time to adapt…and can we take that risk…esp if he is 32??? I wud rather spend that 5 mill on corgnant?? Coz even if he doesn’t hot the ground running he has tym to adapt due to his age…imo this guy is passed his peak….you knw why?? Coz bar a are selling him on…he is looking for his last big pay day….let the bin dippers get him…
35 Niff in the USA // Feb 24, 2012 at 10:17 PM
Well I guess we all know now Shearer was useless to us then eh? Henry made no impact coming back to Arsenal either… Older players can do more for a team even if they aren’t the same player they used to be. Unless they are Gerrard. He’s still so good
36 Toon Tang // Feb 24, 2012 at 10:19 PM
wheres davis_toons ?? the mans a freakin legend ya’ll
37 stuart no9 // Feb 24, 2012 at 10:25 PM
tari4@34 i am sure with his outstanding ability, his wealth of experience . and playing along side messi for a while , i think you underestimate him slightly ” he is passed his peak” barca could bring their youth side here and give us a game, they have so much talent they are busy now putting a nother world class side together. they have so many they must at some time say we need to sell. since when has a barca player not been good enough? but it is totally irrelevant any way coz ash wont buy players to help get us into europe , he will only buy young and sell for profit. Where is that going to get us?
38 gaz 44 // Feb 24, 2012 at 10:43 PM
ok then who does he replace tiote or cabaye ..
39 toonarmydownsouth // Feb 24, 2012 at 11:09 PM
Sambas gone to anzhi would of loved to see him in a black n white shirt but not for £12 mil!
40 shearermania // Feb 24, 2012 at 11:10 PM
only fools and horses
men behaving badly
fawlty towers
young ones
now thats proper tv shows for you……
41 Gascoigne - Legend // Feb 24, 2012 at 11:27 PM
Not a chance 32 yrs old and £80k pwk just not our strategy anymore on buying players and too right !
42 Gascoigne - Legend // Feb 24, 2012 at 11:28 PM
Samba 12 m well over rated , 6 m at best !!!
43 Brutooon // Feb 24, 2012 at 11:41 PM
we got Cabaye,Tiote,Guthrie,Gosling,Abeid,Vuckic which is ALL YOUNGER than him
No No No
44 dirtymackems // Feb 24, 2012 at 11:59 PM
krul
Ralyor willo curls(C) santon
tiote
guthrie cabaye
hba
cisse ba
subs
harper
simmo
abied
fergi
guti
Strolla
loven
45 Tsunki // Feb 25, 2012 at 12:33 AM
Brutooon – I can’t believe it but this is historic – I agree with you! Yep the player is good, bags of experience etc but he is too old to bed into a formative young team, that’s not what Pardew is aiming for, or MA who is obviously keener to utilise (cheaper) academy-sourced talent. And his wages and no doubt the longevity of his contract will all swirl around the same bowl that Nolans did. Which brings me to Colo……
46 Toon Tang // Feb 25, 2012 at 12:42 AM
amen to that shearermania , i only watch the new crap comedies for the odd vinegar stroke like
47 ToonDownSouth // Feb 25, 2012 at 1:23 AM
Tsunki
I think we all know exactly what will happen with Colo – I have a feeling it’ll be exactly the same as what happened with Enrique.
A summer of Pardew saying he’s hopeful, saying the club have offered him the best deal ever, then he’ll be off to Liverpool for a pathetic amount of money.
48 NEWEXPATMAGPIE // Feb 25, 2012 at 1:52 AM
Sorry Ed !
But where did this come from?
49 NEWEXPATMAGPIE // Feb 25, 2012 at 2:02 AM
Let Liverpool have him!
50 ilovetoon8788 // Feb 25, 2012 at 2:29 AM
1 of the worst stories we ever had alongside Saylor swap with Puyol a few years back.
51 roshan MAGPIE // Feb 25, 2012 at 2:37 AM
this rumour IS a total joke ha ha ha ha
52 tarie4 // Feb 25, 2012 at 3:15 AM
stuart no9 please give me a name of a player we bought cheap and sold for profit….under the fat man….coz I can’t think of one..u also mention that mike doesn’t buy players to get us into Europe..explain cabaye?? Santoon?? tiote?? Who all left clubs in Europe to join the toon…
U also say that becoz this fellow played alongside messi that he will come and be a big hit?? Mate that’s not a guarantee at all…if he was say 28 then maybe..not 32.it far too big a risk imo..but lets agree to disagree on that one
53 chris_g // Feb 25, 2012 at 3:16 AM
TDS – yeah, I think most of us are worried something like that might happen. However, I don’t think there are too many similarities between Colo’s situation and Enrique’s. I think the main difference is that Jose did actually want to leave, and I don’t think Colo does.
One of the main reasons Jose wanted to go (apart from the money of course) was ambition – he wants to get into the Spanish national team and thought he’d have a better chance of being selected if he was playing for a (top?) team like Liverpool. Colo, on the other hand, is already an established international, so he wouldn’t feel any similar need to change clubs. He’s also our captain, and proud of it too, so I think he’d be very reluctant to give that up to be just another squad player at one of the other ‘top’ clubs.
Also, Colo’s domestic situation is different. He’s got a family to consider, young kids at school etc. so it would be a difficult decision for him to uproot them and move to a different part of the country (or to a different country even?) . I’m not saying that he wouldn’t leave if somebody came in with an offer that he (and the club) simply couldn’t refuse. All I’m saying is that he’s got many more reasons to want to stay than Enrique ever had.
54 tarie4 // Feb 25, 2012 at 3:19 AM
niff in the USA
Only difference was that those guys have played or played in the epl at sometime in their career…they also knew the clubs they were at inside out….this guy had never lived in the UK..he will need to take tym to adapt in a new country…not sunny barcalona but Newcastle…he will also need tym to adapt to the English game aswell..it far too big a risk imo…and for the wages he will command…nah..let Liverpool have him…
55 American Toon 13 // Feb 25, 2012 at 4:07 AM
no chance as he’s too old. Let’s thrash Wolves tom then MURDER 5under1and next Sunday. Have to win that one.
56 Niff in the USA // Feb 25, 2012 at 5:24 AM
@tarie4
I know mate I was just talking down how people think 30-33 year old players an instant no no in general. I think people play too much Football Manager sometimes. If they get injured all the time then it’s a different story XD
57 check the toastie // Feb 25, 2012 at 6:13 AM
Bit of early graft before the match, hav 2 pay for my platinum club tickets for the mackem match somehow, wil win 2day as taking the young un and he’s a lucky omen, looking forward 2 a few goals.
58 ~Papiss-Toon~ // Feb 25, 2012 at 6:30 AM
@Check the toastie.
Hope your bringing him to the last 13 games.
59 check the toastie // Feb 25, 2012 at 6:52 AM
The boy is gonna take in his first derby game, he’s seven and already knows who the scum are, can’t wait to burst their bubble….hopefully
60 Widowmaker // Feb 25, 2012 at 7:46 AM
Biff in the USA, it is Mike Ashley’s policy that makes ppl think that way.
61 Rotonda heights // Feb 25, 2012 at 8:43 AM
Joe
Manu did, much to alan hansen’s embarrassment a few years back now.
62 bills-son // Feb 25, 2012 at 9:01 AM
Tarie4@52 you are dead right – MA has never bought a player cheap and sold him for a big profit.
But that doesnt stop the likes of stuart09 slagging Ashley off for what he MIGHT do not what he HAS done which is put a strategy in place that has got us Tiote, Cabaye, Santon, Ba etc. in the first place.
I’m amazed tarie4 that you haven’t been accused of being an Ashley arrslicker – yet.
63 FatmanJoe // Feb 25, 2012 at 9:26 AM
He’s not too old but He is too old to come to the best league in the world when he’s never done it before. If we’re in the Market for older I would prefer we looked around the epl at players who have done well and will consolidate our weak areas. Mark gower would be my choice. Most successful crosser in the league and might be worth a cheap punt for a season or so. But I don’t think this story is true.
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