News is coming through that Newcastle United have made a late entry into the race to sign Wigan Athletic striker Arouna Kone.
Arouna Kone – Newcastle interested
It had seemed that Kone would be rejoining his former manager Roberto Martinez at Everton, but maybe with the selling of James Perch to Wigan in the last few days, the Magpies inquired about the 29 year-old Ivory Coast International.
The news is that Newcastle are willing to pay the Latics £5M for Kone, and Newcastle have been given permission to talk to the player – and this could be an alternative to signing Darren Bent from Aston Villa.
Wigan must have accepted the £5M bid made by the Magpies.
Wigan owner Dave Whelan has welcomed Newcastle into the race at the eleventh hour, and it’s now based on what terms Newcastle and Everton can offer the player, and which club he wants to join.
Kone has been linked with Everton for a while, and he was expected to sign by now – but that hasn’t happened, for whatever reason.
Kone was a success in his first season in the Premier League, and he has also been linked with Norwich and Swansea City, and with Premier League experience he fits the type of player wanted by Alan Pardew this summer.
Newcastle are late into the chase for this striker, and the chances of signing Kone must be slim.
Kone joined Wigan last season from Sevilla, after being on loan for the previous season at Spanish club Levante, and in 38 games he scored 13 goals for the relegated club last season.
The 5’11” striker is right footed, and he turns 30 in November, and Kone has played 39 times for the Ivory Coast with 9 goals, since making his debut back in 2004, and he has previously played at PSV, Sevilla and Hanover.
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217 comments so far
Tubai
Jul 4, 2013 at 1:28 PM
Comment #201I hope its true, but we need another young striker along with a fast paced winger
stretchintoon
Jul 4, 2013 at 1:31 PM
Comment #202Id prefer kone over bent…& cisse for that matter.
Tinman
Jul 4, 2013 at 1:31 PM
Comment #203He signed an extension at the same time as a 19 year old Nile Ranger. Who was reported to be ‘buzzing’
tom68
Jul 4, 2013 at 1:32 PM
Comment #204If we are going to start buying older players with PL experience then I would put an offer in for Berbatof like a shot. I would have gone for him before he went to Fulham as I think he would be perfect alongside Cisse as long as a couple of wide men were brought in.
He is apparently a big NUFC fan as well and what an upgrade on Shola he would be.
Tinman
Jul 4, 2013 at 1:34 PM
Comment #205tom68, would be a great signing, probably happy to end his career at Fulham, but I dont know.
On another note, just because he played for Fulham doesnt mean you have to start calling him a ‘toff’
Mister Tuff
Jul 4, 2013 at 1:39 PM
Comment #206We all might be guilty of remaining in dreamland despite reality at times.
On Remy –
Good footballer -no doubt about that.
Pulled a dirty trick on Ashley -viz the kidnap by Dirty Harry. (will not be forgotten).
Innocent until proved guilty.
Remy along with two others is on police bail until an unknown date in September. Upon his return to the cop shop he could be charged, further bailed to continue enquiries or released with no further action being taken.
The transfer window this summer ends at 11pm on 2.9.13.
Bearing in mind the date of his return to the cop shop is not known -but is in September -it is most likely AFTER the window closes. Anybody trying to put a bid in before the window closes could be throwing their money away.
Having a “party” with a couple of your mates being there to observe proceedings – well I need to say no more – i would not be surprised that the cops are checking their phones for dodgy images. But who knows – interest in him would cause too much trouble – and you would have to buy a replacement in the off chance he is sent to jail -non starter for me.
Bambams
Jul 4, 2013 at 1:39 PM
Comment #207Reading all the comment’s clearly shows ….
We have no idea what is going on with our club !
To expand on this we ;
1. Have ‘NO’ idea who our targets are
2. No idea who we are releasing
3. No idea who is in charge of transfer selection
4. No idea if Ash is trying to sell the club
In a nutsell…We are in the dark being fed nothing with substance.
IMO
Joe Blog
Jul 4, 2013 at 1:40 PM
Comment #208Apparently Bayern want between around £15m for Gomez. Oh how I wish we had an owner with genuine aspirations to challenge the top 4 – he’d be a duck to water in this league.
Probably end up in some cruddy league, like the Turkish or Russian, on whopping wages.
Joe Blog
Jul 4, 2013 at 1:41 PM
Comment #209Was going to say *between 10-15m
Sack Llambias
Jul 4, 2013 at 1:48 PM
Comment #210Belfast
Experience of the league but no re sale value. Spurs are likely to be looking to re coup because of their prosed signings . As well as Defoe there’s Huddlestone who would be an ideal replacement for Cabaye. I am hoping Yo is going nowhere for at least another season though because last season he was not fully fit often when playing.
Rooster
Jul 4, 2013 at 1:57 PM
Comment #211I heard AP mention just the other day that it was not ever said we would not sign experienced players, this Kone deal has been in the pipeline for a while me thinks, i like the lad, hes dirrct and has decent pace, and scores good goals, massive step up from wor shola, even though he wull be harder to shift then curry of a white shirt ha ha, if it is the start of our buying im happy with it without doubt.
Sazzer
Jul 4, 2013 at 1:59 PM
Comment #212I rather have us go for both Rhodes and Austin.
Trade one for:
Shola and Vuckic (loan) and 1-3 m £ package one.
Campbell (loan) and Ferguson 1-3 m £ package two.
then sell/trade Obertan+Amalfitano and get Boudebouz
Gosling/Abeid for Hughes 1-3 m £.
Perch out – Ler Fer in.
Maybe –
Willo out – one of Kouyate, Oboabona, Sané in.
With Kinnear negotiation skills *wink * it would probably amount to less than got invested in January.
If we still need another winger. Then sell whoever is underperforming and buy one in January.
FrankfurtMag
Jul 4, 2013 at 2:04 PM
Comment #213If we were in for him then surely it would’ve been included in the Perchinho transfer. If we are in for him and he wasn’t used as part of that deal, then serious questions need to be asked about the conduct of the “Transfer Team” whoever that may be.
derekm
Jul 4, 2013 at 2:08 PM
Comment #214Now things seem to fit – Perch to Wigan for a cut price fee in return for blowing Everton out of negotiations and accepting a cut price deal for Kone – makes sense.
croftus5678
Jul 4, 2013 at 2:56 PM
Comment #215@lilong in the prem kone is worth 20 goals inc assists http://espnfc.com/player/_/id/76732/arouna-kon%C3%A9?cc=5739
and for a player that plays a link striker and not a main striker that aint all that bad (persoanly i have no idea how you can even think of comparing him to shola as i’m pretty sure you could pick any game last season where either of them played and compare them)
the lad in his defence can play for 90mins and adds a hell of a lot more to the team than shola can dream of !
but yes i think we need a main goalscorer and not one to partner cisse and our options are getting worse by the day for that.
paul24
Jul 4, 2013 at 4:35 PM
Comment #216I knew it seemed too good to be true when they said they where after PEA and Bony. Guess its buisness as usual next season.
arctoa
Jul 4, 2013 at 11:22 PM
Comment #217NUFC.com reported that Shola was considering an offer from the middle-east, and they usually only publish anything when there’s credence to it.