24 year-old Younes Belhanda has been capped 23 times by Morocco, and the French-born player played twice for the France U20 side back in 2010, and he has said that Newcastle is one of his favorite clubs.
Younes Belhanda – Dynamo Kyiv midfielder
Younes is an attacking midfielder who currently plays at Ukrainian club Dynamo Kyiv, and he joined them last summer, after playing for the Montpellier first team since 2009.
His transfer fee last summer when he joined the Ukrainian club was thought to be around €10M (£8.2M), and he wants to move to England and play in the Premier League at some time in his career.
This is what Younes has said about that:
“How long will I stay at Dynamo? I don’t know. If I have opportunities to go higher, I will seize them.”
“I am dreaming about England. Every player wants to play in England one day. I have to experience that.”
“My favorite club? Arsenal, of course. It is the club of Frenchmen – but Newcastle as well, but they are a step below. Manchester City and Liverpool are exciting too.”
Not too many people would argue that Arsenal are above Newcastle as a club and a team, since the Gunners have finished in the top four in England every year since 1997.
But this year there’s a decent chance Everton could get a Champions League position and pip the London club to a top four place, after they took them apart 3-0 last weekend at Goodison Park.
Younes can play both an attacking and defending role in central midfield, and he has excellent technical skills and possesses vision, great dribbling and ball control, and intelligent decision-making.
And Belhanda has developed into one of the most exciting play-makers in Europe at the moment, and Newcastle need some creative players brought in over the summer months – that’s definitely a requirement given our lack of scoring goals and creating chances.
While at Montpellier, he played 144 times for the 2012 French Champions, scored 29 goals and had 22 assists, and while at Dynamo Kyiv this season he’s played 25 games with 6 goals and 5 assists.
We’re not sure if Belhanda is on Newcastle’s transfer list for the summer, but this is the caliber of player we have to bring in over the summer, and he would probably cost around £10M – at least.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
174 comments so far
RUNAWAY777
Apr 8, 2014 at 6:07 PM
Comment #41just let G2 have the blog he doing aright on his own haha
Average_Contents
Apr 8, 2014 at 6:08 PM
Comment #42But what makes me laugh more is the fact if newcastle had decided to “moan” f all would of been done!
Ibizatoon
Apr 8, 2014 at 6:09 PM
Comment #43Average…Oh good, some fresh news! It was all starting to get a little bit stale on here.
Honestly, is there any aspect of the club that is free of these type of embarrassments?
Anyway, there goes our summer spending money. Only one in now Tuff!
Average_Contents
Apr 8, 2014 at 6:09 PM
Comment #44Can you imagine if newcastle would of “moaned” lol no chance of a refund!
GeordieTwo
Apr 8, 2014 at 6:09 PM
Comment #45SmallBerries has a very serious affliction called nuticus shrivelous lads. It’s led to his current state. Try not to make fun of wor NoNuts. He has a lot to worry about there.
wolfshead@toon
Apr 8, 2014 at 6:10 PM
Comment #46geordie
validator does strike me as a baldrick figure mate
Ibizatoon
Apr 8, 2014 at 6:11 PM
Comment #47Runaway…I think we’ll let him run his course as official blog hobbit before we promote wor G2 any higher 🙂
Jesper…I have always been told to respect my elders, so I’ll take your advice on that one mate 😉
Mister Tuff
Apr 8, 2014 at 6:11 PM
Comment #48jesper – unfortunately Belhanda is not renowned for tracking back – very like Benny in that respect.
wolfshead@toon
Apr 8, 2014 at 6:12 PM
Comment #49validator
is that people do to you when you are on your paper round
Average_Contents
Apr 8, 2014 at 6:12 PM
Comment #50Ibiza
You are correct 1 less player indeed, at least we’ve got raylor back as the “other” signing 😉
Ibizatoon
Apr 8, 2014 at 6:13 PM
Comment #51Average…Usually “moaning” results in punishment.
So, be happy…or else!
G2…”He has a lot to worry about there.” Doesn’t he actually have little to worry about there? Can’t he just use Pardews? He surely confiscated them a long time ago?
jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew
Apr 8, 2014 at 6:13 PM
Comment #52Ibiza…I forget you just look old 😀
Ibizatoon
Apr 8, 2014 at 6:15 PM
Comment #53Average…Last time I checked Raylor can play in a few positions, so he alone must be like 3 new signings?
We may need to look at offloading a few at this rate!
jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew
Apr 8, 2014 at 6:15 PM
Comment #54Maybe Parsnip can borrow a spin from NoNuts then?
Ibizatoon
Apr 8, 2014 at 6:16 PM
Comment #55Jesper…You forget a lot, I wont take it personally 🙂
70TWO
Apr 8, 2014 at 6:16 PM
Comment #56Whumpie
I meant to respond earlier:
1. IMO the lack of motivation can be be sourced from the top, the players say that when Ashley is in their presences he is very coy / shy, plus we know all he is interested in is selling them for a profit. So being seen as a commodity and not having a motivational club ethos does not make a team; and then get rid of Cabaye who at least binded the team, the result is what we have now.
2. HBA lets himself down with his attention to diet and application in matches / training, relying on his natural ability to see him through. This does not happen in the top leagues and he makes a mockery of being a professional. However, he should not be made a scapegoat by Pardew or any other ‘flair’ player as the reverse could also be true. In APs’ system the hard working players are also failures due to not adapting to playing out of position sufficiently enough to stop the opposition.
…its all true.
Sliema
Apr 8, 2014 at 6:18 PM
Comment #57Ibaza
Haha! What chance have we got of replacing the probably 10+ players that are about to leave? None of them are capable of spending money or getting a deal over the line.
GeordieTwo
Apr 8, 2014 at 6:18 PM
Comment #58Yes point taken Ibiza mate. But still I worry the lads will make fun of Mike even with his nuticus shrivelous continuing to plague him. This summer could be a nightmare with NoNuts so to speak. How to approach the transfer window? Will he still wear his sports thongs to the beach? Where is it all leading? Still, I have my faith to keep me strong.
Ibizatoon
Apr 8, 2014 at 6:21 PM
Comment #59Sliema…I think what you’re forgetting is that the club look at transfer windows as a whole financial year. With that in mind, this summer isn’t really that important. I mean, how bad could it really be to wait until January to buy players if we need them?
It worked last season and it can work again, we don’t even have EL to worry about now!
10 players this summer…honestly, what’s up with ya? 🙂
RUNAWAY777
Apr 8, 2014 at 6:22 PM
Comment #60someone should have a plan to stop supporters going to the last few match,would love to see ashley and pardew in a empty sjp with the cameras there, but we all no that will never happen but we can dream pmsl
jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew
Apr 8, 2014 at 6:23 PM
Comment #61Ibiza…I wish I could just forget how we play 😉
Ibizatoon
Apr 8, 2014 at 6:24 PM
Comment #62G2…If the lads making fun of Mike was a genuine issue life would be a lot simpler.
What that bloke needs is for someone to stand up to him, I say we start with his shriveled sacks.
It’s intervention time!
“Mike, we’re here because we can’t stand you and you’re nuts are shriveled.”
Yes, that should do the trick. This discussion has been most productive senor G2.
validator
Apr 8, 2014 at 6:26 PM
Comment #63I thought Wolfshead was an adult not eleven years old, so I’ll lay off him.
Ibizatoon
Apr 8, 2014 at 6:27 PM
Comment #64Jesper…Give Pardew a call. The players and he seem to have forgotten how!
GeordieTwo
Apr 8, 2014 at 6:28 PM
Comment #65So we should stand strong against old Shriveled Sacks Ibiza mate? But won’t that ruin the club? If we spend money and buy players won’t we go bankrupt? Won’t that make Mike cry? I mean what are you suggesting here Ibiza?
70TWO
Apr 8, 2014 at 6:28 PM
Comment #66GeordieTwo
I am NOT trying to justify the need for only 1 or 2, but highlight from where this idea may stem. Also slightly perplexed by the continual articles about who is leaving and who we are after, so was trying to clarify to myself the extent of likely turn over in personal.
I would contend that Pardew has virtually only used 14 players all season in the league, plus incorporating and succeeding with purely the returning loanees could spell the end of him. However if there is any less than 7 sold, money will be saved and at least there will be some continuity…..I don’t know which is worse/better.
Laurent Robert 32
Apr 8, 2014 at 6:29 PM
Comment #67Why doesn’t Pardew scapegoat his defensive players for not being able to attack effectively?
It isn’t their specialty, just as a lot of forwards aren’t often noted for their defensive heroics. It’s no problem, you just have to accept it, to an extent, and build round what they are good at.
Berbatov, Le Tissier and the like would have been thrown on to the scrap heap by Pardew and his dour footballing swap of a brain, with cries of lack of this and lack of that.
He doesn’t understand flair, which is why he retains his workhorses who patch over the ineffectiveness of his stone-age ideas with constant running and ‘hope-ball’ philosophy. Abysmal.
Ibizatoon
Apr 8, 2014 at 6:29 PM
Comment #68Validator…Are you here to give us validation at last?
It’s been a long time coming.
As for Wolfie, what have you done to upset him?
Graeme
Apr 8, 2014 at 6:30 PM
Comment #69G2 – I heard, very quietly I have to admit, that MA is indeed the model that will be sporting the new SD Mankini, destined to be this years hottest new look. The advertising shot evidently started at Tynemouth Long Sands last weekend. Different beaches will be used over the next 4 weeks to complete the brochure.
Ibizatoon
Apr 8, 2014 at 6:34 PM
Comment #70Laurent…I’m a little lost. Are you suggesting defenders defend and attackers attack?
Seems a little back to front, don’t you think?
G2…I hadn’t considered Mike crying or us going bankrupt. You are right, what was I thinking?
From this point forth I shall campaign to have no players signed this summer! In fact, do we need players at all? Can’t we sell them all, rake it that money and spend a little (just a little mind) to have an extra large copy of our bank statement across the field at SJP and we can just go and view that once a week instead?
The best bit would be, each time you visit, for say £30, you’d see that reflected in the new statement. How amazing would that be?
Mike! Mike! Mike!
validator
Apr 8, 2014 at 6:35 PM
Comment #71I bizarre toon yes it needs someone to talk sense about the way that the club is going. I’m waiting for Wolfshead to showcase his football knowledge but then again I’m waiting for Pardew to go.
GeordieTwo
Apr 8, 2014 at 6:36 PM
Comment #72Excellent comments 70TWO, LaurentRobert, Graeme, and yes even Ibiza! Now we’re getting to some good footy discussion. There is clearly a need for quality depth in the squad. Pardew does tend to rely on very few of our players. I think he simply doesn’t trust the rest. Unbelievable to keep them around then and only bring in 1 or 2 new players. The statements from the club simply don’t add up.
70TWO
Apr 8, 2014 at 6:37 PM
Comment #73Bloomers
Ibizatoon
Apr 8, 2014 at 6:40 PM
Comment #74Validator…Ah right and are you the saviour to take some sense? I do hope so.
As for Wolfie, be careful, you’ve seen teen wolf I’m sure. Need I say more?
GeordieTwo
Apr 8, 2014 at 6:40 PM
Comment #75I felt I needed to deal with the whole mankini issue separately Graeme mate. That news wasn’t meant to be released while Mike has nuticus shrivelous. I’m having Ibiza look for some nice Spanish ManTassels for Mike to distract people from the whole shriveled sack problem. Still it’s not ideal is it? Thoughts?
validator
Apr 8, 2014 at 6:42 PM
Comment #76Alan Pardew or Maria Miller who will be sacked first?
validator
Apr 8, 2014 at 6:45 PM
Comment #77I bizarre toon take some sense have you been on the vino tinto?
Ibizatoon
Apr 8, 2014 at 6:46 PM
Comment #78G2…Thank you for saying I’m looking for the tassels rather than just sending a selection from my bedside draw.
That could have been embarrassing.
Ibizatoon
Apr 8, 2014 at 6:48 PM
Comment #79Validator…I think I must have, how do I take some sense again? How much is too much? I don’t want to appear greedy. Would you like some?
validator
Apr 8, 2014 at 6:50 PM
Comment #80I bizarre toon don’t feel to bad about your mistakes.