New today that Newcastle want to sign 6’4″ center-back Joel Matip of Schalke, and Joel who was born in Germany to a German mother and a Cameroonian father, and he has played 26 times for Cameroon.
Joel Matip 23 year-old 6’4″ defender
McClaren has a short spell at Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga so he may have watched the big Schalke defender a few times.
The news is in the German magazine Bild, and they are reporting Matip is now Steve McClaren’s top priority and that Newcastle are willing to pay €14M for the 23 year-old, who can also play as a defensive midfielder.
€14M is just a little less that £10M with today’s exchange rate.
Bild are reporting that McClaren has made his own inquiries to his contacts in Germany about the defender, and he has asked various people who know the player various questions.
What’s his best position, does he have a good character, and would he be a good player in the physical Premier League, are three of the questions mentioned.
Matip has been at Schalke since 2000, when he signed on for them as a 9 year-old, and he has only one year to run on his contract, with no signs that he wants to sign an extension.
So this summer (or January) would be a time for the Bundesliga club to cash in on him before he becomes a free agent, although they would still be due some compensation next summer.
Matip made his first team debut for Schalke back in November of 2009 as an 18 year-old against Bayern Munich, and since then he’s appeared 211 times for the club with 18 goals.
Germany were keen for him to play for them but Matip decided he wanted to play for Cameroon, and he made his debut for the African side in a friendly against Italy in March, 2010.
Matip was in the Cameroon squad for both the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa as a 19 year-old, and in last year’s World Cup in Brazil.
He would seem to be a good buy for Newcastle, and we would assume he would assume he’s be brough in as a center-back next season if we can him across the line.
The fact he can also play in defensive midfield is another plus.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
235 comments so far
Average_Contents
Jun 20, 2015 at 11:16 PM
Comment #201I knew that’d draw you out you plastic fan lol. Yes you ibiza.
Oh and op, get to fcuk 😉
Gone but never forgotten.
In the immortal words of arnie “I’LL BE BACK.
Seriously though op, once I’m straightened out we’ll arrange a get together mate, if the fat fcuking slug continues his quest for domination and the protests continue.
Get to fcuk
See you tomorrow then….
Blackley and Brownlie
Jun 20, 2015 at 11:17 PM
Comment #202“You can contact players and speak to their advisors, but what generally happens before pre-season is that they like to keep their options open,” said Huddersfield Town manager Chris Powell.
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Jun 20, 2015 at 11:19 PM
Comment #203Jail…are you in any state to know what sound is!…don’t even answer that it was rhetoric!
optimistic prime
Jun 20, 2015 at 11:20 PM
Comment #204Ibiza
I’m not that concerned about the inactivity in the market, I said at end of season it’d be around 4wks before any movement started.
I’d have thought he’d had his staff sorted by now, it doesn’t fill people with confidence when papers are claiming this one and that one have knocked the job back. How much of that is true is anyone’s guess but I’d still like to have it sorted.
For Schteeve to get his philosophy ingrained in the players he needs them ASAP, that included the ones already at the club. The more time he has to work with them the better IMO.
I’d like to think main targets will be signed to arrive on July first ready to go, but I’m a fool NUFC don’t play that way.
Ibizatoon
Jun 20, 2015 at 11:21 PM
Comment #205OP…Glad to hear it. Been much of interest on here?
AC…I prefer armchair fan, thank you. Hope all goes well. If you’re too busy for the blog, we’ll understand. We hope you’ll be busy.
Blackley…”Generally” being a key word.
Blackley and Brownlie
Jun 20, 2015 at 11:22 PM
Comment #206It’s not just NUFC who’s signed no one. Chris Powell also has problems getting players over the line.
“We have made some headway but, of course, you want to get them over the line with medicals done and everything agreed – and we are not at that stage yet.
“There has been a lot of dialogue but, like a lot of clubs at present, we are waiting for people to return.
“That’s when the movement tends to start and, hopefully, our fans will see some movement from us and we can get some players across the line.
“We definitely need to after rebuilding the squad through last season. We need to boost our numbers ready for the coming season.”
stan anderson
Jun 20, 2015 at 11:23 PM
Comment #207I dont understand why the Ashley does,nt grasp it .
All he has to do is splash a bit cash on some decent players and the majority of fans will toe the line and buy his S.T.s.
Ibizatoon
Jun 20, 2015 at 11:26 PM
Comment #208OP…I wouldn’t say I was concerned either, was more to do with trying to gather some momentum.
A lot is being left to the imagination. Given the last 8 years and overwhelming lack of faith, I just would have thought they’d have something prepared. Then again, I don’t often see eye to eye with NUFCs PR policies these days.
Ibizatoon
Jun 20, 2015 at 11:28 PM
Comment #209Blackley…Sounds like he’s begging for a job at NUFC.
Average_Contents
Jun 20, 2015 at 11:29 PM
Comment #210Definitely far too busy for the likes of you 😀
Ibizatoon
Jun 20, 2015 at 11:32 PM
Comment #211Please tell me you’re not still here waiting for someone to ask you to stay?
Go on Mr Busy, f*** off 🙂
Blackley and Brownlie
Jun 20, 2015 at 11:40 PM
Comment #212Ibiza
It’s the same everywhere – generally.
Average_Contents
Jun 20, 2015 at 11:41 PM
Comment #213Nar, just getting pissed lol
optimistic prime
Jun 20, 2015 at 11:42 PM
Comment #214Just thinking of past transfers and I think Rob Lee was our best pound for pound player. A steal at half a mil considering prices these days.
Thinking of Lee made me think if the collision he had with Shearer, it was brutal. Shearer came back on but I don’t think Lee did. When you consider how they roll around now it’s like a different game.
Ibizatoon
Jun 20, 2015 at 11:43 PM
Comment #215Blackley…Apart from the places it isn’t.
I’m sure all will be fine. Steve and Bob will sort the other two out whilst Ashley provides the money.
jane
Jun 20, 2015 at 11:45 PM
Comment #216just read this on Rob Lee’s Wikipedia page..
“He moved to Newcastle after their manager, Kevin Keegan, told him that Newcastle upon Tyne was closer to London than Middlesbrough, the other club interested in signing Lee, and who were already in the Premier League.”
Ibizatoon
Jun 20, 2015 at 11:46 PM
Comment #217AC…A going away party? As long as you don’t start sobbering and going on about how much you’ll miss us.
OP…A lot of money involved these days. Don’t want peoples investments, I mean players getting crocked. Well, we do obviously, cheaper that way.
Sorry, old habits etc.
jane
Jun 20, 2015 at 11:48 PM
Comment #218“I’m sure all will be fine.”
exactly not sure what all the fuss is about 🙂
Ibizatoon
Jun 20, 2015 at 11:49 PM
Comment #219jane…I may even go as far to say what could go wrong?
No seriosuly, should we do a list?
jane
Jun 20, 2015 at 11:50 PM
Comment #220plenty could go wrong but we are going to be positive 🙂
optimistic prime
Jun 20, 2015 at 11:53 PM
Comment #221If it isn’t fine it could be the perfect storm, there’ll be some awesome waves to ride.
Ibizatoon
Jun 20, 2015 at 11:53 PM
Comment #222How many of you are there? Just wondering as we’re about to cut ACs cake. But don’t tell him, it’s a surprise.
optimistic prime
Jun 20, 2015 at 11:54 PM
Comment #223Do mtiples get more than one piece?
jane
Jun 20, 2015 at 11:55 PM
Comment #224at least it won’t be dull
Ibizatoon
Jun 20, 2015 at 11:56 PM
Comment #225Gnarly dude.
Probably should be bedtime now. Did I manage to type anything legible this evening?
optimistic prime
Jun 20, 2015 at 11:56 PM
Comment #226If it’s one slice per account I’m making new ones
optimistic prime
Jun 20, 2015 at 11:57 PM
Comment #227Apart from the football nothing about NUFC is dull
Average_Contents
Jun 20, 2015 at 11:58 PM
Comment #228I’ll admit, it did and still does sound like I’m leaving forever but I’m really not ibiza. Honestly.
For your piece of mind I’m going to suggest you go see the doc and request some tramadol mate. Might ease the pain of losing me Lmfco.
Oh and I’m just waiting for the taxi, otherwise I wouldn’t be replying you fcukface.
O
Fcuk ewe very much you fcuking bawlbag
Riviere Run Dry
Jun 21, 2015 at 12:00 AM
Comment #229Some folk on here have had more aliases than JFA had ‘dads’.
Average_Contents
Jun 21, 2015 at 12:00 AM
Comment #230*OP
Welshie's Sheep
Jun 21, 2015 at 12:03 AM
Comment #231Hey that’s good we get rid of a knob!!!
Ibizatoon
Jun 21, 2015 at 12:06 AM
Comment #232AC…Will you not even consider it? 🙂
Joking aside, hope all goes well. No doubt you’ll be on soon.
OP…Imaginary cake, for imaginary people. They can have as much as they like. I wouldn’t want to appear greedy.
Sleep well blog.
ToonFromLeeds
Jun 21, 2015 at 12:10 AM
Comment #233wants to stay in London
https://nufcdigest.wordpress.com/2015/06/20/newcastle-united-holding-off-on-15million-bid-for-charlie-austin-amid-rumours-qpr-striker-wants-to-stay-in-london/
Laurent Robert 32
Jun 21, 2015 at 12:18 AM
Comment #234Matip to Newcastle is to stop messing about and sign a number of quality players.
vipgreek
Jun 22, 2015 at 1:50 PM
Comment #235Signing him means Ashley Spending money do the people who write articles like this must be comedians coz im laughing , dont you guys realise that if he cost 10 million to sign , that is 10 million over priced for Ashley not that it matters as we the supporters are the ones paying as we still buy seasonal tickets , and merchandise . Ashley is going to go shopping in the championship and expect the signings to be ready made