Spanish newspaper Marca is reporting on Wednesday that Rafa Benitez’ first signing at Newcastle could be his former center-back Daniel Aggar at Liverpool – who will become a free agent in the summer.
Daniel left Liverpool two years ago for his former Danish club Brondby IF – and this time he’s played 34 times for them with two goals after playing in 232 games for The Reds over an eight year stay.
Daniel Aggar while at Liverpool
If that happens it will indeed be a departure for Newcastle in the transfer market since Daniel turns 32 at the end of the year, but presumably that was one of the things agreed to by Mike Ashley in their meeting on Sunday night at St. James’ Park.
The defense we played in the final 10 games of the season was young and inexperienced and it would appear that Rafa wants more experience brought in for next season.
But the signing of 6ft 3ins tall Aggar – if it happens – doesn’t bode well for captain Fabricio Coloccini, who may be sold or sent out on loan this summer to get his £65K/week off the Newcastle wage bill.
Benitez signed Aggar in 2006 from Brondby for £6M, which made him at the time the most expensive Danish player ever sold and he had been at Brondby for a couple of years and played 34 times with 5 goals.
Daniel has played 71 times for Denmark with 12 goals and he is currently the captain of his country.
Aggar is the experienced kind of physical player we will need in the Championship next season, and he has played eight years for Liverpool in England.
It makes sense to us and he can help to bring young center-backs like Chancel Mbemba and Jamaal Lascelles through at the club.
Comments welcome.
27 comments so far
Toonacious T
May 17, 2016 at 11:27 PM
Comment #1I like Mbemba and Lascelles as a pairing and a season together in the Championship will help gel that partnership but we will likely play 50 competitive games next season so Agger on a free makes alot of sense to me.
jimmysmith
May 17, 2016 at 11:29 PM
Comment #2Why did Taylor get a game against Spurs?
Robby Bobson
May 17, 2016 at 11:31 PM
Comment #3Lascellas and mbemba look good, but were going to be short at the back.
Someone with his experience, who rafa trusts and on a free transfer seems like a no brainer to me.
BandB
May 17, 2016 at 11:32 PM
Comment #4Move away from the wall Chuchundra.
Laurent Robert 32
May 17, 2016 at 11:33 PM
Comment #5Jimmy, it sounds like you’re telling us a joke and saying an alternate version of why did the chicken cross the road, there. 🙂
AndyMac
May 17, 2016 at 11:35 PM
Comment #6Lascelles was sent home on Saturday with an undisclosed illness
jimmysmith
May 17, 2016 at 11:37 PM
Comment #7Ha, yes it does. I don’t think Rafa is quite as sold on Mbemba and Lascelles, as most of us seem to be.
jimmysmith
May 17, 2016 at 11:38 PM
Comment #8Thanks!
BandB
May 17, 2016 at 11:39 PM
Comment #9Andy Mac
Any more recollections from Sunday night in the Ashley compound?
BandB
May 17, 2016 at 11:42 PM
Comment #10You are a loveable worrit.
Howay jimmy.
Time to hope.
You hoped when there was none.
You owe it to me 🙂
Munster Mag
May 17, 2016 at 11:47 PM
Comment #11Smart move rafa
The spine needs to be strengthened so a good move
beermonkey
May 17, 2016 at 11:52 PM
Comment #12jimmy
what makes you think rafa isnt sold on mbemba and laschelles
jimmysmith
May 17, 2016 at 11:53 PM
Comment #13I’m alreet BandB. As happy as the next fella regarding Rafa likely to stay on. Still not convinced about his paymaster is all. But ok, perhaps it’s not the time and place.
Munster Mag
May 17, 2016 at 11:54 PM
Comment #14Average i meant someone in an advisory role, not as a manager. Pearson will be very good in that league for someone, make no mistake.
ITUNDERASHELL
May 17, 2016 at 11:54 PM
Comment #15Top quality centre back? Looks like Rafa wants to build a real team.
YouCouldn'tMakeItUp
May 17, 2016 at 11:56 PM
Comment #16Isn’t alonso free this summer too? He’s 34, but I imagine he could pull some creative strings in MF. We need experience in the squad in all positions after all.
Derek
May 17, 2016 at 11:56 PM
Comment #17Let’s hope hope hope that this means we can finally say goodbye to Saylor and Colo.
Without Colo, Toonbrother will have nothing to post about. And that can only be good news!
YouCouldn'tMakeItUp
May 17, 2016 at 11:58 PM
Comment #18All we would need then would be a ‘lovenkrandts’ foward to tide us over for the season, and Robert is your mams brother.
jimmysmith
May 18, 2016 at 12:00 AM
Comment #19I don’t know if he is or isn’t. I know I’m not entirely. Their overall form wasn’t totally convincing, although at times they were very good, and they are young. But to be a top 6 centre back, you do need to be very, very good and consistently so.
YouCouldn'tMakeItUp
May 18, 2016 at 12:00 AM
Comment #20Derek
I reckon one of those two will get one more season. Both are adiquate for the championship, so it keeps some money aside for other positions. Our senior CB group would be:
Aggar (if he signed)
Mbemba
Lascelles
Colo/taylor (one off)
BandB
May 18, 2016 at 12:01 AM
Comment #21jimmy
You kept me blogging many a time just because of your honest thinking out loud, when almost everyone else was spinning.
You have that on your conscience 🙂
jimmysmith
May 18, 2016 at 12:10 AM
Comment #22Comrade BandB ?
jimmysmith
May 18, 2016 at 12:14 AM
Comment #23Oh dear, that “?” was originally sent as a smiley face, and entirely meant to be. Sorry pal.
BandB
May 18, 2016 at 12:23 AM
Comment #24I’m not really pal material, Jinky.
But we’ve always been comrades.
funlovingexpress
May 18, 2016 at 2:39 AM
Comment #25It seems a brilliant move to me replacing Collo with Agger.
I think Agger is a couple of years younger, will be on around the same wages, has more experience than Collo and can make our defence play the Benitez way more quickly because he has experience at it.
Plus, hes a better CB than Collo anyhow.
One move in on a free transfer, one out and our defence would improve dramatically.
Excellent news if it comes to pass.
giimps
May 18, 2016 at 7:54 AM
Comment #26Taylor contract is up in June anyway so an upgrade to agger, taller faster and a shouter …..all good things ……I wonder what will happen with the likes of Thauvin , Rafa could defo get a tune out of him in the fizzy pop…..maybe a bit lightweight though …….over to you Rafa
Papavasilou
May 18, 2016 at 9:59 AM
Comment #27You’ve just won the award for most consecutive misspellings of a player’s name, despite getting it right once in the title. Sterling work.