There is news in the Express on Tuesday night that Newcastle have not given up yet on trying to sign Andros Townsend this month, but we have lined up Modou Barrow of Swansea as an alternative signing should the club be unable to forge a loan deal for Townsend with Crystal Palace.
Palace are getting close to signing Sunderland left back and former Newcastle loanee Patrick Van Aanholt and also Yann M’Vila, who is currently playing for Rubin Kazan in Russia and who was on loan at Sunderland last season under Sam Allardyce.
Andros Townsend last season in Newcastle colors
The double deal is reported to be around £18M and Palace would like to recuperate around £10M of the £13M they paid to Newcastle in late June for the England winger.
But Newcastle want to do a loan deal with an option to buy in the summer.
The winger seems keen on a return to Newcastle, but there seems to have been little change in the situation for a few days now.
Newcastle are hoping Palace will bend a little towards the end of the transfer window and do the deal, but on the other hand we cannot wait too long as Rafa wants a winger and a central midfielder brought in this month to help with our promotion push.
Mo Barrow of Swansea
It appears that Newcastle do not want to spend big money in the transfer market in January, before they are certain they will be a Premier League club again and back in the big money of the Premier League next season.
So it appears we will get either Townsend or Barrow in before next Tuesday – with the likelihood it will be Barrow.
And then we are hoping for an attacking central midfielder brought in, who can get the job done when Jonjo Shelvey is not available for whatever reason.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
41 comments so far
jimmysmith
Jan 24, 2017 at 11:22 PM
Comment #110 million and on his Palace wages. That would seem the most realistic deal, but Newcastle I suppose might be concerned about the possibility of being stuck with his wages and a disgruntled half interested player should we fail to go up, thus the preference for the loan with the option to buy.
jimmysmith
Jan 24, 2017 at 11:29 PM
Comment #2If we are seemingly so desperate for a winger that we have lined up Barrow should we not get Townsend then surely Sammy’s card has in fact been marked.
lesh
Jan 24, 2017 at 11:37 PM
Comment #3Alternative facts?
jimmysmith
Jan 24, 2017 at 11:46 PM
Comment #4Orwell
Bobbybee
Jan 24, 2017 at 11:48 PM
Comment #5Jimmy, I wish more of the fans on here would think like you. It’s difficult getting through to some on the finances of football. There’s good reason we would like loan deals and it’s nothing to do with Ashley sticking his nose in. Rafa is cautious by nature. He’s looking at the worst case scenario, whilst planning for the best. It’s not easy. Loan deals we can send back if we fail to get promoted. Otherwise we run the danger of filling the squad with players on PL wages, whilst being in the Championship. People demanding to sign Townsend and because Rafa won’t, blaming it on Ashley.
Townsend is on big wages. He won’t sign for six months, so if we sign him now and don’t go up, we’ve already got players on PL wages without adding more. We want PL players for next season, but only if we go up.
I accept it’s unlikely we won’t get promoted, but if we don’t, we’ll be in danger of doing a Leeds. Or we’ll have to have a fire sale and lose out big time on transfers.
To me it’s as plain as the nose on your face, but because Rafa won’t take that huge gamble, some are instantly presuming Ashley is stopping him from buying. Despite him categorically stating that nothing has changed. He’s in control of transfers.
What he’s doing makes financial sense and doesn’t put the club in danger. Get them on loan, then sign them.
Buying Championship players is different because of their wages. Some are just determined that Ashley has shafted Rafa on his deal and he’s going to mess it up. He might, but not over this. This us just common sense.
jimmysmith
Jan 24, 2017 at 11:56 PM
Comment #6I wonder if Newcastle are talking to Townsend about the possibility of taking a cut in wages should we fail to go up. Not just so that we could then afford to keep him, but also to make him more saleable should he want to go.
BeeGuy
Jan 25, 2017 at 12:00 AM
Comment #7One hopes Townsend is a smoke screen and they are really working on central attacking midfielders.
YoungMagpieFromBurnley
Jan 25, 2017 at 12:01 AM
Comment #8Betty
I’ve been good like I promised 🙂 barely get on here anymore but that’s probably for the best. Hope the blogs been well.
jimmysmith
Jan 25, 2017 at 12:03 AM
Comment #9Yeah I agree Bobby. Rafa looks like a guy who is watchful with the finances, as if he clearly recognises that it’s very much part of the overall responsibility and control he has sought and been given.
Bobbybee
Jan 25, 2017 at 12:05 AM
Comment #10We don’t know, but I can’t see that happening. Footballers are greedy by nature mate. As if they should ever go broke when they retire! I think Rafa is just protecting the club myself, because it’s his pet project and if he leaves us bankrupt, he won’t get this chance again. We simply couldn’t afford too many players on PL wages if we failed to get promoted. Rafa knows that. Ashley knows it as well. Neither will do it and they’re 100% right not to gamble on our future. We’ve got enough to get promoted already, but a loan deal with a view to buy wouldn’t harm us. Lumbering us with a player on 90k a week in the Championship, if something dreadful happened could cause us terrible problems. Bigger picture. Makes so much sense.
SPRINGY
Jan 25, 2017 at 12:06 AM
Comment #11bobbybee/jimmy
the other thing about the townsend deal is if townsend has a relegation clause in his contract he may be a lot cheaper in the summer then now, if palace are relegated..thats why palace want the deal done now for full payment coz if they are relegated he could move for half of want they want now.
Bobbybee
Jan 25, 2017 at 12:11 AM
Comment #12YMFB, good to see you back matey. Be yourself mate, don’t listen to others. Say what you want to say, as long as it’s not deliberate antagonistic. 🙂 Then again, plenty others are so wtf? Most of us have never met and likely never will. Why bother what other people think on here?
expatmag
Jan 25, 2017 at 12:15 AM
Comment #13We all know what will happen here. Ashley will insist on signing the lad from Swansea because like himself, the lad is an original BARRA BOY…….lol
Ok ok…….I will get my coat
Bobbybee
Jan 25, 2017 at 12:34 AM
Comment #14Expat, joking aside, you’ve hit the nail on the head mate. He’s from that background. He’s a cash up front man, whereas everybody else deals in installments – or the vast majority anyway. That’s what makes him such an oddity in football. Well, not just that, but certainly the way he does business. I have no idea why he does it that way, when clearly he accepts installments in payment. There must be a reason, but I have no idea what it is.
Springy, again, you might be spot on mate. He may come cheaper then, but he might have a change of form and keep them up. In which case, the price goes up. It’s all an unknown really. Taking him now on loan makes more sense than buying any PL player on big wages – and he would be top earner. Imagine Shelvey’s reaction to that? When we get promoted it will be different because we can afford it. If we don’t, it could be really difficult to move them on. Why would somebody move who’s earning that money? Result? Fire sale and massive losses on transfers. Not worth it is it? Fine current example is Tiote. He’s refused to move because nobody else will pay him 65k a week. So he sits there milking the club.
YoungMagpieFromBurnley
Jan 25, 2017 at 12:44 AM
Comment #15Bobby
Thanks for the welcome. 🙂
To be fair I had my moments on here where I over stepped the mark so I just tend to get on every now and again now. It’s unfair of me to still post like nothing happened. Anyways, no more talk about that, it’s been done and dusted. Moving on… Like the toon!!!
Bobbybee
Jan 25, 2017 at 1:08 AM
Comment #16You’re far less offensive than some on here mate, but nothing wrong with a clean slate either. Problem on here is some people never let things drop. They take it personally. For me, you can have a good row one day and move on the next. Nobody gets hurt after all. It’s a blog. Sticks and stones etc. 🙂
We certainly are moving on though. Promotion never guaranteed of course, but it is looking promising. Hard to imagine any other clubs taking over from Brighton and ourselves, but we can’t be complacent. Brighton might be slightly more at risk if they pick up injuries to certain players. Knockeart and Dunk in particular, but if they keep them fit they surely must go up. It would be really unfortunate if they lost those two through injury, because they deserve to go up. Like we do. 🙂
lesh
Jan 25, 2017 at 1:19 AM
Comment #17Jimmysmith
Alternative facts, Orwell? You’re clearly a discerning reader.
Bobbybee
Jan 25, 2017 at 1:46 AM
Comment #18Well, I’m away to my bed. I’m there already if I’m honest, but you get my drift. As an aside, the mackems are in trouble big style. Hard not to laugh though. Anichibe out for three months. Van Arnholt to Palace, replaced by Lescott by the look of it. What a shambles. 🙂 Lescott ffs. Failed in the Championship but coming in to rescue their PL status. Good luck with that then. 🙂 There’s no way on this planet we’ll be playing them next season, as long as we don’t implode for some bizarre reason. They can’t possibly lose Van Arnholt and stay up, surely? Lescott. He’s cheap enough, but there’s good reason he was dispatched from Greece after three months. Not exactly a hotbed of quality football is it?
On that very happy note 🙂 I’ll wish you a good night.
dazza
Jan 25, 2017 at 2:03 AM
Comment #19Charlie Adam on loan for the rest of the season option at $4M.
Backup / competition for Shelvey.
Novocastrian66
Jan 25, 2017 at 2:06 AM
Comment #20Charlie Adam? No thanks.
expatmag
Jan 25, 2017 at 5:14 AM
Comment #21Dazza
Not even for 4 p mate
Jib
Jan 25, 2017 at 6:08 AM
Comment #22http://asturias.eldesmarque.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=16917:rubi-cambia-las-prioridades&catid=16&Itemid=121
Joan Francesc Ferrer Sicilia (Rubi) has replaced Abelardo Fernandez as manager of Sporting Gijon.
It transpires that Gijon’s director of sport , Nico Rodrigues was the driving force behind the acquisition of CheickTioté (he actually met Charnley and Rafa in England).
The new manager is even less enthusiastic about the Ivorian than his predecessor.
Given the fact that Gijon have massive financial problems and NUFC probably would have waived any transfer fee to get Tioté of the books you can understand the Spaniards interest but yet again the player has dug his heels in over wages (why wouldn’t he , his contract ends on his 31st birthday).
Between now and the end of his contract in 18 weeks he will get just over a million pounds for doing nowt.
No more contracts like this please Rafa.
Vask
Jan 25, 2017 at 6:24 AM
Comment #23We signed Mo Barra yet?
cyprus
Jan 25, 2017 at 6:31 AM
Comment #24Adam + Montero would be a super window. Don’t know Barrow. Apart from that video.
Jib
Jan 25, 2017 at 6:33 AM
Comment #25Bolton manager Phil Parkinson must have been delighted to see Ameobi take to the pitch on the hour mark for NUFc vs Rotherham at SJP last Saturday afternoon.
If the Toon should acquire Townsend or Barrow then , presumably , Sammy will go back out on loan (he’s cuptied thus reducing his usefulness)
Under the 3 clubs a season rule his destination can only be Bolton Wanderers.
Markaccus
Jan 25, 2017 at 6:34 AM
Comment #26Looks like my attempt to jinx Brighton failed. Oh well, we will just have to beat them ourselves.
G
Jan 25, 2017 at 6:41 AM
Comment #27Pretty certain I read yesterday that Charlie Adam could be off to Fenerbace. Could be speculation. Not a bad player, but not brilliant either.
Markaccus
Jan 25, 2017 at 6:46 AM
Comment #28Probably in a minority, but I have always been a big fan of Townsend. Yes, he seems to sometimes have a problem aplying his talent at times, but that talent is clearly there. He is a very good player imo. Would love to see him back.
Jib
Jan 25, 2017 at 6:57 AM
Comment #29After Oxford United on Saturday the League fixtures for February bring up some interesting reacquaintances.
On Wednesday 1st Feb big Rafa fan Ian Holloway brings QPR to SJP. ON SKY
The following Saturday SJP hosts Derby County and a certain Mr McClaren.
The following Saturday we’ll be hoping Jonjo Shelvey will do his talking with his boots against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux. ON SKY
The Tuesday after that Norwich City will be looking for payback in Norfolk.
The Monday evening after Agent Bruce brings his “Villains” (good name for their fans) up to SJP.
ON SKY
Thn Bristol City @SJP
Then the very last day of February we go to the Amex Stadium to play Hoots “Seagulls” !
ON SKY
Mouthwatering !!!!!
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Jan 25, 2017 at 7:02 AM
Comment #30Jib
Eight games…
Seven championship games
21 points
that could decide the fate of our season
Jib
Jan 25, 2017 at 7:07 AM
Comment #31G
Agreed – Adam not top drawer but he would chew up this league .
Jib
Jan 25, 2017 at 7:09 AM
Comment #32G
Also have you been to Stoke on Trent ?
Newcastle would seem like a cross between Las Vegas and Monte Carlo after that shithole.
😀
Jib
Jan 25, 2017 at 7:16 AM
Comment #33I wondered what the Adam /Turkey link was.
Charlie played for Dick Advocaat at Rangers .
The Dutchman now manages Fenerbahce
Laurent Robert 32
Jan 25, 2017 at 7:17 AM
Comment #34Adam would be a good back up to Shelvey if he accepted his ‘experienced’ squad role, and his abysmal pace won’t be as exposed in this lower and slower league. Not the worst option in the world at all. I’d go either a very young promising player as back up or an aging quality/experienced player.
I’d still like to see De Jong in a number 10 role here if performing well. His positional sense can be very good.
Jib
Jan 25, 2017 at 7:22 AM
Comment #35Should have said Advocaat got to know about Adam through his contacts at Rangers.
jimmysmith
Jan 25, 2017 at 7:25 AM
Comment #36He may be a fat bastard, and would only come to play, but he can sure sure as shit play a mean ball, and he’s hard.
Adam alongside Hayden or Colback. Shelvey in the hole behind Gayle, with Ritchie and Townsend either side.
Rafa, make it so.
Jib
Jan 25, 2017 at 7:26 AM
Comment #37Laurent Robert
I don’t think Siem fits either of your ideals.
He’s more of an ageing promising player
😀
Jib
Jan 25, 2017 at 7:43 AM
Comment #38Mark Douglas ?@MsiDouglas 4 minutes ago
The on-off saga of Cheick Tiote. His move to Sporting Gijon is now OFF:
G
Jan 25, 2017 at 7:47 AM
Comment #39Jib, Stoke is a dump, not quite as much a dump as Grimsby or Hull, but not much better either. Grimsby is deffo the worst town in England I have visited.
toontaff2
Jan 25, 2017 at 8:08 AM
Comment #40Grim in Grimsby. Stopped off there one Saturday – it was shut.