Corriere dello Sport are reporting that Newcastle are interested in left-winger Mohamed Fares who plays for Hellas Verona in Serie A.
Former Newcastle assistant manager Fabio Pecchia is the head coach there and keeps in regular communication with Rafa Benitez about players in Serie A.
The 21-year-old has been at Verona since 2013 and has recently been capped for the first time by Algeria.
He made his debut in December 2014 against Udinese in a Serie A game.
So far he has played for the Verona first team 46 times with one goal and three assists.
He can play on the left side of midfield usually in attacking position.
21-year-old Mohamed Fares – Verona left-winger
Newcastle have been unable to make an early signing in this transfer window and news today that one of our striker targets, Danny Ings, will stay at Liverpool through the end of the season and is not available for a loan move.
It would help if we can get one or two players in early this month.
But Mike Ashley is still to return from his vacation in the states and from the local reports he has not been all that heavily engaged in transfer discussions.
Rafa seems to be staying very patient, but it’s also a worrying situation for the manager to be in when you have an ambitious manager and an owner who is not even engaged with the club.
It’s a ridiculous and dangerous situation for Newcastle United to be in.
If Mike Ashley doesn’t give Rafa money to spend this month, it could be a very tough second half of the season for Newcastle in our attempts to survive yet another relegation.
We hope to hear some good transfer news from Rafa in his press conference this afternoon for the FA Cup game at home to Luton Town tomorrow.
Even if it is only that he knows how much he has to spend this month and that’s adequate for what the manager needs to do this month.
But January transfer windows can be very difficult.
Comments welcome.
24 comments so far
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Jan 5, 2018 at 8:33 AM
Comment #1What is actually going on with this club? That’s five days into the window and nothing seems to be getting done
G
Jan 5, 2018 at 8:34 AM
Comment #2Not seen this lad play, but he’s rumoured to be very strong and quick. Anybody watched him?
Geremi's Prosthetic Leg Fund
Jan 5, 2018 at 8:42 AM
Comment #3Uninspiring record.
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Jan 5, 2018 at 8:42 AM
Comment #4Won’t matter if Ashley is away for the month
nowt will be done as he will of left instructions with his new financial director he brought in in the summer NO SIGNINGS
Geremi's Prosthetic Leg Fund
Jan 5, 2018 at 8:44 AM
Comment #5I hope something is anncounced soon either way because this limbo will Just cause mass frustration if we continue to plod along. I expected a signing by now. We’ve known since September 1st what we need.
catchy in norway
Jan 5, 2018 at 8:48 AM
Comment #6Ed
who do we vent at now,
you say the owner is away, could it be that at this moment that the club literally is in limbo, whether he was here or not, maybe its all in the FA’s hands right now and nothing can be done for legal reasons
could you be venting at the new owner now?
Mag52
Jan 5, 2018 at 8:50 AM
Comment #7It’s crossed my mind that his final two fingers directed at NUFC fans by the repellant Ashley, might be to get Rafa to walk out because of a lack of support in this transfer window.
I know it wouldn’t help his chances of selling the club, but his interests appear to be so diverse these days that I wonder if he really cares.
Bobbybee
Jan 5, 2018 at 8:51 AM
Comment #8I’d anybody needed confirmation that we are hated then last night’s game between Spuds and Wet Spam is all that is required.
Nobody in their right mind can deny that City are by far and away a better side than Spurs. By a distance.
And we are clearly a Championship team, whereas West Ham are an established PL team who spent a lot of money over the last couple of seasons.
Yet Moyes set up EXACTLY like Rafa against City. It was virtually a carbon copy.
Not one shot on – on or off target – until a speculative effort flew into the net from thirty yards. First corner on 86 minutes.
West Ham packed the defence all game.
But whereas Rafa was deemed negative and anti football, Moyes – yes Moyes, failure incarnate – was a tactical genius.
Say no more.
Tsunki
Jan 5, 2018 at 8:51 AM
Comment #9Oops. Ding ding!
I’m inclined to think Armstrong is not going to be the required article but perhaps that is harsh, considering his loan destinations have been less than fortuitous. He seems to end up being bogged down in struggling sides and playing out of sorts and position, he hasn’t been done many favours by his host clubs. Problem is if he’s not cup tied now, shoving him in against Luton would. Then would he be as desirable a loan to a more forward-thinking championship side?
Tsunki
Jan 5, 2018 at 8:54 AM
Comment #10It is only the 5th January btw.
Even Welshie hasn’t been on every other post to say we aren’t ever going to sign anyone ever again, ever.
That’s due on the 10th.
JohnJ
Jan 5, 2018 at 8:56 AM
Comment #11The very least we need is a Centre Forward who can put the ball in the back of the net on a faily regular basis. It’s not Rocket Science!
stu mel
Jan 5, 2018 at 8:58 AM
Comment #12I just don’t understand Ashley, why did he buy a football club. You have Robbed the club dry. Say there no money we saw the money come in where did it go (Your pockets). Any team without buying playing staff will struggle let alone a team just up from the championship. Why won’t you just take what ever money n go its best for everyone. R spend n protect your investment. Mike Ashley is a chancer at best but a betting man would never back him. What unfortunate has seemed to happen is he has washed his hand which sorry if so and it seems that way he just didn’t care n is gonna leave us to rote.
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Jan 5, 2018 at 8:59 AM
Comment #13Bobbybee…isn’t that how it works in life when you take chances or do something that might raise eyebrows…
…if it works you’ll get praise and you’re a genius to use your words, but if it doesn’t pay off then you have failed!
That’s the hazard of management!
Tsunki
Jan 5, 2018 at 8:59 AM
Comment #14I suppose a positive is that in times past when we loaned players out it was obviously trialling them for sale.
But we have the likes of Gilliead and Longstaff proving to be popular at their hosts maybe we could see them return as more developed rather than just stick in the shop bargain bin.
Our Toon
Jan 5, 2018 at 9:00 AM
Comment #15Bobby
West ham showed no ambition other than wanting a point. Having said that they didn’t shoot from kick off and then sit in either and they didn’t play at home either.
Jib
Jan 5, 2018 at 9:02 AM
Comment #16I love the phrase
“it’s not rocket science”
rocket science is about as simple
as science gets
stick something on top of a controlled
explosion and whoosh away it goes like
a MF up into the sky.
Tsunki
Jan 5, 2018 at 9:03 AM
Comment #17So Jesper – are you saying Rafa should live or die by the sword, rather than perfect the art of the phalanx?
Do you think this squad has the technical capability to offer more free-flowing, attacking football without jeopardising it’s defensive strategy?
Tsunki
Jan 5, 2018 at 9:03 AM
Comment #18Btw it’s rocket surgery. 🙂
Bobbybee
Jan 5, 2018 at 9:04 AM
Comment #19On Armstrong. This kid was the best outfield prospect we had produced since Gazza, let alone Carroll. People who never watched him play for our U18’s and U23’s simply can’t comment. He was brilliant.
Newcastle once again show an absolute failure in bringing through young players.
Sendingvhim to Barnsley, then Bolton, was a disaster.
Barnsley played long balls. Wasted on a small striker.
Bolton had their own strikers so played him on the wing.
Would Shearer have shone on the wing? Would any striker? Striking is a completely different kettle if fish.
Despite this, Bolton were desperate to keep him. Gladly, we refused.
Talk of getting rid of him shows a lack of football nous. The kid’s still only 20 ffs. 🙂
He’s a natural goalscorer and needs to play up front. What this has done to his confidence remains to be seen, but I suspect he’ll bounce back.
I’m like to see him given a try on Saturday, but suspect his next loaning club will want him kept back.
Given our shocking scoring record, what do we have to lose?
Anybody thinking this kid is finished at 20 is clueless. Plenty time to reach that potential – massive potential – which is why Rafa won’t let him go. If stepping backwards to go forwards is the way, then so be it. He won’t be the first.
If he fails, he fails, but having watched him grow, I still believe he can make it. Just not as a winger!! 🙂
Jib
Jan 5, 2018 at 9:06 AM
Comment #20The main hazard of management
is having folk who know sfa about
footy going on blogs spouting shite
Wayayman
Jan 5, 2018 at 9:11 AM
Comment #21Says the man who claims rocket science is as simple as science gets…
Wayayman
Jan 5, 2018 at 9:13 AM
Comment #22There was supposed to be a #tonguestickingoutemoji after that post.
ashleysmate
Jan 5, 2018 at 9:15 AM
Comment #23I think mashley has sold up but will try to be as awkward as he possibly can up-to the end of the window
stu mel
Jan 5, 2018 at 9:29 AM
Comment #24Sending metal into space is easy ha ha getting it to go somewhere harder getting it to send reads back also hard. But sending metal in to space well it’s a lot of maths