All Nigeria Soccer is reporting that Newcastle are in the race to sign Spezia Calcio forward David Okereke.
We were first linked with this player in the middle of May this year.
He had a great season last season in Italy’s Serie B helping his club to the playoffs, but Spezia were not successful in getting promoted.
The speedy 21-year old center-forward had 10 goals and 12 assists in 33 appearances in Italy’s second tier.
Okereke can play both as an out-and-out striker up front or on the right wing.
The academy player is highly regarded in Italy and some top clubs there have been watching him including Juventus, AC Milan, and Inter-Milan.
He has often been compared with former Newcastle transfer target Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (now at Arsenal) because of his similar style of play.
Spezia Calcio forward David Okereke
This latest report has his representative, Ben Itorho confirming that Southampton, Crystal Palace, and Newcastle United are all trying to sign the player.
This is what he said to All Nigeria Soccer:
“Southampton, Crystal Palace, and Newcastle are showing interest, but there are other clubs who want him.”
“Club Brugge, Genk and Sassuolo have a strong interest in him.”
“They want Okereke in the Premier League, but the player has to take a decision with his footballing future in mind.”
This lad looks like a good payer who we could get for a reasonable price.
If the takeover goes through we, expect one of Rafa’s first signings to be Salomon Rondon from West Brom.
But this lad would also be a good signing for us.
Comments welcome.
34 comments so far
Optimistic Oryx
Jun 18, 2019 at 9:36 AM
Comment #1What’s Platini been arrested for?
Just heard on the radio but it didn’t say why.
DavidKelly9
Jun 18, 2019 at 9:36 AM
Comment #2George Caulkin
There are at least two bidders who claim they’re in advanced negotiations. But there’s no exclusivity and the formalities of completing a deal can take weeks. And none of that means something will definitely happen.
The one thing I will say, every local reporter are still going with this another bidder and all do not seem to think BZG are as far down the line as we hope.
Bobbybee
Jun 18, 2019 at 9:37 AM
Comment #3OO, just a wild guess mate, but the FBI were investigating corruption within FIFA, so it may have something to do with that?
Optimistic Oryx
Jun 18, 2019 at 9:38 AM
Comment #4Bobby
Please please please let it be that.
Bobbybee
Jun 18, 2019 at 9:39 AM
Comment #5OO couldn’t agree more mate, the whole lot want taking down. If it is that, he’ll be spilling the, beans as we type.
jimiley
Jun 18, 2019 at 9:40 AM
Comment #6Time to get off the “linked with player” merrygoround.
Sheik-en but not stirred
Jun 18, 2019 at 9:41 AM
Comment #7Oo it’s about the awarding of the world cup to Qatar!!
Bobbybee
Jun 18, 2019 at 9:42 AM
Comment #8Jimiley, not yet, I predicted 300 links, we’re not quite there yet 🙂
RobLeenio
Jun 18, 2019 at 9:43 AM
Comment #9Repost from previous – apologies
Some terrible players listed. Diego Gavilan, anyone?
However, as I prefer to be positive, how about your favourite journeyman player who became a fan favourite?
I’m going with Peter Lovenkrands, although Kevin Gallagher is in my thoughts also.
Bobbybee
Jun 18, 2019 at 9:44 AM
Comment #10Sheik-en, so, corruption within FIFA then? Get in! Not before time either.
Bobbybee
Jun 18, 2019 at 9:45 AM
Comment #11I HATE FIFA!! 🙂
Bobbybee
Jun 18, 2019 at 9:46 AM
Comment #12Peter Lovenkrands – I’ll agree there Rob. Great servant to the Toon without a doubt.
clinath@ed
Jun 18, 2019 at 9:47 AM
Comment #13Playing been arrested in connection on suspicion of corruption in the awarding of the 2022 World Cup to Qatar.
Optimistic Oryx
Jun 18, 2019 at 9:47 AM
Comment #14Rob
Scott Sellars or David Kelly for me, I wouldn’t be cruel enough to call them journey men.
clinath@ed
Jun 18, 2019 at 9:48 AM
Comment #15Platini…..obviously
Optimistic Oryx
Jun 18, 2019 at 9:48 AM
Comment #16Platinis going down
Platinis going down.
Couldn’t happen to a nicer man
Sheik-en but not stirred
Jun 18, 2019 at 9:48 AM
Comment #17Bobby… Apparently he took bribes for Qatar to get the world cup….. I highly doubt someone at FIFA would do that!!!! It’s an upstanding organisation Haha..
toon22
Jun 18, 2019 at 9:50 AM
Comment #18There must be a way MA is involved somehow
For the love of god
Diddly
Jun 18, 2019 at 9:52 AM
Comment #19John burridge. And as a mongoose but always 100%
Sheik-en but not stirred
Jun 18, 2019 at 9:52 AM
Comment #20Toon22
Jabba and FIFA would be a match made in heaven!!
JohnReese
Jun 18, 2019 at 9:59 AM
Comment #21Rob at the mention of Peter Løvenkrands, I actually played with his brother Tommy for a brief period back in the early 2000’s. Admittedly with me as part of the reserve team. Very similar player but he just never made the step up like Peter did.
droppy in Wallsend
Jun 18, 2019 at 10:03 AM
Comment #22Toon 22
If only
TheDrewid
Jun 18, 2019 at 10:04 AM
Comment #23Guiv’arch was truly appalling. There have been plenty of contenders for worst player ever at SJP, but my vote goes to Andreas Andersson. Think he scored one goal which rebounded off his arse.
RobLeenio
Jun 18, 2019 at 10:05 AM
Comment #24From Michel Platini’s Wikipedia page:
Following the ongoing corruption case, and after his announcement that in July he would run for FIFA president, Platini was also involved himself in the case. Swiss prosecutors accuse FIFA president Sepp Blatter of making a “disloyal payment” of $2m (£1.6m) to Platini. Swiss attorney general, Michael Lauber, stated: “We didn’t interview Mr Platini as a witness, that’s not true. We investigated against him in between as a witness and an accused person.” Both Platini and Blatter were placed under formal investigation by FIFA’s independent ethics committee in late September 2015.
On 8 October 2015, Platini was provisionally suspended until 6 January 2016 from any football-related activity. On 21 December, Platini and Blatter were both found guilty of ethics violations and barred from the sport until 2023. The committee said Platini “did not show commitment to an ethical attitude” and lacked respect for laws and regulations of the organization.[46][47] Platini boycotted the hearing, and said he planned to appeal the decision, declaring himself “at peace with my conscience.”
Platini was also involved in the Greek public polemica[vague] regarding the 2015 Greek football scandal.
In April 2016, Platini has been named in the Panama Papers.
On 18 May 2018, Platini claimed that the 1998 FIFA World Cup draw was fixed to ensure France and Brazil could not face each other until the final if both teams won their groups.
The man is a bent as a 9 bob note, I hope he ends up going away for a long, long time. FIFA’s refusal to allow the World Cup to come back to England, the country which invented the game, since 1966 is a disgrace. It’s to the credit of the FA that they have obviously refused to play FIFA’s games and bribe their way to hosting it.
Bobbybee
Jun 18, 2019 at 10:05 AM
Comment #25Sheik-en, I agree mate. Hard to imagine anybody in FIFA acting in a corrupt manner. Must be a mistake. 🙂 Let’s hope he grasses up the main man.
hibbit
Jun 18, 2019 at 10:06 AM
Comment #26Toon 22
LOL 😛
martoon
Jun 18, 2019 at 10:08 AM
Comment #27It was so obvious that the award of the World Cup to Qatar was corrupt. I remember when they visited SJP for the England bid there needed to be detailed reports on the accommodation, transport infrastructure etc. Yet somehow it was only after Qatar were awarded the WC they suddenly realised it was going to be too hot to play in the Summer – I mean wtf!
RobLeenio
Jun 18, 2019 at 10:08 AM
Comment #28John Reese, that’s quite cool – St Johnstone? Must have been agonising to get so close to being a pro footballer but not quite get your break.
Do you still play?
JohnReese
Jun 18, 2019 at 10:11 AM
Comment #29Yeah that’s the one. It was gutting but injuries did me in. Tore my right ACL at 16, didn’t fully recover, tore it again at 18 and I was half crippled. I could get through a game but couldn’t walk afterwards. Scrapped on for a couple of years as a reserve player whilst I started taking my badges.
Jail for Ashley
Jun 18, 2019 at 10:13 AM
Comment #30Sheik-en but not stirred,
There was an excellent Panorama doco about it a couple of years ago, it was an old one updated. It was astonishing the corruption, it wasn’t so much the direct bribes they were taking as that would be too traceable, it was allowing all the FIFA members to help themselves that ensured Blatter got re-elected and therefore ensuring he stayed in his $6M a year salary job with all first class expenses included while sitting in his ebony walled offices in Zurich.
Return of the Geordi
Jun 18, 2019 at 10:13 AM
Comment #31Hope Platini goes down and takes UEFA and FIFA with him, two rotten organisations with no accountability to anyone.
Jail for Ashley
Jun 18, 2019 at 10:15 AM
Comment #32That’s what boils my pi$$ about the financial fair play, thought up by men who were more than likely being bribed by the games elite to stop anybody else crashing in on the party, if PSG weren’t part of it M City would have been crucified.
Sheik-en but not stirred
Jun 18, 2019 at 10:24 AM
Comment #33Jail,
I’ll have to look it up as I haven’t seen it… But I’m glad they will get done for it!!
Australia got screwed with that bid and should of got it but the tossers at FIFA were all taking bribes
Phil K
Jun 18, 2019 at 6:06 PM
Comment #34Didn’t Platini’s son get an overpaid “consultancy” as part of the deal to give Qatar the World Cup ?