There were more French reports today that Newcastle United are still interested in 21 year-old Cameroon International defensive midfielder Stephane Mbia.
Stephane Mbia – 21 year-old defensive midfielder – lots of clubs interested
We reported back on 21st March, that Newcastle were interested in the 21 year-old, and news today that Newcastle are still maintaining their interest in the youngster.
Mbia is also being targeted by Everton, Manchester City and Tottenham and Rennes are now said to be seeking at least £4M for 21 year-old M’Bia.
Stéphane Mbia Etoundi was born in May, 1986 in Yaoundé and plays for French club Stade Rennais. He is a defensive midfielder, but he can also play at right-back. At just under 6’2″ tall, he is a dominant looking midfield player.
In the recent African Cup of Nations quarterfinals in Jnauary, Mbia was in excellent form in the game against Tunisia, and scored two goals, including the game winner in the second minute of extra-time, to carry Cameroon to victory.
Newcastle’s Geremi played in that game too for Cameroon, and it may be that Geremi will be able to help attract Mbia to Newcastle.
The tall Rennes star is now said to be rated around £4M but back in March £10M was the fee being quoted for him. So exactly what he will cost we have to say we have no good understanding of the fee right now but we think it’s a lot closer to £4M.
Mbia has played 53 times for the French club.
While he would be a good acquisition for the club, there are many other teams in the running, but so far none of the top four seem to be expressing an interest for the player.
So we would seem to have a reasonable chance of attracting the player to Tyneside. Mbia turns 22 on May 20th.
Here is Stephane’s playing record to date.
Youth Clubs Years Academy 2003-2004 Kadji Sports Academy 2004 Stade Rennais B Senior clubs Years Club App Goals 2005- Stade Rennais 53 1 2005- Cameroon 11 3
Comments welcome.
56 comments so far
Eric
May 9, 2008 at 2:28 PM
Comment #1Buy him for the simple fact that Spurs are also supposed to be interested? Could be one for the future though. Must check him out.
Hamas (51times)
May 9, 2008 at 2:35 PM
Comment #2£4m isn’t a lot really…probably worth it if we don’t get Veloso, which I don’t think we will 🙁
Eric
May 9, 2008 at 2:37 PM
Comment #3Not much on YouTube but he seems a sturdy player. In one clip it seems as though Milan Baros thinks the boy has a personal odour problem. Any more news. Have they had their beer and sandwiches in London yet?
ELFER
May 9, 2008 at 2:39 PM
Comment #4I’m a bit sceptical on these youngsters…especially in midfield. Did he only have 1 year in the french league? Hm, difficult!
Hadrian
May 9, 2008 at 2:45 PM
Comment #5he stood out at the acn , gemeri is like god in cameroon aswell so he could help bringing him in .
Leo
May 9, 2008 at 2:48 PM
Comment #6well if we cant get veloso this guy might be a good bet, if we can get him for 4mil then make him into a top player we will be sitting pretty
suprise suprise though, someone newcastle are interested, guess who is sneeking around, tottenham, i hate them with a passion
My wife died in 1970
May 9, 2008 at 2:50 PM
Comment #7WHY DO SPURS ALWAYS GO AFTER THE SAME PLAYERS AS WE DO?
I’M FURIOUS!
JC
May 9, 2008 at 2:50 PM
Comment #8Ah man city could get into europe through the ‘Fifa Fair play’ clause or fulham could aswell aaaaaaaaaaaa.
Tom_Toon
May 9, 2008 at 2:52 PM
Comment #9Noot special.
Graeme
May 9, 2008 at 2:54 PM
Comment #10Could be a good signing in the long run. He looks versatile, no doubt Geremi will have his phone number to make sure he knows how good the toon are!!!!
beattie
May 9, 2008 at 2:57 PM
Comment #11Could turn out to be a good buy, although another player from Africa? we don’t want to lose half our squad, next ACON.
And i’ve noticed that in the gossip rags, we get linked with a player, and then lo and behold, tottenham are in there trying to seal the deal first (according to journos). Could this be a new transfer policy?
CRAIGG
May 9, 2008 at 2:57 PM
Comment #12I honestly dont believe that we are interested in these sort of players or have even looked at them. Players i think would be KKs choice would be the likes of Wright-Phillips, Dunne, Veloso, Ashton and McGeady then i belive it.
CRAIGG
May 9, 2008 at 3:00 PM
Comment #13I use the word God a lot when i refer to Geremi as well like
“God, Why is this guy taking every set piece”
“God, Me nan could run faster than him”
“God, when is Jimmy M coming back”
Ant
May 9, 2008 at 3:18 PM
Comment #14It could be worse Craigg, it could be Alan Smith!
If he’s back for the Everton game as a starter I will drink myself into a coma…
Or at least have a bloody good go!
James
May 9, 2008 at 3:29 PM
Comment #15Team I’d like to see for Everton game :
———————–HARPER—————
–BEYE——TAYLOR—–EDGAR—–ENRIQUE
—– DUFF— –BUTT—–FAYE——-NZOGBIA
————————–OWEN——————–
———————–MARTINS——————-
If Smith starts we will lose as we always do when he starts
CRAIGG
May 9, 2008 at 3:31 PM
Comment #16Ant I think i’d join you if Smith starts!
This is the match when we give some young lads a start Edgar, Carroll and Lua Lua would get a start for me with nowt riding on it.
———————Harper—————–
–Beye——Taylor—–Edgar——Enrique—
———Lua Lua—–Butt—–N’Zogbia——–
—————–Owen—Carroll—Martins——–
Also get Ramage on the pitch at the end for one last time, the same as Bobby did with Griffin a couple of years back to say farewell to the lad
ELFER
May 9, 2008 at 3:33 PM
Comment #17I think DIATTA will be given his first full debut and then we see really if he is somthing or not…I guess rather not, but let’s see!
———————Harper—————–
–Beye——Taylor—–Diatta——Enrique—
———Geremi—–Butt–Faye—–Duff——–
—————–Owen——Martins——–
CRAIGG
May 9, 2008 at 3:37 PM
Comment #18I wish we were playing at home this weekend i wanted Steven Carr to do his lap of (Dis)honour and when he walked near me i could throw a D-Cup wonder bra at him, He has got a right pair of saggy chicken fillets on him, the fat knob
Oba
May 9, 2008 at 3:42 PM
Comment #19Would be good backup, if we sign another DM of course. Haven’t seen much of it tbf, but seems a more realistic signing, than Veloso.
James
May 9, 2008 at 3:42 PM
Comment #20Craigg – KK said yesterday no youngsters will be given a run out against Everton. He said he will pick the same bunch of players as he has done throughout the last 10 games
CRAIGG
May 9, 2008 at 3:53 PM
Comment #21James, Sorry your right i saw the interview, Im disapointed as Geremi and Smith are about as much use as a pair of Chocolate Teapots
Dondatta13
May 9, 2008 at 4:03 PM
Comment #22UPDATE …
Hi, just saw this link … Apparently we have slapped down a 20 Million Euro offer on the table for Veloso. Im not sure how reliable this site is …
http://www.portugoal.net/Sporting0708/200805095NewcastleVelosoBid.htm
Id like him at SJP … and Van der Vaart also 😉
Geordie Gerrard7
May 9, 2008 at 4:54 PM
Comment #23we should give the full hog for him, he is one of the best youngsters in the world
Geordie Gerrard7
May 9, 2008 at 4:55 PM
Comment #24i mean veloso in my previous comment
John
May 9, 2008 at 4:58 PM
Comment #25lads lets not get ahead of oursevles like we did with Modric…Ok we made an offer but look at who else is interested …
Dont get your hopes up until he’s sitting next to king kev in the press room
SPyro
May 9, 2008 at 4:59 PM
Comment #26Spurs set to outbid us for McGeady
Geordie Gerrard7
May 9, 2008 at 5:01 PM
Comment #27mcgeady is shite and weak, they can have him
John
May 9, 2008 at 5:04 PM
Comment #28we dont need mcgeady anyway…hes just another winger …We have enough in milner , zog and duff if we are going to start playing wingers next year ..
He’s not that good…Got some good skill , but jesus chrsit so do i..I’d look brillant in scotland 🙂
Tom_Toon
May 9, 2008 at 5:05 PM
Comment #29Cant say i rate McGeady from what i have seen.
Get someone from eastern europe like Bystrov.
Danish_Magpie
May 9, 2008 at 5:13 PM
Comment #30Tom_Toon: I have seen Husyev play, but where have you seen the rest play? I know them a bit from FM and stuff (which is often correct, I know) but still, isn’t the way I like to evaluate players.
As for this M’bia guy, I have not seen him play much as I don’t often watch French football, bar highlights. He might be worth checking out, but shouldn’t be a priority signing. I would like it, though, if we signed a good DM to play next season and let Nicky be our backup.. Veloso wouuld be just find, if possible.. Viana might give him a call and recomend us…(!)
JC
May 9, 2008 at 5:46 PM
Comment #31Anyone who is as fast as you say he is Tom Toon. Is worth a 5m punt. He (Bystrov) could add some much needed pace to our attack, which at the minute only has oba that can frighten defences with his pace. It was evident against Chelsea that when we broke oba was a lonely figure running at their defence plus he could be the exciting player that everyone is dying to see on tyneside.
Dondatta13
May 9, 2008 at 5:51 PM
Comment #32Van der Vaart is THE flair player I want to see on Tyneside
JC
May 9, 2008 at 5:57 PM
Comment #33But Dondatta13 do you not think that Bystrov is a more realistic target I mean Chelsea Barca and a list of other clubs how can offer european football want Van Der Vaart. But don’t get me wrong I would give me right arm for him just can’t see it happening.
Tom_Toon
May 9, 2008 at 5:59 PM
Comment #34Bystrov isnt a flair player but he an exciting player. Bilayetadinov or Zhirkov are the flair players of Russia.
Geordie Gerrard7
May 9, 2008 at 6:06 PM
Comment #35i want the excitement of having to translate the reports and rumours of a player signing, hopefully that will be veloso
Dondatta13
May 9, 2008 at 6:14 PM
Comment #36JC, I respect your comments. I myself read alot of press regarding football transfers and transfer rumours. Van der Vaart’s name is very seldom mentioned in the coloum inches I read.
Please dont forget that this guy could have went to any club when he left Ajax … he choose Hamburg!
I just feel, VDV and KK would work wonders together along with our attack minded play. KK was and still is a legend at Hamburg. The EPL is a stage that many players wish to grace. KK could talk a nun out of her nickers lol
I say move fast, be ruthless in your persuit, pay the fee’s/wages … get the man!
This kid could be OUR Cantona. Thats got to be something thats worth an offer from our club.
Tom_Toon
May 9, 2008 at 6:23 PM
Comment #37http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwJ9Q_gkzjk&eurl=http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=vladimir%20bystrov&ndsp=20&um=1&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=iv
we’d never get VDV so its better not to make ourselves look mugs for trying and failing.
JC
May 9, 2008 at 6:35 PM
Comment #38Thats right forgot KK played for Hamburg, could have a chance but we need to move fast as you said. Thats why we didn’t get Modric because we took too long to decide to raise our offer.
Going back to what I was saying earlier I am frankly desperate to see a pacy winger that can make something from nothing its so frustating to watch us breaking because fast as oba is he is admittedly not the most skillful with the ball at his feet so I would love to see a Bystrov or Aaron Lennon (that can cross a ball) at the club.
Does anyone agree?
Geordie Gerrard7
May 9, 2008 at 6:39 PM
Comment #39none of us know anything atm, all we know is that we have supposivley put in 20 million bucks in for a world class holding midfielder
JC
May 9, 2008 at 6:42 PM
Comment #40Geordie Gerrard7 whats your point??