Newcastle United have had a £1.5M bid for Swedish winger Sebastian Larsson accepted by Birmingham City, but his club are still hoping he will sign a new contract with them.
Seb Larsson – Birmingham still apparently hopeful
The former Arsenal midfielder has repeatedly refused to sign a new deal at the club, as he probably looks to see if bigger clubs come in for him, and it seems that Newcastle, who were after the winger a few years back, are now back and keen to sign him.
Birmingham’s first team coach Peter Grant is still hopeful Larsson will remain at the club and sign a new contract with them, but that has to be very doubtful at this stage, although we suppose it could still happen.
This is what Grant said today:
“The manager Alex McLeish has spoken to Seb’s agent and it’s ongoing,” “I think Seb would obviously be keen to stay – and the club are looking for him to stay also.”
“But it’s down to him and his agent who is speaking to the club at the moment. That’s as far as it’s gone.”
“We’re not kidding ourselves on. We just hope that Seb wants to stay with us. I’m sure that’s the case and I think he’s proved that with his performances this season.”
“But, if he decides to move elsewhere, you can’t do anything about it. That’s the situation with the Bosman ruling now.”
“Sometimes the big players have the opportunity and the agents can make that happen.”
The Bosman ruling is simply that a player signs a contract with a club, and he can see out that contract, and then move onto another club on another contract, but of course in that case the first club doesn’t get a transfer fee for the player.
Newcastle were in a similar position with Steven Taylor, whose contract would have run out next June, but Steven finally decided to sign a new five and a half year deal with his home-town club, after contract negotiations lasted more than a year.
We think Seb Larsson is the player Alan Pardew is trying to sign right now, and have him at the club before he becomes cup-tied at Birmingham, although we suppose Newcastle could make that part of the deal, that Larsson doesn’t play in the FA Cup tomorrow.
Birmingham play at Milwall with a 1:30pm kick off, so it will be interesting to see if Seb is in the Birmingham line-up tomorrow.
We’ve been keen on Seb since Newcastle were first interested in the player, after Birmingham were relegated in 2008, and this season he’s played extremely well – which is of course why Birmingham still hope to keep the player.
If Newcastle can get Larsson he would be a great acquisition for the Tyneside club, and at a very decent price too.
Comments welcome.
60 comments so far
RichK
Jan 7, 2011 at 4:11 PM
Comment #1where have you got the info from that the offer has been accepted?
toonoholic
Jan 7, 2011 at 4:11 PM
Comment #2if he was keen to stay on, he would have signed a contract long time ago.
either he wants a big pay rise thats why he is fighting in out in jan or he really wants out
between birmingham and nufc, choice is yours to play with bowyer or barton
Zangwill_Ho
Jan 7, 2011 at 4:12 PM
Comment #3Funny
Toon-Barmy
Jan 7, 2011 at 4:18 PM
Comment #4Seb would be a really good signing for us! In years gone by we would have splashed out £10 million on a player like David Bentley and look where it got us! It’s nice to see Newcastle getting good players like Dan Gosling, Cheick Tiote and Mike Williamson for next to nothing instead of paying a fortune for the likes of Owen, Luque & Boumsong!
Toon1978
Jan 7, 2011 at 4:18 PM
Comment #5Not seen a lot of Larrson but by all accounts he is a decent player. Lets hope he signs.
ITUNDERASHELL
Jan 7, 2011 at 4:19 PM
Comment #6At long last our club is building for the future,Sebastion Larsson is a quality player who can cross a ball and give 100%.
With our youth development and shrewd purchases of this type we are going back into the top 6 as a minimum shortly.
Turkish Magpie
Jan 7, 2011 at 4:23 PM
Comment #7Anyone seen this? Could be good for them
http://www.nufc.co.uk/articles/20110107/young-trio-head-out-on-loan_2281670_2260974
but for Faroe Magpie yesterday it means Edmunson will definately not play against Stevenage
colwell
Jan 7, 2011 at 4:26 PM
Comment #8Didn`t see anything about us in that statement, just about the bosman ruling.
On other blogs it seems Brummy fans aren`t too bothered to see him go, saying doesn`t seem too try and his crossing is no where near as good as people think, bit worrying!
JSYproject
Jan 7, 2011 at 4:28 PM
Comment #9sound like bitter brummies to me colwell… ‘well we dont want him anyway so there’
pathetic really, he wants to play for a bigger club, get over it 🙂
Magpies-till-d3ath
Jan 7, 2011 at 4:29 PM
Comment #10Hopefully he’s not in Birmingham’s line up tomorrow as he won’t be cup tied if he does sign for us decent player a possible replacement for Jonas who is on a run of poor form hopefully he can do well if he pulls on a Newcastle shirt.
Irish Geordie1
Jan 7, 2011 at 4:30 PM
Comment #11larsson would be a great signing, id take him over bentley any day. but we still need a better defense were already in the top four goal scoring clubs!!!nice!!!
Toon-Barmy
Jan 7, 2011 at 4:31 PM
Comment #12From the Birmingham website:
Midfielder Sebastian Larsson joined Blues in August 2006 on an initial season-long loan deal from Arsenal.
However following a string of impressive performances this move was made permanent in January 2007.
Although he is predominantly a midfielder, the Swedish international has also played at full back.
He is recognised for his passing ability and accuracy from free-kicks.
Larsson is a firm favourite with the Blues fans.
He collected no less than five trophies at the 2007/08 End of Season Awards, including Player of the Season, Players’ Player of the Season and Goal of Season.
toonoholic
Jan 7, 2011 at 4:31 PM
Comment #13lets trade spuds bentley for xisco.
hi 5 on that
toonoholic
Jan 7, 2011 at 4:32 PM
Comment #14@ Toon Barmy
He is recognised for his passing ability and accuracy from free-kicks.
this sounds just like Ryan Taylor 🙂 i think we just brought him so that he stopped scoring against us .But he has got some canny goals this season for us
jj
Jan 7, 2011 at 4:34 PM
Comment #15JSY project i agree….ive watched him alot this season as i knew we had been linked with him and everytime i seen him play i was disappointed, he hasnt done anything that our players havent done already this season and they are right his crossing is not amazing, better than routledge but not amazing…not as good as barton for sure, but like they say he is a hard worker and is technically good and a decent set piece taker, 1.5m is bout right if im honest
nufc1984
Jan 7, 2011 at 4:36 PM
Comment #16The mackems are apparently after sessignon and muntari on loan. Would be gutted if they got sessignon ahead of us. He’s a right player and would be great on opposite wing to benny when he’s back.
jj
Jan 7, 2011 at 4:38 PM
Comment #17Please go for Charlie Adam hes class and wont cost alot, id be happy to play 451 anytime of the midfield was Benny, Adam, Tiote, Nolan, Barton!!
OneAlanShearer
Jan 7, 2011 at 4:48 PM
Comment #18blackpool would want a lot for charlie adam
torresmex90
Jan 7, 2011 at 4:53 PM
Comment #19hey guys add me on ps3 if you got it
mexinufc90
elliott_1
Jan 7, 2011 at 4:53 PM
Comment #20got a feeling adam has a 3-4 million pound clause? but dont take my word as im not 100%. but anyway, my mate goes to newcastle college and he seen larsson entering st james’ this morning
jj
Jan 7, 2011 at 4:54 PM
Comment #21id pay a lot, id rate him at 10m right now and its only goin to go up so an offer of Routledge, Guthrie and 4m might tempt them as i rate both at 3m maximum or offer to buy now and loan him back til end of season
wynsleap
Jan 7, 2011 at 4:58 PM
Comment #22Would we really want a player who’s humming and haahing over whether he should stay at Birmingham or join us?
Give me the players like Williamson, Tiote and Ben Arfa who couldn’t wait to get here.
Brum v Toon – really – it’s a no brainer.
Irish Geordie1
Jan 7, 2011 at 4:59 PM
Comment #23birmingham signing kenny miller its on skysportn news
geoff777
Jan 7, 2011 at 5:00 PM
Comment #24I’ve been watching the newswires all day.
I haven’t seen anywhere that we have made a bid for Larsson never mind that it was for £1.5million and it has been accepted.
Source Ed, or are you now working for the Daily Mail?
UpdaToon
Jan 7, 2011 at 5:02 PM
Comment #25Hey guys I’ve written an article on the youngsters at Newcastle. If you could check it out, show ur support by dropping a comment and let us know what you think. Should get a good debate going –
http://www.cleansheetsallround.co.uk/2011/01/6-wonderkids-that-represent-the-future-of-newcastle-united
nufc7
Jan 7, 2011 at 5:04 PM
Comment #26if you sign charlie adam you have to base your whole formation around him (like blackpool do) which wouldn’t be good for us. he’s poor in a 4-4-2 so we wouldn’t be able to play with 2 strikers. rather give him a miss anyway we have enough cm’s.. unless we offload guthrie or someone
nufc7
Jan 7, 2011 at 5:05 PM
Comment #27@23 on SSN it says we’ve made an approach for larsson but doesn’t mention anything about a bid being accepted
steburnip
Jan 7, 2011 at 5:11 PM
Comment #28birmingham or nufc, hmmm who would wanna live in the shit hole called birmingam?
I think he will sign, along with a young quick striker.
Then id be happy
davis_toons
Jan 7, 2011 at 5:12 PM
Comment #29Sulley Muntari is another good player…too bad we didnt manage to make any intrest in him.
I wouldnt mind Muntari in the bench.
Fostino
Jan 7, 2011 at 5:14 PM
Comment #30ryan taylor a great crosser of the ball too but he couldn’t make the team …..granted that he hasn’t played under pardrew yet
davis_toons
Jan 7, 2011 at 5:15 PM
Comment #31Im very sure if Muntari join us our center mid field will be very strong with Tiote.
We can try loaning him now that Tiote is injured.
kevymartins
Jan 7, 2011 at 5:16 PM
Comment #32Leon best ireland crossbar challange..http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQl5u7ZSw9Y
Prove’s that he is right footed
kevymartins
Jan 7, 2011 at 5:16 PM
Comment #33http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQl5u7ZSw9Y
Stuart
Jan 7, 2011 at 5:18 PM
Comment #34Geoff,
Its in the mirror and the sun today that newcastle have had a £1.5m bid accepted, I’m guessing thats the original source.
Fostino
Jan 7, 2011 at 5:19 PM
Comment #35not sure what to make of seb larsson to be honest…better then nothing i guess
GeordieGerman
Jan 7, 2011 at 5:21 PM
Comment #36steburnip, Bloody awful accent as well. Birming-gum
Vinicinhos
Jan 7, 2011 at 5:23 PM
Comment #37Wow, very good player and cheap.He will help us so much.
david_NUFC
Jan 7, 2011 at 5:24 PM
Comment #38Get James Forrest of Celtic. Young, fast,skillfull and a really good crosser on the wings. One for the future 😀
ToonKelaz
Jan 7, 2011 at 5:25 PM
Comment #39how about we’re getting seb, because bentley is off to brum? cos bentley doesnt want to move tht far away from london? plus newcastle dont want to shell out stupid amounts of cash, which is exactley what wheel dealer A’rry wants us to do. where as brums are? as seen in the keane deal.
Vinicinhos
Jan 7, 2011 at 5:30 PM
Comment #40Ladislav Volesak, good midfielder, czech player, cheap…
Maynor Figueroa, Wigan left back and center back.Great long shot kick.
Chris Baird, Fulham right back, better than Simpson and Perch.Great player, and can play at Center Midfielder and Right Midfelider.