Stephen Ireland is expected to join Newcastle United on loan today, and will be Newcastle’s second acquisition in the January transfer window, following the permanent signing of Frenchman Hatem Ben Arfa.
Stephen Ireland – only arrival today
The 24-year-old Ireland midfielder had a medical on Tyneside last night, and the paperwork is being worked on today, and the announcement could come any time today on the Newcastle web-site.
We think Stephen will be a welcome addition to the Newcastle club.
If you had asked anybody about Ireland a short 18 months ago, they would have said he’s one of the best central midfield players in the Premier League, and they’d have been right about that.
But he’s had a difficult time of things since then, after being pushed onto the sidelines at both Manchester City and Aston Villa, by managers who didn’t rate him, and we think he will be given every chance at Newcastle to shine again.
You have to remember that great players like Stephen don’t become ordinary players overnight.
And while there are signs that he may be a difficult player to handle, Newcastle have had lots of experience in handling these types of players over the last few years, with some success. Don’t worry we’ll get Joey, his former team-mate, to straighten him out. 😀
Newcastle will get Ireland in on loan through the end of the season, and the club are also trying to bring Sebastian Larsson to Tyneside on a £1M deal, before his contract runs out at Birmingham in the summer.
But we think Seb wants to see out his contract at Birmingham, and whether Newcastle can secure him to a pre-contract agreement before the summer, is a good question.
If they can, then they will get Larsson in the summer for nothing.
Xisco is likely to be moved out on loan to Deportivo, and we hope the 24 year-old can get some games there and play well too.
If he can do that Newcastle will try to unload him permanently to his former club in the summer, but Xisco will try to stay on Tyneside and pick up his 50K/week wages for the remaining 30 months of his contract.
And while Newcastle are trying to bring in goalkeeper Kieren Westwood from Coventry we think the Midlands club will turn down Newcastle’s £500K. bid today, and the club will then try to sign the former Carlisle goalkeeper on a free transfer in the summer.
If that happens, expect either Tim Krul of Fraser Forster to be sold in the summer.
We only expect Ireland to be coming through the doors today, and that will be a little disappointing to most Newcastle fans, but we are also open to some surprises – on the positive side of course.
Comments welcome.
21 comments so far
Irish Geordie1
Jan 31, 2011 at 9:35 AM
Comment #11st yessssssssssssssssss.. woop woop.. http://www.newsnow.co.uk/A/472737675?-11058
lewytoon
Jan 31, 2011 at 9:36 AM
Comment #21st 😀
burnsie
Jan 31, 2011 at 9:42 AM
Comment #3BREAKING NEWS FROM SSN WEBSITE:
Skysports.com understands Newcastle star Joey Barton is poised to sign a new deal at St James’ Park.
Newcastle have been in talks with Barton as they look to secure the midfielder on a long-term contract.
Barton has been in outstanding form for Newcastle this season and his performances have attracted the interest of a number of Premier League rivals.
The midfield dynamo has 18 months to run on his current contract and Newcastle have moved to offer Barton a new deal to ward off interest from his list of suitors.
Talks are believed to be at an advanced stage and Barton is now thought to be ready to ink a new three-and-a-half-year deal to keep him on Tyneside.
Barton’s agent Willie McKay has confirmed the former Manchester City ace is on the brink of pledging his long-term future to Newcastle.
“Talks have progressed well and we are hopeful of concluding the deal very soon,” McKay told skysports.com.
“Joey is enjoying his football at Newcastle and he is happy to sign a new deal.”
ASTORIA
Jan 31, 2011 at 9:44 AM
Comment #4To be honest I’m surprised we’ll even get 1!!!
lewman
Jan 31, 2011 at 9:52 AM
Comment #53 and a half year extension, or is that the full length of his new contract?
NorseMag
Jan 31, 2011 at 9:57 AM
Comment #6Ireland in on Loan-to-buy
Ben arfa signed permanently
Routledge out on loan-to-buy
If that’s it, we’ve improved the squad in a difficult window, without breaking the bank.
Of course hoping for more, but as long as thing appear to be going in the right direction, i’m going to be patient.
Mac
Jan 31, 2011 at 9:57 AM
Comment #7If Ireland is the only 1 through the door and we don’t lose anyone i’llbe happy with that.Ben Arfa and Ireland is a great bit of business. This time last season we were playing in the Championship. Now we are building slowly securing our core players and adding quality to the squad.
I honestly believe people are underestimating Ireland as a player. Everyone that has seen him play and imean actually seen him not just watched MOTD or played on Fifa. I went to the Man city game at Eastlands the one where Barton broke his foot. Ireland absolutely ran the show.
TonyGreenSupreme
Jan 31, 2011 at 9:58 AM
Comment #8lewman,
It is a new contract that will supercede his current one, makes sense as it will take him beyond the age of 31.
NorseMag
Jan 31, 2011 at 10:00 AM
Comment #9not to forget we’ve tied down players on long contracts. Hoping for Barton to sign now, and Enrique next.
Sinner
Jan 31, 2011 at 10:04 AM
Comment #10CHUCK NORRIS SPOTTED AT AIRPORT. 😀
http://img593.imageshack.us/img593/5517/dr8rrcopy.png
Chuck Norris is a one-man team and with that>>>> a winner!
lewman
Jan 31, 2011 at 10:05 AM
Comment #11i suppose better to give him a 3 and a half one, and then he can always get a 2 year extension at the end of that if he is still playing well
sephir0
Jan 31, 2011 at 10:07 AM
Comment #12Waheeeeeeeey! This is it lads, the day we’ve all bin waiting for! 😀 lets get Ireland signed up 2day on loan, and any othe surprises if there are then great, if not then we fight on till the summer. HWTL!
Graeme
Jan 31, 2011 at 10:09 AM
Comment #13I would have thought that getting the Bull signed up to a 5 year deal has to be the next priority followed by Tiote.
They have had such a good season so far, they are being tracked by a number of clubs. These two have to be put on long term deals asap!! They will become/ have become part of the backbone of this team and could continue to be for many years to come.
Rotonda heights
Jan 31, 2011 at 10:12 AM
Comment #14Enrique
more important than barton as he’s much younger. barton’s nearly 29 now !
nimo
Jan 31, 2011 at 10:13 AM
Comment #15Great window for us IMO. The players signed up to new contracts are our star players and shows how the relationships r strong within the squad, except for saylor under houghton everyone seems to have signed as they want to play for the club not for the big bucks – we look like keeping Carroll even when big money been offered and strengthened with the permanent signing of benny and hopefully loan of Ireland. Everyone seems to forget are intentions were to stay up this year and were sitting pretty in 8th with a game in hand that would take us 7th, too many faces my disturb the team morale that is getting us here
sephir0
Jan 31, 2011 at 10:13 AM
Comment #16Graeme
Agreed. As much as i dont want him to go i think if chelsea come in for him with a couple of his mates already there the oppurtunity might be to much for him to turn down. i sooooo hope im wrong like. But if we get him tied up to a long term deal now and he wants a move in the summer….we can get chelsea paying silly money for him! 🙂
lewman
Jan 31, 2011 at 10:16 AM
Comment #17nimo we are 9th but your right about where we would be if our game in hand was magically turned to 3 points in an instant
ALEK mkd NUFC
Jan 31, 2011 at 10:37 AM
Comment #18nice deal for ireland!!DONT SOLD ANDY PLSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
Mags
Jan 31, 2011 at 10:44 AM
Comment #19THE SOONER THIS WINDOW IS CLOSED THE BETTER.
ALEK mkd NUFC – Agree please please please please do not sell Andy.
stuckdownsouth
Jan 31, 2011 at 11:05 AM
Comment #20If we get through the window, don’t lose anyone but WR and add Ben Arfa on a perm contract and Ireland on loan that’s a good sensible window. Rotonda I’m sure they’re working on Tiote and Jose not sure why you need to make Joey’s signing a negative, it’s a good thing!
Davies
Jan 31, 2011 at 11:09 AM
Comment #21I don’t like this article, Ed.
1) You seem to want Larsson more than anybody else. I’m really not that fussed. He isn’t that good.
2) If Ireland is the only player through the door, this will not be a disappointing window. He’s a good bit of business and I really didn’t expect us to get anyone of his quality.
3) “If he can do that Newcastle will try to unload him permanently to his former club in the summer, but Xisco will try to stay on Tyneside and pick up his 50K/week wages for the remaining 30 months of his contract.”
How the hell do you know what he’ll do?
You’ve been slating Xisco a lot recently. I’d rather keep him than sign Larsson. It’s not the lad’s fault if the manager doesn’t pick him. The handful of times he’s played for us, he’s looked pretty decent. Try to remember that he is still one of ours and he isn’t getting any chances.
That is all.