Newcastle need to bring in one new center-back in the summer to strengthen the squad, and that’s in addition to Jamaal Lascelles, who will join us from his season-long loan deal at Nottingham Forest, along with goalkeeper Karl Darlow.
Bruno Martins Indi – Porto 23 year-old central defender
Newcastle’s Chief Scout Graham Carr has been scouting in Holland, Germany and Spain this season, and that’s in addition to France.
And one top central defender who’s young and fits perfectly into the Newcastle mold of players Mike Ashley likes to sign, is 23 year-old Porto center-back Bruno Martins Indi.
The 6’1″ defender joined Porto last summer from Feyenoord for around £6M, and he will probably cost more than that now, having had a good season in Portugal where he has played 22 games with two goals.
He started his career at Feyenoord in 2005 as part of the Youth Academy, and played for four seasons before moving to Port last summer.
Martins Indi played 120 times for Feyenoord with five goals over four seasons, and under Southampton coach Ronald Koeman for the last three seasons, after making his debut as an 18 year-old in August, 2010 in a Europa League game against Gent.
Newcastle may have missed a good opportunity to sign him last summer.
He’s been capped by all the Dutch Youth sides and already has 26 caps for Holland with two goals, and Newcastle would face some tough competition for him if we went after him, with Manchester United said to be interested in signing the defender this summer.
Martins Indi was born in Barreiro, Portugal but moved to Rotterdam when he was just three months old, so he could have played for Holland or Portugal
He chose Holland and made his full debut against Belgium at the age of 20 in August of 2012, when he was very impressive in that game and he also played for Holland in the World Cup last year in Brazil.
Martins Indi can play center-back or left back and would be a terrific signing for Newcastle, and if we are going to build a top side again – this is the class of player we need to recruit.
But it’s also an assumption that Newcastle will bring in a new center-back this summer other than Lascelles.
We’re not absolutely certain that will happen because we will have Coloccini, Williamson, Taylor (S) and Lascelles available and Paul Dummett can also play well at center-back.
And since Mike Ashley likes to keep the wage bill small and therefore the squad small, it’s by no means a certainty he will bring in another central defender other than Lascelles in the summer.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
Note – Will Leversuch is a final year University of Greenwich student conducting some research into the marketing of Premier league Football Clubs. As part of that work Will needs lots of questionnaires filled in – see if you can help him by filling out this short questionnaire – thanks.
You can follow us on our three social media sites below:
62 comments so far
Jeff from Benwell
Feb 27, 2015 at 9:20 AM
Comment #1Heavy rumours that Saturdays opposition have been sold
I must admit I thought it strange that Tim Sherwood would sign up for a club with an uncertain future.
Sherwood is probably the new owners choice
http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/gossip-aston-villa-sold-secret-8708220
lesh
Feb 27, 2015 at 9:24 AM
Comment #2Chelsea get £40m a year shirt sponsorship?
Food for thought for Ashley?
optimistic prime
Feb 27, 2015 at 9:40 AM
Comment #3NUFC and buy shouldn’t be in the same sentance!
Lindisfarne
Feb 27, 2015 at 9:41 AM
Comment #4firebug666
Controversial is not changing Willo, who unfortunately I think will be needed up against Benteke in a must win match. I would definitely like to see a strike partnership.
…………………………….Krull
Janmaat….Williamson….Coloccini….Haidara
……….Abied……….R.Taylor……….Anita
…………………………..Sissoko
………………..Perez………………Riviere
4-3-1-2
I think this is the shape eventually Siem will play behind the strikers.
ToonMatt
Feb 27, 2015 at 9:42 AM
Comment #5Jeff, That’s what we need (A new owner) but I can’t see it ever happening, I’m jealous of Villa if it’s true, We are going nowhere and lesh we are losing out on millions under this parasite and it just goes to show how miserable he is failing at bringing in sponsors etc.
Lindisfarne
Feb 27, 2015 at 9:44 AM
Comment #6That looks awful (graphically)!!!
————Riviere———-Perez
———————Sissoko
——Anita——-R.Taylor——Abeid
Haidara—Colloccini—Williamson—Janmaat
————————-Krul
4-3-1-2
martoon
Feb 27, 2015 at 9:46 AM
Comment #7I’m hoping Man City was a bad day at the office and we’ll bounce back tomorrow. I’m surprised to see Haidara in all your teams – given the nightmare he had last week I’d be tempted to start Raylor at left back.
lesh
Feb 27, 2015 at 9:56 AM
Comment #8ToonMatt
Ashley’s not failing to get sponsors on board, he’s not interested in anything that’ll reduce his advertising opportunities for SD.
Rotonda heights
Feb 27, 2015 at 9:59 AM
Comment #9Toon Matt
what lesh said
Ibizatoon
Feb 27, 2015 at 10:08 AM
Comment #10£6m+ for a defender?!? But Ed, he may not make it and we may end up making a loss on him like M’Biwa!
There’s no way I can support such a transfer. As a fan of this great club I say we’re best to keep juggling Colo, Willo and STaylor for his few games a season.
Yep, that’ll do nicely.
Interesting comments from Carver earlier.
“I know how they will react.” “I am hoping they will react the way I’m thinking they will.” “They usually do after a defeat like this.”
Do you know or hope Johnny mate?
Bring on Villa!
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Feb 27, 2015 at 10:11 AM
Comment #11Interesting breakdown of predictions for Saturday’s game against aston Villa who have not won in the last ten.
500 38% win
417 32% lose
382 29% draw
shows the toon fans are not very confident in getting anything from a poor team
Says a lot for us.
I also put us down for a defeat –
Reason we are a powder puff football team who easily gets muscled off the ball each player looks at least a stone lighter and a foot shorter than the opposition.
And we will probably play the long ball game.
Only way I can see us beating them is to play football as a team. Play on the deck – pass move, dribble and close the opposition down
Silly thing is two home games if we won them both we would be safe.
loose them both we’re in a relegation dogfight
spitfire_
Feb 27, 2015 at 10:19 AM
Comment #12lesh
That will bother him if he does give a sh!t about NUFC… but since he doesn’t…
martoon
Feb 27, 2015 at 10:21 AM
Comment #13Charlie @11 – I know we’ve had a few bad results lately but Villa are a poor team lacking in confidence. I’m confident if we start strongly, press them back we can get a comfortable victory (fighting talk 🙂 ).
Mag52
Feb 27, 2015 at 10:23 AM
Comment #14Firebug (previous post).
That, Firebug, is where you and me ( and also the good sergeant Hegerty), fundamentally disagree.
Sure JC wanted the job. Having served his time, and more, as second in command, that is surely only to be expected. The fact that he is possibly not up to it is sad for him and not at all good for us.
However, to direct our ire and abuse at him serves no purpose whatsoever. Ashley is the man who deserves, and should get, any abuse going for the way he is ruining this once great club. He is more than happy to see his hapless dogsbody copping the flack. ‘Divide and rule’. We should not be divided on this.
Obertoe
Feb 27, 2015 at 10:26 AM
Comment #15People slating haidara seem to forget he was up against 2 class players all the time.
he had a hard time, i agree, but the tactics and the rest of the team didnt help him much
Ibizatoon
Feb 27, 2015 at 10:27 AM
Comment #16Mag52…I agree. Whilst I’m finding Carver frustrating, he is there to serve a purpose, much like Pardew was.
At the time, one of the arguments was that Pardew was complicit, so therefore fair game. I’m sure the said can be said of Carver too.
However, it doesn’t help the fans end game, whatever that may be, to attack the easiest target.
Still, a few are expecting a decent appointment this summer. Why, other than plain hope, I have no idea.
geordie157
Feb 27, 2015 at 10:38 AM
Comment #17Team for Villa. 433, freshen the side up with Riviere getting a start but on the right of a front 3 not as a target man.
Krul
Janmaat, Satka, Colo, Haidara
Raylor, Abeid, Sissoko
Riviere, Perez, Cabella
Subs
Alnwick, Williamson, Anita/Jonas, Obertan, Ameobi, Gouffran, Cisse
geordie157
Feb 27, 2015 at 10:43 AM
Comment #18Hoping Haidara shows his quality by learning from the City game. My only issue with Santon, is that he never really learnt from his mistakes.
Lindisfarne
Feb 27, 2015 at 10:44 AM
Comment #19Siem de Jong
Rolando Aarons
Steven Taylor
Robert Elliot
Paul Dummett
Cheick Tioté
Rémy Cabella
When you look at the list of injured players, does anyone else wonder how incapacitated they actually are?
de Jong – perma crock
Aarons – does not want a new contract
S.Taylor – agile enough to get drunk in London
Elliot – no idea (has he?)
Dummett – continually extended absence
Tiote – doesn’t want to play
Cabella – in a strop
JP...from The Rock
Feb 27, 2015 at 10:45 AM
Comment #20Another fabricated story Ed..we won’t sign quality and this player although will be a good signing will never come to us as Ashley has no ambition.
Please stop building our hopes up about signings as we all know there will hardly be any.
martoon
Feb 27, 2015 at 10:54 AM
Comment #21Obertoe @15 – That would be me – I’m not slating Haidara but the fact is Man City deliberately targetted him as a weak link to great effect. His confidence will be shot and if Villa have any sense they will do the same thing. I am suggesting taking him out the firing line for this game at the very least.
The overrated Frenchman
Feb 27, 2015 at 10:57 AM
Comment #22Why would this young centre half possibly want to join Newcastle? Surely the penny must have dropped within the ranks of talented young players that this is a nightmare destination? I mean, how must Perez be feeling – he’s obviously been told outrageous porkies by slimy old Graham Carr about coming to “a big club, an ambitious club” – and he finds himself in this almost comically incompetent mess which presents itself as a Premier League club. To reference a quirky, cultish Spanish film, I’ll bet he’s saying to himself “what have I done to deserve this?!”
Lindisfarne
Feb 27, 2015 at 11:01 AM
Comment #23I wonder why JC is so intent on keeping a formation that requires forwards to play on the wings, providing cover for the full backs and isolating the central striker. The players, at the moment, do not appear to be of the same quality as Arsenal or City and therefore can not hope to retain possession and attack decisively.
West Ham have shown that a 4-3-1-2 formation can work by providing a defensive platform that is able to quickly link with a strong forward line. Whilst there does not appear to be much width the front three are able to exploit space on the wings and create unpredictability in the minds of the defenders. The three in midfield create a primary defensive line that is able to block the width of the pitch in conjunction with the full backs cutting off the opposition and also launch attacks down the flanks, with defensive cover.
I hope this is the lesson learnt from the last match but I have a feeling that unfounded self belief will mean that the team plays exactly the same way.
Ibizatoon
Feb 27, 2015 at 11:02 AM
Comment #24overrated…Not a fan of Carr then?
Jeff from Benwell
Feb 27, 2015 at 11:04 AM
Comment #25Saylor 29 Raylor 31Williamson 32 Coloccini 33
These 4 will be down the road in Summer
Of the rest the eldest is Janmaat 26 — All the rest are 24 or younger Dummett Haidara Satke Good Ferguson Mbabu Lascelles Streete
Lindisfarne
Feb 27, 2015 at 11:04 AM
Comment #26martoon
Your analysis of Haidara is fine but there was a whole sale failure in defense from the whole team, Anita and the full backs were left very vulnerable.
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Feb 27, 2015 at 11:07 AM
Comment #27Martoon
Just wish I had your confidence – trouble is I’m a bit of a pessimist when it comes to the TOON – to many years of following the TOON!
Man City scored 3 in ONE game against us in the first 25 minutes of the game Saturday past.
Newcastle United – have not scored ONE goal in 26 games in the first 25 minutes and only – is it 4 all season
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Feb 27, 2015 at 11:09 AM
Comment #28whhoops -should of said … is it four or five they have scored in the first half all season
geordie157
Feb 27, 2015 at 11:18 AM
Comment #29starting to worry about Aarons, no contract agreed, imagine offers have come in from other clubs.
Get the lad signed up. And give Sammy a new deal too.
Both are first teamers, add Jonas, Raylor to that and come the summer our squad will be surely the smallest in the league.
croftus5678
Feb 27, 2015 at 11:20 AM
Comment #30imo we need to go 4-4-2 against villa !
my team would be
————–krul————–
jan—colo—-wilo—-hair
——-siss——abied——–
samy——————-ober
——–perez—cisse——–
Jeff from Benwell
Feb 27, 2015 at 11:22 AM
Comment #31The overrated Frenchman
I mean, how must Perez be feeling – he’s obviously been told outrageous porkies by slimy old Graham Carr
Yes that right
This time last year he was playing for a Spanish 2nd division side he played for them 85 times in 4 seasons
Since wicked Graham talked to him
He has played for us 32 times since July
He has scored goals against WBA Everton Liverpool Arsenal and Spurs
what a come down for the poor bairn.
The overrated Frenchman
Feb 27, 2015 at 11:28 AM
Comment #32Jeff, the boy has talent. He was courted by some “proper” clubs. Do you really think he feels he made the right choice? Have you watched him toiling away this season, working under two equally incompetent managers, surrounded by donkeys on the pitch? David Silva came up to him after the game, and said (in Spanish, of course, which I can lip read) “Don’t worry old son, a good club will come along and get you out of here sharpish, no bother”
Jeff from Benwell
Feb 27, 2015 at 11:34 AM
Comment #33The overrated Frenchman
A good club will come along and get you out of here sharpish, no bother
A club like Sunderland maybe ?
You might fool others but I have your (unwashed) card marked , bonny lad
Lindisfarne
Feb 27, 2015 at 11:35 AM
Comment #34The overrated Frenchman
I have never heard a Spanish person speaking with a Geordie accent before!
Jeff from Benwell
Feb 27, 2015 at 11:38 AM
Comment #35You know what Poll I would like Dr Harrison to do ?
How many Mackems post on this blog
I think the actual figure would surprise a few folk
optimistic prime
Feb 27, 2015 at 11:40 AM
Comment #36Jess from Pennywell
You’d be on that poll
croftus5678
Feb 27, 2015 at 11:40 AM
Comment #37@32
tbf he wouldnt have got a sniff of a game even if one of those clubs came in for him !
its only because we have such a poor team that he was able to come in and make his mark on the team but i think your being very optomistic if you think even at the stage he is now that he would get into the bigger teams starting 11 as he just isnt good enough yet !
cisse is our main striker and he’s under cisse ! if ba was here he would be over him ! carroll the same ! he’s still a hell of a long way into learning how to be a striker but you cant rely on him as a striker just yet as he cant get you a proper strikers return for goals to survive in the prem atm.
we think he’s better than he actually is because he’s in a very poor team atm and we take hope from the fact he outshines a lot of our other players.
Lindisfarne
Feb 27, 2015 at 11:42 AM
Comment #38croftus5678
Sissoko is too reckless to play a holding midfield role. JC has tried to put more attackers on the pitch, but the intent to score more goals has not materialised. The poor midfield that Villa have may well give us the opportunity to control the match and score, but I don’t believe this strategy is a long term solution. And hopefully neither is JC!
The overrated Frenchman
Feb 27, 2015 at 11:43 AM
Comment #39You idiots! That’s London speak, not Geordie or mackem. I’ll admit all I say is a bit tongue in cheek and over the top but it makes me feel better to vent and get it out of my system. And Jeff, I’ll make another confession. I did support the mackems in the ’73 Cup Final because I hated Leeds more than them. I have family from Bradford.
beermonkey
Feb 27, 2015 at 11:44 AM
Comment #40theoverratedFrenchmen
lol lip read Spanish why on earth would a 29 year old silva refer to perez as old son
now while we have not played to perez strengths this season the boy has well and has made a a good name for himself if he had gone to real Madrid or the other clubs and played reserve football maybe a loan back to where he was his profile would not have changed
we might not be the best the club but for him at this moment we are the right club