The good news this morning is that the deal to get Grant Hanley to Newcastle seems to be a lot closer to being completed.
The Chronicle are reporting that Blackburn sources are saying the deal is close.
Grant Hanley – 24 year-old Blackburn center-back
The Chronicle’s lead reporter Lee Ryder has just tweeted this within the last hour.
Sources at the Blackburn end say Grant Hanley deal close to being done #NUFC
— Lee Ryder (@lee_ryder) July 20, 2016
We haven’t heard too much during the last few days about what’s going on with the Hanley deal, since Liverpool moved in to try to get Gini Wijnaldum to Merseyside – and it will be good to get the deal for the Scot signed, sealed and delivered – very soon.
It has gone on now for over three weeks, during which time we have supposedly been close to getting a deal done for the talented 24 year-old Scottish International.
Grant is said to be very keen to join the Rafa revolution on Tyneside and as well as having played in the Championship for the last four seasons for Blackburn and before that in the Premier League – he also has strong leadership skills, which is exactly what we need in this coming season.
Grant has played 200 times for Blackburn Rovers with 9 goals and they are the only club at senior level that Grant has ever played for.
Hopefully that will be changing very soon.
Comments welcome.
Note: Reader Sean Pigott is taking part in an Ultra white collar boxing event in Aberdeen on the 10th of September this year and collecting for Cancer Research UK, because many of his family have suffered from the terrible disease.
Sean has set up a justgiving page here if you can possibly donate to a very good cause.
20 comments so far
jazzyp
Jul 20, 2016 at 8:38 AM
Comment #1A lot of chatter we are very interested in Che Adams as well. Who was pulled out of a friendly last night
The overrated Frenchman
Jul 20, 2016 at 8:43 AM
Comment #2Would be happy to see Lucas arrive. Put him in centre midfield with Hayden – youth and experience. And it pushes Colback further from the starting 11 – I like that.
Wayayman
Jul 20, 2016 at 8:43 AM
Comment #3Jazzy, Isn’t this lad the same age and position as Arma? Seems odd- or ominous for Armstrong if these rumours are true.
Wayayman
Jul 20, 2016 at 8:45 AM
Comment #4I like Lucas, he’s not eye-catching by any stretch but he’s got fantastic timing in the tackle and very good vision for the ‘disruptive’ position he plays. He’s too good for the championship that’s for sure!
Wayayman
Jul 20, 2016 at 8:47 AM
Comment #5IF we did get Lucas as P/E for Gini, would Rafa play him alongside Hayden and push Shelvey in front of them as a playmaker?
jazzyp
Jul 20, 2016 at 8:47 AM
Comment #6Wayayman
Quite often used as an attacking midfielder. So maybe Gini’s replacement.
jazzyp
Jul 20, 2016 at 8:50 AM
Comment #7The thought of us signing young English talent really appeals to me a lot more than the imports we have sought so often over the years.
Reece Oxford would be a corker
YouCouldn'tMakeItUp
Jul 20, 2016 at 8:54 AM
Comment #8Lucas has always seemed to me a kind of ‘neutral’ mf. That is to say, not too defensive or attacking. He doesn’t set the world alight, but i agree he is probably better than champs level
gorgonzola ( former Pecorino former to gorgonzola)
Jul 20, 2016 at 8:54 AM
Comment #9Whoever Rafa decides to bring in, I trust. He has a plan.
With the idiots before him having no clue every signing was suspect. Lets see.
YouCouldn'tMakeItUp
Jul 20, 2016 at 9:00 AM
Comment #10Gorgon
For some reason, our last couple of managers could only seem to sign midfielders. Hence we often had DMs playing as full backs, and in both cm roles. We also ended up with AMs playing as wingers and second strikers. Rafa seems to be slowley sorting this ridiculous anomoly out!
Toon-Prodigy
Jul 20, 2016 at 9:02 AM
Comment #11Is this Lucas better than Anita or Colback? I’v never seen Liverpool play for a while.
I’v a feeling Tiote could be away. We have Saivet as cover and now Hayden.
Along with Shelvey who can sit.
Does this Lucas get forward? It’s forward thinking players we need if we are to lose Sissoko and Wijnaldum. We seem to be alright with sitting midfielders.
hibbitt
Jul 20, 2016 at 9:02 AM
Comment #12Hanley and Lucas would give that bit steel we have lacked through the middle plus both captain material
Laurent Robert The Legend
Jul 20, 2016 at 9:06 AM
Comment #13Hanley..Finally!!
YouCouldn'tMakeItUp
Jul 20, 2016 at 9:13 AM
Comment #14TP
Lucas’ position is officially recorded as “Random Midfield presence of no real note”
😀
The overrated Frenchman
Jul 20, 2016 at 9:16 AM
Comment #15YCMIU – I agree. Most of our signings in the past couple of seasons seemed completely at odds with what the team really needed. Of course, we all know why. Lee? Graham? Like to say anything here?
Toon-Prodigy
Jul 20, 2016 at 9:31 AM
Comment #16YCMIU,
Just like Anita then! Tidy CM on his day?
I think Colback and Anita has more than enough for this league. Hayden looks promising also as cover. Saivet is a question mark at the minute. He didn’t even get on the bench towards the end of the season.
Tiote can go. Get him off the wage bill.
I’d like to see a CB, number 10 and a winger brought in to replace Sissoko and Wijnaldum.
posada
Jul 20, 2016 at 9:31 AM
Comment #17What is an Attacking Midfielder.
Where do they play in Rafa’s favoured 4 2 3 1 or any other formation for that matter.
Anybody like to explain it.
posada
Jul 20, 2016 at 9:33 AM
Comment #18Hope this Hanley is worth it.
I can’t say I have watched him play, but several on here say he is slow.
I’m never too keen when I hear that.
geordie157
Jul 20, 2016 at 11:33 AM
Comment #19Grant Hanley makes Mike Williamson look quick.
However 5.5mill isn’t bad, what you get with Hanley is a physical centre back, another leader in the side, he tends to be no nonsense.
Still would prefer Lees, Dunk or Duffy but he’s a decent signing.
U.S Magpie
Jul 20, 2016 at 11:45 AM
Comment #20Sky Sports is reporting that we have signed Hanley for 5.5 Million.