There are local reports today that Gini Wijnaldum is expected to be pulled out of the friendly tonight against Doncaster Rovers at the Keepmoat Stadium, as his move to Liverpool gets closer to being completed.
As we had suggested a few days ago Rafa Benitez now wants 29 year-old Brazilian holding midfielder Lucas Leiva in part exchange.
Rafa rates him highly and Lucas doesn’t seem to fit into the plans of Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.
Gini Wijnaldum in training
Lucas could do a good job in defensive midfield for Newcastle, if he will take the drop down in divisions.
Newcastle are said to want £27M for Wijnaldum or the equivalent in players plus cash, but Newcastle will need to watch out for players coming this way being way over-valued by Liverpool.
So a player exchange plus cash deal will be harder to negotiate for Newcastle.
Other players such as local lad Jon Flanagan could also be involved in a part exchange plus cash deal for the 25 year-old Dutch International.
Again it will depend on whether Liverpool players want to take a step down to the Championship next season.
The Shields Gazette is reporting the two clubs are in advanced negotiations but a sticking point is that Newcastle want cash for the deal to be paid up front.
Newcastle will not take staggered payments over time from Liverpool, which is the usual way clubs do their transfer dealings.
This is the way Mike Ashley negotiated the Andy Carroll deal in January, 2011 and had Liverpool pay a cool £35M up front for the Newcastle striker.
It would not surprise us at all if Mike Ashley is involved in this deal and it could still fall apart, although Liverpool are trying to push it through quickly so Gini can participate in their American tour; they leave tomorrow for that tour.
We would have liked to have kept Gini at the club since he’s a very good player, but if he wants to leave we suppose he should go.
We wouldn’t mind at all if Moussa Sissoko leaves this summer, but only for a massive £35M which he will think is a good bargain for any club.
Moussa Sissoko did nothing for us last season.
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.
10 comments so far
jazzyp
Jul 20, 2016 at 8:17 AM
Comment #1Edd we don’t need another Dm. Isaac Hayden has just been bought for that position as well as the 4 musketeers we all ready have at the club, Who are more than capable of doing a job in the Championship
jazzyp
Jul 20, 2016 at 8:21 AM
Comment #2How much have they just paid for Sane. 34 mill was it ??
And they are trying to pay 20 mill for Gini
Wayayman
Jul 20, 2016 at 8:21 AM
Comment #3Sad to see Gini go as he is a class player as the first half of last season showed. He struggled in a very poor team and I can’t blame the lad for wanting out. We love the club as we’ve been born into it but these lads dont have any loyalty at all to us, it’s just a job at the end of the day and a short career too. Can’t blame them for wanting to play for teams in a better league and at least Gini had the decency to go quietly and not make a fuss or insult us like other players in the team are currently doing. Good luck to the lad, hope he goes on to achieve good things, except when he plays against us and I hope he has a stinker each time
Jib
Jul 20, 2016 at 8:24 AM
Comment #4Rumours that Lucas is being offered the captaincy by Rafa as the 29 year old is very dubious about playing in the ChampionShit
geordie157
Jul 20, 2016 at 8:25 AM
Comment #5Think straight cash for him is best.
There’s a few youngsters from Liverpool who they might part with that won’t cost silly money, ie Brad Smith (lb), Kevin Stewart (dm I think), Connor Randall (rb).
Flannagan is injured more than De Jong or Haidara so prob best to avoid him.
first option on Danny Ings on a season loan possibly? So we can act quickly if needed at the end of the window.
goommy
Jul 20, 2016 at 8:25 AM
Comment #627M and deal. No need to swapping any player.
geordie157
Jul 20, 2016 at 8:27 AM
Comment #7Never liked Lucas, also do we need him unless Tiote is being sold.
Tiote, Anita, Colback, Hayden, Saivet, think we have enough there.
Luis Alberto is out of favour, just to throw a Spanish name into the mix
nufc 11
Jul 20, 2016 at 8:31 AM
Comment #8why lucas? a poor mans tiote imo ings or Allen for me.
jazzyp
Jul 20, 2016 at 8:33 AM
Comment #9Sources at Blackburn say Hanley deal very close
NoahJ
Jul 20, 2016 at 8:52 AM
Comment #10I actually quite like Lucas- he’s one of the most hard-working players liverpool have, a bit like Kuyt used to be: not an amazing player, but grafted every second of every game. we could do with a player like that.