News today that Newcastle are keen on Hamburg’s German International midfielder Lewis Holtby, who played for Tottenham and on loan at Fulham back in 2013 through 2015.
The report is in the Mirror and it’s the first time this summer we have been linked with the 26 year-old, who previously played for Schalke 04, before moving to Tottenham in 2013.
Holtby, 26, had two years at White Hart Lane but struggled to get a first team place and in January of 2014 he was sent out on loan to Fulham, where he played 13 times with one goal but he couldn’t prevent them from being relegated that season.
26 year-old Hamburg midfielder Lewis Holtby
The report is that he could be available for around £5M and it’s becoming clear that Newcastle are trying to pick up bargain buys and seem not to want to pay huge fees for any one player – at least this summer.
Nathan Ake went to Bournemouth for a cool £20M on Wednesday and there’s news in the local papers that while we were interested in the player, £20M was thought to be far too much for the 22 year-old.
But maybe this is what the new transfer window looks like, although Chelsea have included a buyback clause in Ake’s contract, so it he really becomes a star player then they will buy him back.
Heaven forbid that Bournemouth should keep him in that case – that’s not a good deal for the buying club.
We mention Bournemouth and Ake because the ambitious Cherries are said to be interested in Lewis Holtby who we always through looked a good player when he played in England.
Lewis played 24 times for the German U21 side with 14 goals and he 3 full caps for Germany making his debut way back in November, 2010 in a friendly against Sweden when he had only just turned 20.
£5M would appear to be a fairly low risk proposition for Newcastle, but it’s a good question as to whether he can play well in the Premier League.
In the three years he’s been at Hamburg he’s been a regular starter and has played 90 times with four goals for the Bundesliga club and while at Tottenham he played 42 times with 3 goals.
What do you think about this player?
Comments welcome.
161 comments so far
one fine day
Jun 30, 2017 at 5:48 PM
Comment #41Bigger it he left as I was typing grrrr
Rotonda heights
Jun 30, 2017 at 5:50 PM
Comment #42Why is it that someone who not only appears somewhat illiterate, can also display so much ignorance and lack of sensitivity. Maybe I’ve answered my own question.
jazzyp
Jun 30, 2017 at 5:51 PM
Comment #43Ignore him lads. All wums disappear eventually…. well apart from good old Welshie
Mag52
Jun 30, 2017 at 5:54 PM
Comment #44.
Bobby.
Anyone buying a club at this time of the year would expect, probably insist, that the selling regime had bought in players in readiness for the new season.
The cost of these players would form part of the final deal.
And, can Rafa possibly wait for what could be a long winded haggle over the deal. We all know what Ashley is like where money is concerned. Will Rafa be happy to wait till it’s all settled before he can get his hands on any new players ?
And what if, following a month or so of haggling, the deal falls through. Do we then start the season with the same team we finished with last season ?
No mate – the delays due to the club having a potential buyer don’t stack up IMO.
kc2012
Jun 30, 2017 at 5:56 PM
Comment #45Holtby is a good little player at £5m but just like the rest, I highly doubt were after him. Our current squad is decent IMO so im not overly worried by the slow window but 4 or 5 good signings before the start of the season (about 6 weeks away) and we’ll be sound. Keep Rafa happy and we’ll be ok. It’s only June kids, i’m just happy that were not panic buying some of these shocking linked players. Faith in Rafa
Our Toon
Jun 30, 2017 at 6:02 PM
Comment #46Is there a takeover or just an excuse to not spend/ not spend big? Personally u think it’s an easy excuse to hide behind.
The club is owned by Ashley until he sells it, this notion you wouldn’t invest in something you are selling is utter tripe. Let’s not forget Ashley isn’t physically paying for the players with his own money, he’s paying for it with the club’s money that has been generated.
If I buy a house or car for example I’d get more money by doing it up and selling it on than I would to leave it as it is and not look after it properly.
Novocastrian66
Jun 30, 2017 at 6:03 PM
Comment #47This transfer window is becoming another too familiar. Bearing in mind we sealed promotion in April and this supposedly gave us an advantage as the club had identified targets and were ready to move quickly. I think we’re in for the usual tripe being signed in the summer. Struggle along until January then panic buy.
Jib - Goatmouf 2
Jun 30, 2017 at 6:04 PM
Comment #48I think the conclusion that yesterdays meeting came to would b along the lines of – well we wanted payers in quick to participate in pre-season – but – the market is stupid at the moment so we will try to get our foreign targets in sharpish and wait for the end of window panic to set in before going for domestic signings.
magspuggy
Jun 30, 2017 at 6:04 PM
Comment #49To be fair to welshie at least he has nufc in his heart(mostly)
This latest wum is just a nacker that can nearly type.
c-dog
Jun 30, 2017 at 6:08 PM
Comment #50Nothing exciting as per usual. Link us with someone good for once.
jazzyp
Jun 30, 2017 at 6:08 PM
Comment #51Interesting that Tom Heardman is going on loan to Bury .Proving that transfer dealings are going off behind the scenes.
So no excuses can be used as to why there is no incomings
WWSBRD
Jun 30, 2017 at 6:09 PM
Comment #52I quite like Holtby personnally had a big future ahead of him but didnt work out at Spurs but for 5 mill? That’d be a very good signing
magspuggy
He most certainly does not
lochinvar
Jun 30, 2017 at 6:10 PM
Comment #53Reality is that all news these days is doctored to keep the masses both confused and happy.
I don’t think so called Football news is any different.
Remember A Few Good Men film
Ashley : I’ll answer the question. You want answers?
Rafa : I think I’m entitled to them.
Ashley : You want answers?!
Rafa : I want the truth!
Ashley : You can’t handle the truth!
Well lets hope not. As the journey reports are made up then theres nowt to worry about.
Rafa was back in town today for his 1pm conference and I can report accurately enjoyed the tea and biscuits.
July 1st is the start , honestly !
WWSBRD
Jun 30, 2017 at 6:11 PM
Comment #54Oh and nice to see the Ashley excuse of selling the club is responsible for the current issues around transfers and the problems its causing behind the scenes with our management team. Changed man though make ur own luck and all that
lochinvar
Jun 30, 2017 at 6:12 PM
Comment #55* journo reports
Bobbybee
Jun 30, 2017 at 6:13 PM
Comment #56Mag52, like you, I don’t know. We have no idea what’s happening. I could just as easily reply that maybe the deal is almost done and they’ll fund their own players. We don’t have a clue, any of us.
All I’m saying is if anybody expects Ashley to pump more money into a club he’s selling, then they are crazy. Why would he? Would you?
Rafa will know more than us though. He was happy with what he was offered. If anything has changed, and that was the reason for the extra meeting, then Rafa must be fine with it or he’d have already walked.
We don’t know mate. Nobody does. I’m not stating anything definitive, I’m just trying to make sense of it all.
Rafa’s still aboard, which tells me he’s happy that whatever is going on is going to help his project in the long run. Everything he does he does for a reason. If he’s happy to change plans, there’s a reason. He’s no mug. He’s not going to let Ashley make a mug of him, so whatever is going on, Rafa’s part of it.
If only any of us knew what was going on! 🙂
DeanToon88
Jun 30, 2017 at 6:21 PM
Comment #57When small clubs like Bournemouth have made more signings that us that is a worrying sign, we couldn’t even compete with them with the current squad of players we have, we need signings, and fast.
Our Toon
Jun 30, 2017 at 6:25 PM
Comment #58Bobby
Ashley wouldn’t be crazy to pump money in if he is looking to sell, he still owns the club and it’s not 100% guaranteed he will sell the club so he’d be neglecting his asset based on a hope in selling. It’s nonsense mate, what happens if he can’t sell it and we’ve missed out on rafa targets?
Nothing new regarding this apparent takeover / investment which is another reason why I think it’s an excuse
hibbit
Jun 30, 2017 at 6:30 PM
Comment #59our toon
what happens is another relegation battle
jazzyp
Jun 30, 2017 at 6:31 PM
Comment #60Deantoon
Bournemouth are after Holtby as well .So we’ve F@cked it mate .
Jib - Goatmouf 2
Jun 30, 2017 at 6:36 PM
Comment #61When small clubs like Bournemouth have made more signings that us that is a worrying sign,
What nonsense
The size of club is irrelevant
They have £125 m Sky money to spend
They actually earned double what Real Madrid did and they won La Liga and the CL
They have to spend now or get hammered by the taxman
magspuggy
Jun 30, 2017 at 6:36 PM
Comment #62Ww.
He must do mate i think he just goes about it the wrong way sometimes.
I honestly believe he does support us but is caught in a cycle of fighting with other posters.
Our Toon
Jun 30, 2017 at 6:36 PM
Comment #63Hibbit
God forbid, I don’t think we will bounce straight back up for a 3rd time
Bobbybee
Jun 30, 2017 at 6:36 PM
Comment #64WWSBRD, nobody is saying that’s the reason. The truth is nobody knows. The sale is just one possibility, nothing more than speculation being bandied about as a point for discussion.
So far, whatever has caused the delay – assuming there is one for sure – will have been addressed. I doubt it’ll sit there like an elephant in the room. If there’s a problem Rafa will try and fix it long before he’ll walk. IF – BIG IF – it is the sale that’s causing the problem, then he’ll be working on a way he can work round it.
This is his project. He won’t walk whilst there’s a chance he can fix things. I just wish we knew exactly what was going on with this sale, because it could answer a lot of questions.
welshgeordie9
Jun 30, 2017 at 6:37 PM
Comment #65jazzyp
Jun 30, 2017 at 5:51 PM
Comment #43
Ignore him lads. All wums disappear eventually…. well apart from good old Welshie
Thanks jazzyp.
NezzaNUFC
Jun 30, 2017 at 6:39 PM
Comment #66Remember this phrase!
Out with the old!
In with the new!
Rafa is being smart about the deals so it will take time and patience which 80% of people don’t have.
welshgeordie9
Jun 30, 2017 at 6:39 PM
Comment #67WWSBRD
What the frig would you know.
WWSBRD
Jun 30, 2017 at 6:40 PM
Comment #68mags
He slates Newcastle at every opportunity and recently admitted he wanted Rafa and us to fail this season…not sure how u can still think he is a NUFC fan
jazzyp
Jun 30, 2017 at 6:43 PM
Comment #69Welshie
I was only pulling ya leg mate. I knew you would bite lol
WWSBRD
Jun 30, 2017 at 6:44 PM
Comment #70Bobby
If u believe that fair enough mate…too big of an argument to get into tbh
As for Rafa am sure he is of the opinion things are agreed upon and will be done how he wants, much like all our managers were
ShirebrookToon
Jun 30, 2017 at 6:44 PM
Comment #71Anyone got any inside info from the fans forum yesterday?
D-Day tomorrow boys n girls. That’s when the reinforcements will start to arrive……..
I hope lol
WWSBRD
Jun 30, 2017 at 6:44 PM
Comment #72welsh
Id wager significantly more than u treacle
KevinHann
Jun 30, 2017 at 6:46 PM
Comment #73YoungMagpie
Happy to hear your interview went well. Hope you get the job, mate.
Bobbybee
Jun 30, 2017 at 6:47 PM
Comment #74The sale is not nonsense. Ashley’s brought his main man in and Rafa himself has talked about it.
Whether it goes ahead is a different matter, but to say it’s nonsense when the evidence says different I don’t understand.
ShirebrookToon
Jun 30, 2017 at 6:49 PM
Comment #75Is Ashley selling? Is there a consortium wanting to takeover? Is it all just yesterday’s bog paper for the residents of pennywell?
Not heard much on the takeover since the beginning of the month.
hibbit
Jun 30, 2017 at 6:50 PM
Comment #76it doesn’t matter what the reason is for the delays we need players sooner rather than later.
clubs financial year ends at midnight one obstacle out of the way what next i wonder
Our Toon
Jun 30, 2017 at 6:50 PM
Comment #77Bobby
I call it nonsense as we’ve been here before, Ashley trying to sell the club but went with Dennis wise for a piss up in Dubai. Keith Harris I think the blokes name was that was bought in to sell the club and apparently he couldn’t. Rafa won’t have sat and spoken to anyone other than club insiders about a sale…..they have never lied before have they?
ShirebrookToon
Jun 30, 2017 at 6:51 PM
Comment #78Hibbit
So that’s one excuse we can rule out!
Feeling better already lol
ShirebrookToon
Jun 30, 2017 at 6:52 PM
Comment #79And I’ve still not heard owt about my season ticket!
hibbit
Jun 30, 2017 at 6:55 PM
Comment #80shirebrook
the way things are going that might not be such a bad thing !!!!