This could be a breakthrough transfer day for Newcastle with both Jacob Murphy of Norwich and Atletico Madrid right back Javier Manquillo, who played on loan at Sunderland last season during their relegation season, both having medicals in Dublin with a view to signing for Newcastle United.
A number of fans are questioning Javier’s performances for Sunderland last season, but we have to remember Ciaran Clark had a poor relegation season with Aston Villa yet he was completely outstanding for us last season after Rafa signed him for only£5M last summer.
We will trust Rafa’s judgment on Javier who played over 20 times for the Liverpool first team in the previous sedans so he cannot be that bad.
23 year-old Real Betis Danish International left-back Riza Durmesi
He’s also played for every single Spanish youth side including 7 times for the Spanish U21 side and with Rafa’s many contacts he will know all about this player.
And the latest news coming from Calcio Mercato out of Italy is that Newcastle are linked with 23 year-old Real Betis full-back Riza Durmesi.
Durmesi was born in Ishøj, Denmark and he currently has 15 caps for Denmark.
He is quite small at 5ft 6 ins – the same height as former right-back Vurnon Anita – but he has played for all the Denmark youth sides.
It was only last summer that Riza penned a five-year contract with the La Liga club who paid his €2M release clause in his previous Brondby contract.
In his Real Betis contract they have inserted a buyout clause of €20M (£17.6M) so best of luck at getting any club to pay that for the Dane.
However, there was news in January that Liverpool were thinking of activating the player’s release clause of €20M, so he must be a fairly good player if Liverpool were thinking of paying that much for him.
The report claims the Magpies are preparing a bid of around €10M (£8.8M) for the 23 year-old and that could be our first bid in attempting to sign this young left back.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
153 comments so far
Bobbybee
Jul 18, 2017 at 8:40 PM
Comment #81Toontaff, is it wise for him to be kicking footballs now? Those holes in his feet must have some detrimental effect surely? 🙂
magspuggy
Jul 18, 2017 at 8:42 PM
Comment #82Jail.
It will keep them on there toes if nowt else.
Rafa bingo must have that effect
Play for ya place coz the fella behind you wants it.
Gamez done nowt wrong for me good squad player imho.
Anyday soon we gonna smash the record
I hope its for a striker.
RolandoOverhead
Jul 18, 2017 at 8:42 PM
Comment #83Chicarito for me would be the perfect striker to get us from where we are to where we want to be.
Would he be willing to come? Well that depends on a few factors doesn’t it.
Does Rafa rate him? Only the man himself can answer that one.
He does possess what we expect Rafa to be looking for, ability, experience, history and wouldn’t cost silly money.
Bobbybee
Jul 18, 2017 at 8:44 PM
Comment #84His walking on water days are definitely over, with those holes in his feet he’d definitely sink. 🙂
Jail for Ashley
Jul 18, 2017 at 8:45 PM
Comment #85Munster,
I seemed to have missed your apology in that last post, but here’s a new chapter in the thread.
So you trust Rafa now? Is he no longer an overly defensive, out dated damaged goods anymore. It only took winning the Championship with the most goals scored least conceded to add to his list of thirteen other honours 😀
Bobbybee
Jul 18, 2017 at 8:46 PM
Comment #86Rolando, think he’s heading to Wet Spam matey. His wages would cause upset in the dressing room I reckon and other agents would be demanding the same for their players. Great idea, just not sure it would work.
toontaff2
Jul 18, 2017 at 8:49 PM
Comment #87Are we linked with Geronimo Rulli? Real Sociedad/Argentina.
Or did I just make a link up?
Geronimo on my Toon top – 😮
Read Daryl Murphy talking about staying – Chronicle.
Lilongwe Geordie
Jul 18, 2017 at 8:52 PM
Comment #88Rafa can’t afford to make too many mistakes in the market. Of course nobody gets it right every time, but Rafa has a very mixed record when signing players unless afforded sizeable amounts of cash. Ashley is less likely to sanction future spend, or allowing Rafa to choose where to spend if Rafa makes the mistakes.
Whilst I’m not sure I agree that our budget has us shopping in Iceland, as Munster put it, our budget is unlikely to be matching all teams in this division given our continued strategy of self sufficiency (I assume, possibly incorrectly) and the drop in income our relegation lead to.
I don’t know enough on Manquillo to comment, but I’m happy with our other signings if Murphy does arrive. We need more players in and more out to give us a solid base for Rafa to continue to build on in coming transfer windows.
Bobbybee
Jul 18, 2017 at 8:54 PM
Comment #89Mags, agree mate. His comment about blowing the budget on one player made me think along those lines. Don’t think he’ll go OTT but our record is definitely under threat.
If that happens we’ll all have to chip in for Ancient to buy a new Crystal Ball. He stated categorically that the record won’t be broken. 🙂 Hope he takes that with the humour I say it with! Think he will like, he’s, got a sense of humour. Crikey, on a bit of a roll here. Good Meds eh? 🙂
toontaff2
Jul 18, 2017 at 8:56 PM
Comment #90Aye, Bobby, he’s had his sandals on all season, apparently
elpaso_geordie
Jul 18, 2017 at 8:59 PM
Comment #91Read a few comments about 3 at the back with wing backs….
Ritchie, Aaron’s, Atsu and now Murphy . All wingers . You don’t have 4 wingers then play a system that uses wing backs .
magspuggy
Jul 18, 2017 at 9:00 PM
Comment #92Bobby
Our record is chump change now
Maybe we could outbid psg for naymar lmfao.
Cant really see us getting a goal machine for less the the record.
If rafas buying bargins to keep as much back for a striker as possible i hope we have enough to smash it too bits.
Bobbybee
Jul 18, 2017 at 9:02 PM
Comment #93Mags, agree on all that. Blyth 3-2 up against the mackems ha ha ha!
Legolas
Jul 18, 2017 at 9:03 PM
Comment #94As a few have said I am little underwhelmed about our right back potential signing but I haven’t seen much of him to make a sensible opinion.
Regarding Murphy I remember listening to the radio one day a while ago and the guy on the radio was raving about these two brothers who played for Norwich. He said that they were going to be superstars. Especially Jacob. Again not seen much of him to comment but funny how things stick in your mind. Hope he he turns out to be that superstar.
hibbit
Jul 18, 2017 at 9:06 PM
Comment #95elpaso_geordie
it’s hard to count Arons in that equation as he’s very rarely fit for any length of time
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Jul 18, 2017 at 9:09 PM
Comment #96I am not going to judge Rafa just yet, but I’ll admit I had hoped for a bit more quality…proven quality!
The blueprint for the Championship was buying players with championship experience…I had imagined the blueprint tho season would have been buying players with PL experience???
Bobbybee
Jul 18, 2017 at 9:16 PM
Comment #97Jesper, bit restricted by the budget to splash out mate. Of the three promoted clubs we’re spending more per player I believe, even now. This full back aside, who I don’t know anything about really, the players coming in are good enough to do the job.
We can’t compete financially with established PL clubs and that’s just life mate. Going to take more than just one season to get going.
Jail for Ashley
Jul 18, 2017 at 9:17 PM
Comment #98Jesper,
Manquillo has played in the PL thirty times. We have Shelvey, Ritchie, Gayle, Dummet, Yedlin, Clarke, Mitrovich, Mbemba and Colback who have all played in the PL, every player we sign does not have to have plated in the PL.
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Jul 18, 2017 at 9:22 PM
Comment #99Jail…I don’t know much about this Manquillo fella I’ll admit that…
I am not sure why you are mentioning players we already have…we are talking about future players.
If the blueprint was buying proven players and of course quality players then I am a bit skeptical.
I idea would be to improve what we already have…not sure we are doing that.
Lilongwe Geordie
Jul 18, 2017 at 9:23 PM
Comment #100Jesper,
Surely quality should be the requirement over Prem Experience? We have a core of players with experience – Clark, Shelvey, Gayle, Ritchie, Dummet, Yedlin, Lascelles, Murphy (D), Colback, Darlow, Krul, Elliot, Mitro, Mbemba, and others all have played in the Prem to a greater or lesser extent. Doesn’t make them all good enough.
Plenty of players step into a Prem side with no experience and prove successful. I’m more interested in the standard of player, and there suitability for the league and to fit into Rafa’s design.
Manquillo has more Prem experience than Murphy, Lejeune and Ojo, but for me is the least exciting of the deals that seem to be close to completion/done already/more basis than media speculation.
Jail for Ashley
Jul 18, 2017 at 9:25 PM
Comment #101Jesper,
We don’t know what blueprint he has in mind, he’s the best manager we could possibly hope to get with a proven track record. We love him and he loves us, we have to have faith that he wants to bring us silverware.
ToonTime
Jul 18, 2017 at 9:27 PM
Comment #102Hard to argue that Murphy and Lejeune are not an improvement on what we have. Atsu is a known (to Rafa) quantity. That only leaves Manquillo.
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Jul 18, 2017 at 9:27 PM
Comment #103Bobby…I would think the goal this summer should be quality before quantity…quantity we have…
I might be wrong…and I am alright with that, but I don’t see any of the current buys so far being starters.
I had hoped that was the idea
ShirebrookToon
Jul 18, 2017 at 9:29 PM
Comment #1042 players having medicals in Ireland. Penfold sh1t the bed. Can’t wait to Murphy in the shirt. Bags of potential.
Mankini or whatever his name is. Don’t know much about the lad but Rafa sees something in him so I’ll trust him on that one.
Batshuayi would be nice to smash the transfer record on 😀
Bobbybee
Jul 18, 2017 at 9:29 PM
Comment #105Jesper, reminds me. The double edged sword is this. If we sign players on a two year contract with the intention of increasing the contract if they perform well, we leave ourselves wide open to losing them.
Say they play exceptionally well, other clubs will be alerted and try to buy them off us. If the player likes the sound of a move we have little choice but to sell, or risk him just running his contract down the following year and leaving for nothing.
It’s difficult to find an agreement both the club and players agent are happy with. If the above happened, can you imagine the uproar?! ‘Should’ve tied him down to a longer contract’. No win situation. Four and five year contracts are becoming the norm for young players now so the club can protect its assets. Modern football mate. Player power rules.
Oldgit1
Jul 18, 2017 at 9:29 PM
Comment #106@ Jail for Ashley. Spot on with your comment, we have far more players with PL experience than either Brighton or Huddersfield. They will be playing catch up from the start.
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Jul 18, 2017 at 9:31 PM
Comment #107Jail…I don’t know what Rafa has in mind that was actually why I posted what I did…
…there might not be anything to worry about. I had just hoped for something else this summer
Munster Mag
Jul 18, 2017 at 9:32 PM
Comment #108Jail, I actually meant to apologise! Re Rafa, I send by my comments last season that we had a superior squad to others and sometimes rafa’s defensiveness got in the way of 3 points. We rarely tore into teams (I can only think of Qpr Norwich and Leeds?) but he did a good job in a slog of a league. I think my comments re Iceland are fair, judging by the spend so far. Rafa probably has an average history of success in spending and if that’s the case and we are reduced to buying guys who didn’t pull of trees in Sunderland, we have to be careful. It’s all about Ashley now, but the Irish Dj’s comment about Rafa not bouncing for joy cud be accurate. Hope not. He is certainly tetchy re Real Madrid
OneAlanShearer
Jul 18, 2017 at 9:32 PM
Comment #109Personally I am happy for rafa to choosehis own players regardless of where they played and how they faired. He will build a side and get it playing well even if it has a few mistakes along the way. Hopefully the mistakes will be the relatively cheap ones. Every manager ever has made poor purchases as it’s not an exact art but few get more out of players than he does.
Right now I’m happy things are starting to move and I can see rafa buying a few expensive signings.
lochinvar
Jul 18, 2017 at 9:32 PM
Comment #110Is this new news or old tattle ?
Another one for the list whoever is keeping tabs on all the links
Reportedly, the Magpies are looking forward to bring in Harold Voyer from Paris Saint Germain to strengthen their team for the next term, and are on their way to build a good defensive line-up. The current boss of the Newcastle side, Rafa Benitez, is determined to rope in the young player for the next season, as he is more inclined towards having young legs on the pitch for his side.
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Jul 18, 2017 at 9:35 PM
Comment #111Bobby…a shorter contract is a 3 year contract as oppose to the current 5 years contract!
…a 2 year contract will make no sense unless we are talking about an old player just coming in to help out short term.
Bobbybee
Jul 18, 2017 at 9:38 PM
Comment #112I have to disagree there mate. I see both Lejeune and Murphy walking into our first eleven tbh. The other lad I see as cover for Yedders,which we probably needed. Not like we broke the bank for any of them, so still plenty scope to spend on PL experience, or overseas options.
Finances dictate everything. Pickford £30m and Walker 54m shows how crazy this window is. That might well have been our lot gone on two players! It’s simply not going to happen overnight and it’s unrealistic to even expect it. Establish ourselves this season, push on the next. That’s the best any promoted teams can hope for and we’re no exception.
Oldgit1
Jul 18, 2017 at 9:41 PM
Comment #113@ lochinvar with a name like that he should fit right in with the number of dogging sites around Newcastle.
toon kk
Jul 18, 2017 at 9:43 PM
Comment #114We have some players with premier league experience, how many bids have we had for any of them? Are they sort after players? If the answer is no then we need strengthening with proven quality.
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Jul 18, 2017 at 9:43 PM
Comment #115Bobby…I have seen plenty of good players being bought so far within our financial reach…
…maybe you’re right Murphy and Lejeune are starters…but I don’t see them as being better than what we already have…
Murphy might be one hell of a prospect…but still a prospect non the less. Lejeune has had one good season at the age of 26 it seems.
Maybe I am worrying for nothing
Bobbybee
Jul 18, 2017 at 9:45 PM
Comment #116Jesper, not many agents will accept a three year contract with a young player though. They want the longer contract because it gives them scope to demand higher wages. Players signing a three year contract don’t earn as much as those on a five year + one, because they’re not committing themselves to the club. It’s just how it is. Everything is weighted towards the player nowadays and even then they don’t always honour it. Murphy just signed a four year extension with Norwich and doubled his wages in doing so. Hasn’t stopped him demanding a move though.
That’s why it’s important to buy the right players from the start.
RUNAWAY777
Jul 18, 2017 at 9:47 PM
Comment #117Toontaff2 your on form tonight bro was going to ask where our lord was tonight be he was on not long ago, I bobbybee ojo my have a future but not at this min I really think if Mitrovi? loses a bit wieght and get a run in the team he’ll come good think need someone up front to play off bit like shearer and bellamy
Bobbybee
Jul 18, 2017 at 9:51 PM
Comment #118Munster, he’s tetchy about Real for good reason. They were only two points behind Barcelona and through to the last sixteen of the CL when he was sacked! Not exactly a failure! 🙂 Real was all about internal politics and always is. Rafa is all about football. Not the ideal pairing and he felt – rightly so imo – that he was treated shabbily.
Bobbybee
Jul 18, 2017 at 9:55 PM
Comment #119Runaway, that was the point I was making mate. Liverpool want him playing regularly and Rafa wouldn’t guarantee anybody games, as he showed last season. If you don’t play to his expectations he doesn’t care who you are, he’ll drop you. He would be better off sitting on Liverpool’s bench than on ours in their eyes. Going to Fulham he almost guarantees himself time on the pitch.
Bobbybee
Jul 18, 2017 at 10:00 PM
Comment #120And on that note, I think it’s time to delve into Rafa’s Way once again. For anybody like myself who hasn’t read the book yet, I can recommend it from what I’ve read so far.
Thanks for the good craic today lads. Been a pleasure. G’night all.