We have reported that Newcastle have made an initial offer for Nice striker Alassane Plea which has been turned down.
But Newcastle are now showing some determination and drive in this transfer window and are still in negotiations with Nice to buy the striker.
Hopefully, Rafa Benitez is involved in the potential deal and we hope the manager has already talked with the former Lyon striker and how he will fit in at Newcastle.
25-year-old French U21 striker Alassane Plea
Sky Sports are reporting Newcastle are still in negotiations to get the player to Newcastle this summer.
BREAKING: Sky sources: @NUFC are in talks to sign @ogcnice_eng forward @alassane_plea. #SSN pic.twitter.com/2vVOgB8Oer
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) July 3, 2018
And the Magpies are expected to lodge a second bid for the player – imminently.
It’s interesting that Plea missed the first day of training at Nice yesterday under new manager Patrick Vieira, and we don’t know if that’s linked with a Newcastle approach.
This is what Vieira said about that situation yesterday with Mario Balotelli also missing:
“We were supposed to have all the players,” “Unfortunately, those (two) weren’t there.”
“We are trying to get to the bottom of it. We were expecting him (Plea) today but he wasn’t here and it wasn’t foreseen.”
Plea could also cost a pretty penny and if we do sign the Frenchman it will almost certainly break the transfer record at Newcastle.
That’s still around £17M when we signed Michael Owen from Real Madrid back in the summer of 2005 – thirteen long and difficult years ago.
Nice want €30M (about £26.3M) for the player and the Northen Echo are reporting that Newcastle officials are optimistic a deal can be made for the French U21 International.
Rafa wants a striker brought in so he is sure we have some additional striking power before he allows Aleksandar Mitrovic and even Dwight Gayle to leave the club this summer.
It would be great if we can sign at least one new player this week to keep the momentum going.
Comments welcome.
52 comments so far
hibbit
Jul 3, 2018 at 10:50 AM
Comment #1PR machine at full throttle feeding sky with these taste bites this morning, season ticket sale must definitely be slow
The next Mike Williamson
Jul 3, 2018 at 10:52 AM
Comment #2lesh, i think we are genuinely trying to buy this guy, same goes for jorgensen. just.we. wont be taken for a ride. shepherd was the king of the fake bid. remember rooney and ronaldinho just before season tickets?
G
Jul 3, 2018 at 10:54 AM
Comment #3Nothing I have seen of Plea makes me think he will make an impact in the Prem. He has had one decent season, in an otherwise mediocre career. Lets hope this one is bull.
RobLeenio
Jul 3, 2018 at 10:56 AM
Comment #4TyneMouth from previous “but all I’ve read recently is simply speculation, from journalists and fans, what is going on?”
That’s the million dollar question, isn’t it? As hibbit, Dubai Micky, me and others have said, the silence is deafening.
Even the players have been conspicuous by their absence in the media – very little if anything quoted directly from any of them this Summer, except for club-sanctioned interviews on the official site. I’m not sure I’ve even seen any welcome messages from them for Ki Sung Yeung, although I don’t use Twitter much
count
Jul 3, 2018 at 10:58 AM
Comment #5Can’t be arsed to log in to the mag so I’ll say it here. Michael maximus moose, you are so full of shight it is almost beyond belief. Complete bell end.
Geordie-john
Jul 3, 2018 at 11:01 AM
Comment #6Could this be more shit so ST sales can go back to maximum . I will believe it when the so called new recruits are holding the black & white shirts aloft with their names and or numbers on them for all to see. NOT UNTIL !
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Jul 3, 2018 at 11:02 AM
Comment #725 is probably a good age to sign a striker they will have had a fair few seasons experience and should be able to handle the pressure of playing for the likes Newcastle but is he physically ready for the premiership?
At that kind of money and that kind of fee we almost need a 100% guarantee they will do well I suppose if we have Kennedy , Townsend and Shelvey providing the chances on a plate any decent striker should be hitting 10 to 15 goals but its not guaranteed!
hibbit
Jul 3, 2018 at 11:06 AM
Comment #8this story is just to convenient this morning
DubaiMicky
Jul 3, 2018 at 11:11 AM
Comment #9Exactly hibbit.
RobLeenio
Jul 3, 2018 at 11:13 AM
Comment #10IT’S OFFICIAL!
Well, I mean, TalkSport have said it, so it’s at least partially official
OK, it’s just an opinion based on some uncited evidence, but it agrees with our point of view, so it’s at least accurate as far as I’m concerned
Mike Ashley is the League’s worst owner
https://talksport.com/football/393641/premier-league-owners-ranked/
Oldgit1
Jul 3, 2018 at 11:17 AM
Comment #11With us being reported as being interested in Kenedy. Townsend and Plea all of around 20m each is suggesting that Rafa has signed his contract possibly a three year one.
Could be wrong, but feeling a bit more comfortable with the thought that Ashley may have come to his senses and decided to back him.
Those knocking the plea interest should realise that the scouts have a particular criteria laid down by Rafa and if the player doesn’t meet this then we don’t go for him.
Have trust in Rafa judgment. I have.
barkel
Jul 3, 2018 at 11:21 AM
Comment #12Wish I could go back to being a kid and get excited about being linked to big money signings, as for Plea .. I’ll believe it when I see it!
I have an awful feeling we’ll be getting more in line with Ki, no disrespect to him he’s a tidy player but he’s not exactly ever going to set the world alight
DubaiMicky
Jul 3, 2018 at 11:27 AM
Comment #13Compare and contrast RobLeenio (from your article)-:
5th Spurs’ recent rise under Mauricio Pochettino has been one of the best stories in English football, and it is in no small part thanks to Joe Lewis, who owns Tottenham through ENIC Group, and chairman Daniel Levy (pictured above). They have entirely backed the project that Pochettino wants to see through in north London, whilst also not breaking their own principles by keeping their transfer spend relatively low in relation to their league rivals. This financial caution has been achieved while Spurs have seriously challenged for the Premier League for the first time since it was created in 1992. Such little spending has also helped Tottenham create a brand new stadium that promises to be one of the best in the world when it opens next season.
20th and bottom Some of the displeasure aimed towards Ashley has dissolved over the past season, with Newcastle easily securing their Premier League survival following promotion from the Championship in 2017. However, much of the praise for this task has been directed at manager Rafa Benitez, rather than Ashley, and there are still doubts as to whether the Spaniard will remain at St James’ Park if Ashley does not sell the club. Amanda Staveley looked set to buy Newcastle sometime during the last season, but Ashley ended talks and there is no news about a new potential owner.
Now we all know Ashley is a Spurs fan, so why can’t he do what his team do? They have a remarkably similar business plan, don’t break the bank etc. ?
I’m giving up soon, banging one’s heed against a wall isn’t good for my sanity.
DubaiMicky
Jul 3, 2018 at 11:29 AM
Comment #14Oldgit – or it could be that we feed false info to our favoured news outlets in a way that wasn’t prevalent just 20 years ago – that bloody interweb thingy!
ctommo
Jul 3, 2018 at 11:32 AM
Comment #15This whole Townsend and Plea link through sky sports really stinks a bit. No sign of Rafa with Ki or any press conference. I’d love to eat my words afterwards, but really smells like a PR stunt for Season tickets. Don’t get me wrong, I think Andros is a big upgrade on Matt Ritchie, but the timing is all too convenient.
Also Ritchie on holiday in Dubai, no way, even us expats like me and Micky wouldn’t choose to be here at this time of the year.
RobLeenio
Jul 3, 2018 at 11:45 AM
Comment #16Compare and contrast – ooft, sounds like homework.
Suffice to say, given a similar starting position, one set of owners has taken their club to the brink of the Premier League Championship. Twice. The other has taken their club to the Championship. Twice.
🙁
JohnJ
Jul 3, 2018 at 11:48 AM
Comment #17I understood that the squad was due back (with the exception of Mitro) for training yesderday 2nd July – I now see Friday 6th July being bandied around. The silence coming from St James Park is quite deafening!
Mag :P
Jul 3, 2018 at 11:48 AM
Comment #18The sky’s sports story on Alassane Plea is clearly fake.
How can they say…:
‘we understand Newcastle have already had a bid of £27 million rejected’
And then say…:
‘it is understood that Nice want up to €30 million (£26.6 million) for Alassane Plea’
Literally contradicts each other.
Ben Afri
Jul 3, 2018 at 11:56 AM
Comment #19Oldgit1
I like your idea about Rafa having probably already signed a deal which may be (if true) why we’re being linked to players to the tune of 20mil plus. And as you said, if Rafa sees fit to spend 27 or so million on this player, I’m with you in trusting his judgment.
Also, I’ve read quite a few comments on here that all these links is manufactured PR Skynews stunts via Ashley and company. I don’t agree with that to be honest. Although I wouldn’t put anything past Ashley, he’s desperate to keep Rafa pleased and this is Ashley’s last chance of doing that.
ctommo
Jul 3, 2018 at 12:03 PM
Comment #20Ben Afri and Oldgit – If Rafa had indeed signed a new contract, that would be the biggest bit of PR and news to get those season tickets sold. Absolutely no way that Ashley would let that opportunity slip away from his greedy fingers. No chance he has signed a new deal yet.
TomaKaThor
Jul 3, 2018 at 12:07 PM
Comment #21It’s nice to hear us linked to players on sky sports news instead of the hundreds of players linked through papers ect.
I can dream in my head getting Townsend and Kennedy on the wings and a new Cf, would be very pleased with that…. But this is Newcastle.
lesh
Jul 3, 2018 at 12:08 PM
Comment #22Ed
Is the club ‘now showing some determination and drive in this transfer window and are still in negotiations with Nice to buy the striker [Plea]’ or has Charnley been instructed to go through the motions with him and others? Season ticket renewals in mind?
Oldgit
You believe Rafa may have signed up? That’s exactly what Ashley wants you to think!
barkel
Jul 3, 2018 at 12:08 PM
Comment #23@Mag 😛
I think the story was that we had a bid worth up to £27mil, so if you go with the idea that the story is true then you would have to assume that up to £27mil includes clauses, bonus’ etc. and the £26.6mil figure would be a “cash figure”
TomaKaThor
Jul 3, 2018 at 12:09 PM
Comment #24Mag I’m sure they never said Newcastle bid 27 million, they said West Has did.
Harry
Jul 3, 2018 at 12:11 PM
Comment #25What a load of tosh about the conspiracy to sell season tickets. It’s only the deadline for existing season ticket holders. It’s not as if no more can be sold. They can still be bought by anyone.
ToonJovi
Jul 3, 2018 at 12:13 PM
Comment #26I can only presume our ‘27 mil bid’ was in €…. which would be what around 23mil £ ? So still a good way from matching West Ham’s already failed bid… :s
Mag :P
Jul 3, 2018 at 12:14 PM
Comment #27Barkel
All things considered you could well be correct.
But a bid of £27 million instantly surpasses the total that they want.
Toma
It literally says on sky sports that we have bidded £27 million and it was rejected but West ham have also bid the same price of £27 million.
stan anderson
Jul 3, 2018 at 12:17 PM
Comment #28It’s the same old same old is’nt it.
Linked with this linked with that.Deal is nearly done to sell him,deal is nearly done to sign him.
Other clubs just get on and do it,but not our club.
Dont believe a word this shower of Shit tell you and make them sweat on S/T sales.
You can do it if you really want to hold any power at all over this lot.
Show some spine.
ASHLEY OOT.
ShirebrookToon
Jul 3, 2018 at 12:18 PM
Comment #29Bishops on overtime kids. Calm down. It’s all a ploy to boost ST sales before the end of the day.
😛
barkel
Jul 3, 2018 at 12:18 PM
Comment #30I think the major difference that you may be overlooking is that a bid of up to £27mil may never actually get to £27mil if the player doesn’t do well whereas a fixed fee of £26.6mil is a guaranteed sum
martoon
Jul 3, 2018 at 12:18 PM
Comment #31If Rafa has signed a new contract then surely it would have been announced – if nothing else to boost ST sales. Apart from the wild theories of a change of ownership the only other reason I can think of for a media blackout is an attempt to keep player asking prices down – if teams know Rafa has signed and has a war chest then they will increase their asking prices.
Ben Afri
Jul 3, 2018 at 12:18 PM
Comment #32ctommo
You make a very valid point if Ashley is using that sort of strategy to get bums in seats. I agree that it would be too delicious an opportunity for the greedy git… But I just don’t buy it. It seems a little far-fetched to me mate. No slight on you, I just don’t buy it.
Optimistic Panda
Jul 3, 2018 at 12:24 PM
Comment #33I can’t see us offering £20m + to sign Plea when we wouldn’t spend 18m on Jorganson, they are of a similar quality.
Jib
Jul 3, 2018 at 12:24 PM
Comment #34NUFC have mixed luck with “A.P.”s
Alassane Plea
Alessandro Pistone
Alan Pardew
Ayoze Perez
plus
that Asshole Pancrate
Ben Afri
Jul 3, 2018 at 12:26 PM
Comment #35Appologies, on second reading I realise that I did not make myself clear. I don’t think that Rafa has signed a new contract. I agreed that if the stories of the big money transfers being linked to us are true, it would indicate it as a possibility because Ashley wants his signature before he releases the purse strings.
But what I meant by being far-fetched was that I don’t think the players being linked to us is a stunt by the Ashley/Sky PR team to sell more season tickets.
griff
Jul 3, 2018 at 12:27 PM
Comment #36Nice to see new people commenting on the blog. All excited about big money signing rumours. Interesting timing.
Ben Afri
Jul 3, 2018 at 12:27 PM
Comment #37griff
We can only hope
Optimistic Panda
Jul 3, 2018 at 12:27 PM
Comment #38If Rafa had signed up we’d know about it!
There’s no way it would be kept quiet!
griff
Jul 3, 2018 at 12:30 PM
Comment #39Agreed Optimistic Panda. Positive rumours but not the news we need,
Optimistic Panda
Jul 3, 2018 at 12:31 PM
Comment #40Rafa is the one signing everyone wants, a sure fire way to pump some positivity into the club and fans and people seriously think it’s being kept quiet, you couldn’t make it up!