There was a story in The Mirror yesterday that Newcastle were keeping abreast of Burnley midfielder Jack Cork’s contract situation. The 31-year-old is out of contract in the summer and with Burnley’s ownership in flux, talks on a new contract have not begun.
While Newcastle dipped heavily into the free-agent market this past summer, including signing Jeff Hendrick after his contract ran out at Turf Moor, we just don’t see much in this link to Cork. First of all, he’ll be 32 by the start of next season, and he’s not really the type of midfielder we need at the moment.
A more realistic link could be to Austrian international Raphael Holzhauser (pictured above). Sport Witness is citing a report from Jeunes Footeux in France that Newcastle and Hertha Berlin are interested in the midfielder.
The 27-year-old is the type of midfielder Bruce covets. At 6’4″, he’s a strong force in the center of the pitch who loves to attack. He could be a much cheaper option than some of the other box to box type midfielders we’ve been linked with as his contract also runs out next summer.
Holzhauser plies his trade for Beerschot in Belgium’s Jupiler Pro League. He joined the club as a free agent in the summer of 2019 after leaving the Swiss club Grasshoppers.
This season he’s been nothing short of sensational scoring 8 goals with 9 assists in his 12 appearances. Last season, he put up gaudy numbers as well scoring 7 while assisting on 9. His form has seen him drafted into the full Austrian side where he made his debut last month.
Holzhauser is a product of the Rapid Vienna Academy in his native Austria. He’s had loan spells in Germany with Augsburg and Stuttgart before joining Grasshoppers on a free in 2018.
The midfielder is currently in talks with Beerschot to renew his contract. However, if he keeps up his current form, it may be in his best interest to become a free agent for the third time. He’ll have some better clubs to choose from this time around, maybe even Newcastle United.

178 comments so far
Northumbrian
Nov 20, 2020 at 6:02 PM
Comment #1Christ! He looks like he likes a sunbed lol.
😀
Mund
Nov 20, 2020 at 6:05 PM
Comment #2I thought it was Cambiaso for a second there
Northumbrian
Nov 20, 2020 at 6:07 PM
Comment #3Decent goal and assist stats though.
hibbit
Nov 20, 2020 at 6:09 PM
Comment #4https://www.nufcblog.co.uk/2020/11/20/saudi-takeover-boost-with-uk-government-now-hopeful-300m-deal-can-be-saved-the-guardian/
GhostToon
Nov 20, 2020 at 6:10 PM
Comment #5Cork is a solid player much better than Hendrick (Who isnt though?) however too slow.
We need speed, energy as well as strength and aggression in central midfield.
Not just relying on our wingers and forwards to provide pace.
Also some quicker centre backs wouldnt go amiss.
geordietom
Nov 20, 2020 at 6:15 PM
Comment #6regan missed the bus when i was on a roll , it was a spring roll …
geordietom
Nov 20, 2020 at 6:16 PM
Comment #7repost …
ok i’ll break the NDA …
i had chicked tikka massala , pilau rice , onion bhagi’s , nan bread , pickle tray , pomp a doms …
Tsunki
Nov 20, 2020 at 6:18 PM
Comment #8Hi all – long time poster, short term memory. How’s it going in sunny takeover land?
Jack is one Cork that’s popped too long ago for the Charlnly purchase model methinks – still it’s nice to continually be linked with fading mid range players who are coincidentally rallying in neutral towards their last big contract end.
Regan
Nov 20, 2020 at 6:19 PM
Comment #9Repost..
Jesus…and you can still walk like..
GhostToon
Nov 20, 2020 at 6:19 PM
Comment #10Tom….sounds friggin awesome!
May have to get one myself this weekend 😉
geordietom
Nov 20, 2020 at 6:20 PM
Comment #11the player on the hedda this is what his name is supposed to mean
A submission from Australia says the name Holzhauser means “Lumberjack, wood chopping”.
According to a user from Florida, U.S., the name Holzhauser is of German origin and means “Woodhouse”.
A user from Australia says the name Holzhauser means “Wood House”.
geordietom
Nov 20, 2020 at 6:21 PM
Comment #12Ghost …
you go for it mate , you know you want to 😀
geordietom
Nov 20, 2020 at 6:22 PM
Comment #13Regan …
i’ll tell i;m when i’m finished mate 😀
GhostToon
Nov 20, 2020 at 6:23 PM
Comment #14Tom
You know it…need a piece of the lime pickle and Jalfrezi action lol
geordietom
Nov 20, 2020 at 6:23 PM
Comment #15Your Home Timeline
Black & White Vision
@white_vision
·
1h
Man City can be state owned but Newcastle can’t be!
That is a breach of the owners & directors test
#nufc
geordietom
Nov 20, 2020 at 6:25 PM
Comment #16ghost …
i dont like Jalfrezi that much but everyone has different tastes mate …
WLtoon
Nov 20, 2020 at 6:33 PM
Comment #17Article`s saying the government are hoping for the takeover to be saved, i think that is total bollocks,
Remember in March when they said they would`nt interfere with the goings on with the takeover, what makes the difference now.
If the government were that bothered about how the PL handled the takeover bid by the Saudi`s, a country who they do billions worth of trade with, they would of intervened THEN.
Do the PL hold more power than the government ? You would think so .
If the takeover does go through it won`t be any thanks to anyone from Downing Street, it will be thanks to the people who really do give a damn about the north east, and it`s fans.
Regan
Nov 20, 2020 at 6:33 PM
Comment #18Regan Josh all day long..
geordietom
Nov 20, 2020 at 6:35 PM
Comment #19Newcastle Consortium Supporters
@NCSL1892
·
2h
Two little birds go leak, leak leak Two little magpies go Tweet, Tweet, Tweet. Verses and rules of slow play by Masters & Hoffman. Geordies UNITED for answers! ZebraZebraWhite circleBlack circleWhite circleBlack circle#nufc #nufctakeover
Wor Bairle
Nov 20, 2020 at 6:38 PM
Comment #20Hell, geordietom
We’re gonna need a bigger bus!!!
Mund
Nov 20, 2020 at 6:39 PM
Comment #21Wor B don’t worry it’s a triple decker 😉
Mund
Nov 20, 2020 at 6:42 PM
Comment #22Get your shorts on tsunki and come join us it’s lovely and warm
JohnReese
Nov 20, 2020 at 6:46 PM
Comment #23I was about to say, by the end of this we’ll likely be the most hated team in the league but given all the pundits and journos slating us fans, our club and our city, we already seem to be. There’s already articles being posted about how bad Saudi is agai
geordietom
Nov 20, 2020 at 6:46 PM
Comment #24wor …
im not getting the bus mate , im gonna turn up in a robin reliant , 😀 .. someone’S got to carry the extra booze
GhostToon
Nov 20, 2020 at 6:46 PM
Comment #25Regan,
Lamb Rogan Josh…now you’re talking.
geordietom
Nov 20, 2020 at 6:47 PM
Comment #26JOHN …
human wrighter’s ?
WLtoon
Nov 20, 2020 at 6:49 PM
Comment #27Talking about Indian takeaway`s, i recommend Methi lamb, or mixed meat Methi, it`s not a curry as such, but boy is it tasty, so many spices rolling around your mouth.
geordietom
Nov 20, 2020 at 6:49 PM
Comment #28Craig …
bad lad you said that dredded word mate …
SHORTS .
JohnReese
Nov 20, 2020 at 6:52 PM
Comment #29GT,
Yeah, the usual stuff. Same stuff they trotted out originally but funnily enough no mention of the F1 or the golf that’s recently been linked with Saudi. Just us
Wor Bairle
Nov 20, 2020 at 6:52 PM
Comment #30Damn
It’s pizza night in the Bairle house.
geordietom
Nov 20, 2020 at 6:53 PM
Comment #31John …
figured they wouldnt mate typical of them …
JohnReese
Nov 20, 2020 at 6:56 PM
Comment #32GT,
They don’t even try to hide the disdain they appear to have for us. It’s sad because some of the points they make are important but those kinds of articles turn so many people against it as a kind of siege mentality.
GhostToon
Nov 20, 2020 at 6:56 PM
Comment #33WL
Never tried that mate. Love lamb dishes so might have to indulge next time.
GhostToon
Nov 20, 2020 at 6:57 PM
Comment #34Wor
Dominos?
Pizzahut?
Papa Johns
Or pizza from the kebab house?
lesh
Nov 20, 2020 at 6:59 PM
Comment #35Hibbit
It’s good to see that The Grauniad’s finally picked up the baton and they put Louise Taylor on the case. I mailed their sports Editor late October suggesting that they really could’ve been on the takeover trail earlier.
I’ve sent him a link to the Gazette piece and pointed out how the paper could’ve been all over this had it been more focused on NUFC than its usual big six favourites.
You can be sure that this is just the start and media exposure, House of Commons pressure and two legal actions might just see some heads roll at the EPL, EFL and the FA.
Dondatta13
Nov 20, 2020 at 7:00 PM
Comment #36Lamb balti… They don’t call them balti houses for nowt 😉
Wor Bairle
Nov 20, 2020 at 7:00 PM
Comment #37Ghost
Local independent, I love a good pizza but curry is king.
WLtoon
Nov 20, 2020 at 7:03 PM
Comment #38GhostToon@33
Got a few of my mates onto it and they all ordered it again, very tasty mate.
lesh
Nov 20, 2020 at 7:05 PM
Comment #39Geordietom
Holz is German for wood
Hauser is German plural for Haus which translates to house or home.
So, you have it Holzhauser is Woodhouse
GhostToon
Nov 20, 2020 at 7:10 PM
Comment #40Wor
Local pizzas are mint especially for hangovers.
Dominos and Pizzahut I find are a bit hit n miss sometimes. Either xooked to perfection or stone cold.
Curry all the way though either Indian or Thai.