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發表於 2007-7-10 08:32:07
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Spanish star is on United's list
NEWCASTLE United are hoping to unveil their most spectacular signing of the summer with Sam Allardyce believed to be closing in on a big-name player from Spain. The Magpies have been strongly linked with Barcelona pair Edmilson and Eidur Gudjohnsen this close season and, while their interest in those two players remains, United have also been holding talks over the availability of other potential targets from La Liga.
The Journal understands that Newcastle have been offered Portugal international midfielder Deco by officials at the Nou Camp and have also made tentative enquiries regarding the possibility of signing Cameroon striker Samuel Eto’o while discussing Gudjohnsen’s future with the Catalan giants.
Barcelona will attempt to sign Chelsea’s Frank Lampard before the close of the transfer window, but want to sell Deco to make room for the England star in the centre of midfield. However, they are not interested in losing Eto’o, despite his problems with manager Frank Rijkaard last season.
Deco, the former Porto player who won the Champions League under Jose Mourinho, would be an attractive proposition for Newcastle and he is also the sort of big name signing which would signal United’s new-found financial muscle under new owner Mike Ashley.
However, the strengthening of his midfield is not Allardyce’s priority at the moment as he continues to put his players through a gruelling pre-season workout in Austria and it remains to be seen whether Deco is the big name player rumoured to be on his way to St James’s Park. The Newcastle squad do not return to the North-East until tomorrow, although it is thought at least one new signing will follow their return this week.
Reports over the weekend have also claimed Newcastle are interested in Real Madrid captain Raul, although the Spanish international has constantly been linked with a move to the Premiership in the past few years only to remain at the Bernabeu.
Nevertheless, Newcastle’s continued interest in strikers will once again raise question marks about the future of Obafemi Martins who has failed to make any assurances about whether he wants to stay at St James’s Park next season. Allardyce has held one-on-one talks with the Nigerian international at the club’s training base in Austria and has told the 22-year-old that he wants him to stay next season.
However, Allardyce also knows that he can do nothing to prevent the former Inter Milan star from leaving if a club activates the release clause in his contract by making a £13m bid.
While that would be a blow to United’s new manager, the size of the fee would represent a £3m profit for the club on the £10m they paid to bring him over from Italy and would give Allardyce enough money to sign a suitable replacement.
While Allardyce’s main concern is to strengthen his defence after he inherited a side which released its two first-choice centre-backs at the end of last season in Titus Bramble and Craig Moore, there are other areas he will look to improve if the opportunity arrives.
Meanwhile, Sven-Göran Eriksson has dismissed claims that he is interested in signing Michael Owen following his arrival as the new manager of Manchester City last week.
The former England coach has been quick to distance himself from reports that he would attempt to sign Owen.
Eriksson, who also ruled out a move for David Beckham, said: “Michael Owen is always a very good football player. Michael will always score goals but there has always been a big question mark over him in the last few years. I don’t want to read that I am thinking of signing him.”
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發表於 2007-7-9 23:06:49
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發表於 2007-7-10 02:43:49
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發表於 2007-7-10 15:15:25
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