Adriano for Newcastle
United? That’s the question posed by The Sun on New Year’s Day. They say that the Brazilian could be used as a makeweight in a deal to take Michael Owen to Inter Milan. Not just Adriano, you understand. They will also throw in Honduran international striker David Suazo and £4.5million. However the Daily Mail warn that Owen’s bad experience in Madrid
(just the 14 goals in 22 appearances) will scupper the plot. Alternatively, they suggest a move to either Tottenham, Manchester
City
or Aston Villa.
City are also sniffing around Newcastle
goalkeeper Shay Given. The Sun say that Mark Hughes will shell out £10million for the Irishman, who single-handedly prevented his side conceding double figures at home to Liverpool
on Sunday (December 28). Compare that £10million with the £30million plus that Newcastle
could lose by getting relegated in Given’s absence and you start to wonder what is in it for Joe Kinnear’s side.
Staying with the Daily Mail they report that Kinnear is preparing a £5million bid for Portsmouth
’s midfield wardrobe Papa Bouba Diop. How does one prepare a bid anyway? You bid, or you don’t. Right? I digress. Diop could be joined at St.James’ Park by Blackburn Rovers centre back Christopher Samba, which seems to be about as much use to Sam Allardyce at Ewood Park as selling Given would be to Kinnear at Newcastle United. If Diop does arrive, the Daily Mirror expect Geremi to head to Turkish side Besiktas for around £2million.
No dice on a deal for Wolves striker Michael Kightly (wasn’t he that ball-juggling idiot with a moustache who bought Manchester United all those years ago?), whom Mick McCarthy insists is not for sale.
And so to January 2 when Inter Milan manager Jose Mourinho rules out a move for Owen, but also when Shay Given’s lawyer releases a statement outlining the goalkeeper’s intentions to leave the club after 11 years service. Unsurprisingly Kinnear is not about to play ball, insisting in his Friday press conference that the Republic of Ireland international will not be allowed out of St.James’ Park. Nevertheless Arsenal, Manchester
City
and Tottenham Hotspur are linked to the 32 year-old, although Arsene Wenger denies any approach.
The Daily Star makes a lame attempt to draw the Toon Army out of their misery, suggesting that Sheffield United pair Stephen Quinn and Kyle Naughton could be Tyneside-bound. The paper says that a £5million ‘swoop’ is being prepared, to audible groans from naïve fans still expecting Kaka and David Villa to arrive.
Newcastle
need defenders, that much is clear, so it is no surprise to see several rags linking them with a move for Madjid Bougherra. Currently with Rangers, Bougherra has played previously in the Championship for Sheffield
Wednesday and Charlton Athletic, and so knows exactly what could be expected of him in seven months time should he move to Newcastle
.
Twenty-four hours is as long a time in football as it is in American anti-terrorism dramas, so by January 3 we find Kinnear yielding slightly. On further analysis the Newcastle
boss realises that he doesn’t quite have sufficient power to stop Given leaving the club, and so instead informs us that the decision could be taken out of his hands. That’s according to our busy friends from The Sun, but there is a fair chance there is some truth in it as Kinnear prepares to absolve himself from any blame should the worst happen. Manchester
City
are still interested. Of course.
All of which is re-iterated exhaustively on Sunday (January 4) by both The Sunday Express and it’s Scottish sister, who spice things up by telling us that Kinnear will bring in Rangers goalkeeper Allan McGregor as a replacement.
More on Owen too, as The News Of The World throw Juventus’ name into the ring in the chase for the 40-goal England
man. We’re not sure if Owen needs a complete break from wearing black and white stripes, nor are we convinced that being dizzily rotated by Claudio Ranieri is the best way back into Fabio Capello’s heart.
Banners, protests and general uproar await should both Owen and Given leave, but Toon fans may be less disappointed to see the back of Joey Barton. The troubled midfielder is on his way to Portsmouth
if The People are telling the truth. The obvious yet slightly strained link is the time spent by Barton at Pompey boss Tony Adams’ Sporting Chance clinic. Adams
’ personal transformation has been well documented, but even he will be hard pushed to reform the ailing career of the former Manchester
City
ruffian.
Back to The News Of The World who say that Reading
striker Leroy Lita is available for a credit-crunch-busting £350,000. The only stumbling block on a move to Tyneside appears to be the interest of Everton, who are so desperate for a striker that it could come straight down to a duel to the death at dawn between Kinnear and David Moyes.
By Stephen Orford
4 January 2009
