Who is this mystery player that Newcastle are after?

The man of mystery.
Just who could it be?
The transfer window has been relatively quiet so far, which is understandable given the fact that we are only just about a week into it.

There is a sense though that some big moves could be on the cards as teams look to cement their place near the top of table, or indeed try towards the top of the table.

Newcastle may not be taking part in any of that big business, but it appears that they are willing to at least have a dabble in the transfer market. Hatem Ben Arfa has already signed on a permanent deal, but there could yet be more than just that one signing through the door in January.

That seems to be the case, if you go by what Alan Pardew is saying anyway, as he revealed yesterday that Newcastle have made an enquiry to an unnamed club for an unspecified player. The question that is begging to be asked by pretty much all fans now is just who this mysterious Mr X type player could be.

Now Pardew went on to talk about David Bentley shortly after admitting the club had made an enquiry, so the safe bet would surely be linking the two together. Add the fact that Bentley has apparently been told that he can leave White Hart Lane and you get a recipe for rumours.

Bentley isn’t the only option though as rumours surfaced last night suggesting that Newcastle have had a bid of £1.5 million accepted for Birmingham midfielder, Sebastian Larsson. As yet this is unconfirmed, but the reluctance of Larsson to sign a new deal at St Andrews could point towards him leaving The Blues before the end of the month. Could it be he who rocks up on Tyneside?

Then there is Max Gradel, who has been a hot source of gossip since the middle of December. The Leeds winger has been linked with a switch to Newcastle, although his current boss, Simon Grayson, says that the player is not for sale which should effectively rule him out.

David Beckham……. I won’t even go there!

As Jay Jay pointed out in his article yesterday, a lot of these transfer rumours appear to be linking us with wingers, which is understandable when you have someone like Andy Carroll in your team. Alan Pardew has backed up Jay Jay’s assumption though by saying this when quizzed about the David Bentley rumour:

“I don’t think you need to be a genius to know that crosses will be a big part for us, and a player who can cross the ball with that accuracy would be an important player for us to add to the squad.

The mystery surrounding this player is something that I am sure will keep us all interested. This is different to not expecting anyone to come through the door only to be surprised with a couple of signings. This time we know somebody should be arriving at St James’ Park. The question is – who?

Where are you putting your money?

About toonsy

A lifelong Newcastle fan and current webmaster of this very 'blog who has the sole aim of creating a place by Newcastle United fans, for Newcastle United fans.

143 thoughts on “Who is this mystery player that Newcastle are after?

  1. oh, lol i went for some food. 🙂 desktop now. It has been mobile last night though. Im just on normal explorer.

      (Quote)

  2. Not sure about Larson like. Think its more important to get a winger this window, not another centre midfielder.

    It does fit in with what Pardew was saying about this transfer possibly leading to another transfer somewhere else.

      (Quote)

  3. Larson isn’t a centre mid, tends to drift in a bit but I would be happy to have him here as he would give us another option. Pardew seems like he is building his team up and getting a strong core of players

      (Quote)

  4. looks like this story has comes from the Mirror and Sky have ran with it also, who knows eh! Would improve the quality we already have. Great right foot.

    To be honest, i’m not that bothered who we get in, everyone can see what we need and the noises coming out of SJP is that they do too, and they are trying to address this.

    They are hardly going to get someone who is of a worse quality then we already have, so i’m pretty confident about the this months business, seem to be on top of things these days, never know, big Dekka might be getting the hand of the running a club lark!!!

      (Quote)

  5. Talksport reported us making a 1.5 million move, I didn’t catch the name but upon browsing their site it looks like we’re apparently considering a bid for Charlie Austin of Swidon Town. 37 goals in 53 games.

      (Quote)

  6. Interesting that he says that we would be interested in a winger that could pass the ball accurately. Wonder if that is a slight dig at Routledge and Jonas?

      (Quote)

  7. i think larsson will definitely bring some extra quality to the squad if reports are to be believed and some extra depth.
    i also think that the club will spring a surprise signing, as transfer windows gone by have demonstrated. last jan routledge, willo and tynesides newest toast leon best all came in and apart from the latter helped us to achieve promotion.
    maybe the fat controller has seen how the league is working this year and thinks with the right players we could perhaps make a genuine push for europe

      (Quote)

  8. djg – there’s a rumour going around the north east’s pubs & clubs that your being lined up to take over toonsy’s old seat at .org – any truth in it – yes ? no ?.

      (Quote)

  9. All I ask for is a winger who has the pace of routledge and the flair of guti X2 with end product then we can get them both to warm the bench.

      (Quote)

  10. Tried posting a link about the Austin rumour but the blog wasn’t having it for some reason like, lol.

      (Quote)

  11. Got a wee bit excited with the thought of the quality winger we need coming in instead we end up with a side ways and backwards no mark.

    Not for me gives us absolutely nothing that we dont already have with Barton playing there apart from being totally one footed.

    What a anticlimax…

      (Quote)

  12. “Take the million, he’s a free agent in the summer, never really rated him, cant remember when he actually beat a player for pace & crossed from the byline.”

    That’s a quote from a Birmingham fan I have seen.

    I have to say, I didn’t even know that Larsson was a winger!

      (Quote)

  13. In countenance to that Stupot “Mcleish;
    “Seb doesn’t have to beat a man. He can get the ball around an opponent with his terrific curl on the ball.

    “We are just desperate for someone to get on the end of those quality crosses.”

      (Quote)

  14. Well there seems to be a few clubs in for him, so he must have something. He’s the right age but I wonder why he has never left before. They’ve been relegated twice with him in the side.

    Plus he is an Arsenal cast off isn;t he? To quote someone close “if their not good enough for them their not good enough for us”…

    Either way I haven’t seen enough of him to judge. If he can cross for Carroll and get Barton into the middle, we’ll be a better side for it.

      (Quote)

  15. He isn’t at all fast, but you can not take what Brum fans are now saying. They have known he doesn’t want to be there for a while now so of course they are going to seek out the negatives. If he were to U-Turn and sign a contract that same poster would probably be waxing lyrical about him.

      (Quote)

  16. Whoever we get/go for, am I right in thinking if they are not signed up and reg with the FA by 12pm today, they can’t play this weekend? I know this is a game our 2nd string should win, but rmember 98? Also, be a good game to introuduce a new player, so he is ready for the derby next week. But if I’m right in what I think, we only have about 25mins to comlete everything.

      (Quote)

  17. Our current midfield has a lovely balance with Tiote breaking up play and starting attacks and Nolan supporting the front and chipping in with goals, Barton has been terrific on the right and links well with Simpson and Jonas link up with Enrique is one of our main attacking threats.

    To break up that combination for such a woefully average player is ridiculous for Ben Arfa aye but for Larsson…

      (Quote)

  18. TonyGreenSupreme
    Posted January 7, 2011 at 11:36 AM

    My gran could corss a better ball than him.

      (Quote)

  19. think some people should remind themselves we’re not Real Madrid!

    Can’t believe how short sighted people are being, it’s been said a million times over, when we get a couple of injuries or suspensions, our squad is thin bare! Who said he would go straight into the starting team? Larson would add quality to our squad, if bought of course.

    Remember when Tiote was bought and people were saying ‘WTF are we doing, we need an attacking midfielder”, people had no idea why we bought him. But now look at 1. how good a player he is, and 2. just how it made us realise how weak we were in that position.

    Any addition to the squad, if they are a higher quality than others players or add something different, are welcome additions in my opinion, and he fits the bill.

      (Quote)

  20. looks like the – snide – has missed out on davie beckham – he’s about to sign for the high flying spurs.

      (Quote)

  21. why’s that worrying? Cheap as chips and after a couple of years of development might turn out to be a fantastic player.

    Keep’em coming I say

      (Quote)

  22. Aye he’ll play about 3 games for them and be used to sell shirts and let Spurs bask in their current top-four ego trip even more.

      (Quote)

  23. If I was LA Galaxy I would be foaming if he moved to Spurs. The whole point of a loan move is to play football, how many games is he going to get at Spurs?

    If he wants to stay match fit that badly go on loan to Stoke

      (Quote)

  24. Any winger that scored 5 goals in 7 games and has got parent and loan club desperately scrapping has got to be worth a snoop. We can be like the big eagle that swoops down as the crow and the pigeon fight over the juicy carrion. Anyway, back to reality, I think that Larsson would be a good signing at the rumoured fee. 🙂

      (Quote)

  25. find me a quote from Pardew where he says he wants Beckham. You’ll not find one.

    Think you’ve been reading The Mail to much

      (Quote)

  26. in the words of yasel – that’s cracking news – hitman.

    my god we need them & a couple more please.

      (Quote)

  27. Im not sure he did, I think he was asked about him and out of respect and politeness said ‘he is certainly a player who could fill the Newcastle shirt’. Doesn’t mean anything really just chit-chat.

      (Quote)

  28. my mistake is it ? good job we’ve got a – know it all – like you to keep us all reet then init.

    zzzzzz

      (Quote)

  29. you reckon? Been great for them this season like, classed as a Premiership player now? Higher value?

      (Quote)

  30. “Meanwhile the Chronicle understands Haris Vuckic is close to signing a new long-term deal with United, according to sources in his native Slovenia.”

    Good work by the club if true, loads of players on long term contracts now

      (Quote)

  31. @ hitman – as crafty a player as charlie adam is, where would he fit in? i certainly wouldnt want him in instead of joey and if he moves then he will want guaranteed 1st team football. i see reading are in for charlie austin, he could have been a snip at 1-1.5 mill loan him out and could be a reet good poacher to play alongside AC in couple years.

      (Quote)

  32. What your ignoring there ILM is that David Beckham is a world wide brand that surpasses normal realities. His life is as much about celebrity and after-shave as it is about football. I certainly couldn’t imagine him sharing life stories with Tony Pulis.

      (Quote)

  33. ROY C,dont know if i trust this snide yet,but nowt we can do,hate these bloody windows,which clubs part with good players at this time unless there out of contract soon

      (Quote)

  34. Aye but that 5 year contract we just handed out to Ranger doesn’t look so shiney does it. Especially with Pards saying he isn’t applying himself enough or something simliar. Thats why I like Pards 🙂 he doesn’t beat aboot the bush like st. Hughton.

      (Quote)

  35. dog – i took the decision (after the CH caper) that i wont be going back until fatty is out of our club – so i’m just gonna be doing as – i love mike – does & just watch it on line even tho i just live around the corner from the club.

    my seat will remain empty.

      (Quote)

  36. Roy Keane has bitten the dust…pity like, he’s trying his best the poor lad…

    Alan Shearer and Roy Keane doing the rounds as after dinner speakers…what a great duo they would make !

      (Quote)

  37. ranger should be sent out on loan if we get a front guy in,needs to go where they have hard line manager to pull him into line he just doesnt seem to be learning,he had these problems at his last club

      (Quote)

  38. ALAN PARDEW has insisted Newcastle United will not be taken for a ride during the January transfer window.

    So far many stars up for grabs in the transfer window have reportedly demanded first-team football and huge pay packets.

    Robbie Keane – linked with United earlier this month – today snubbed a move to Birmingham City as they could not meet his lucrative requirements, and a host of other wantaway players are looking to cash in this month.

    Aye, we don’t want that clown like. I bet he’s half the player he was but wants the same if not more money somewhere.

      (Quote)

  39. icedog…I agree with you mate, these transfer windows do my head in too. I’ve came to the conclusion though that it irritates me more when WOR best players are being touted as leaving, rather then speculating who is coming in.

    Here in Germany it’s standard crack that clubs are associated with Bayern Munich’s best players, especially when they aint getting a game. Don’t want to compare us with FC Bayern of course thats bollocks, but we have a REAL ASSEST in Andy Carrol, say what you like, and it stands to reason that clubs want to buy him, and this is what does my heed in…That coupled with the fact that nee-one trusts our owners, then the majority of toon fans are on tenterhooks when the transfer window arrives…or is it just me being soft..

      (Quote)

  40. ROY C good on ye,my mam and dad used to live in spital tongues for many years till they past away,used to cross field to gan to sjp

      (Quote)

  41. wehey ice…a voice from the past. I remember my sprogdom walking through Spittal Tongues to get to the match, with the smell of Newcastle Breweries in my nostrils…happy days…

      (Quote)

  42. No i doesnt DJG nor would it if we were after Wheater/O’Neil/Bellamy/Whittingham or Bothroyd but i was going off what his own fans are saying about his ability and attitude:

    “I think it shows a serious lack of ambition on behalf of newcastle and if I were a geordie I’d be down the big market drowning me sorrows till one of those lasses looked worthwhile”

    “He’s 24 years old and has been at 7 different clubs so he’s clearly a bad apple and we don’t need players like that derailing our title charge.”

    “He didn’t take too kindly to a 17 year old overtaking him in the pecking order and started to bully the lad.”

    “Never thought of him as more than Championship myself”

      (Quote)

  43. M.M. kna your not being soft mate its what this owner is doing to us,didnt like statment from A.P.carroll wont be sold in “this” window.
    hows the weather there m8 snows coming heavy here at the moment,dam

      (Quote)

  44. aye ice..I noticed also the “this window” bit…could be nowt in it, but there you go…mistrust is rife unfortunately.

    The snow is heading off now, ten degrees and the big thaw is coming. Traditionally the snow hangs around though, so we’re expecting more coming which invariably stays with us until end of March at least….baltic cold, but with blue skies and sun…..

    It’s seems as if the north east has gotten it’s fair share of snow ower the last couple of years…..

      (Quote)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *