With the academy overhaul looking like getting the bulk of investment this summer, I would guess there will be a real push on getting some free transfers and bargain buys for the first team.
As much as I’d love to think Mike is like an excited little kid at Christmas with our new found good form, thus causing him to open the cheque book on all fronts, I think we all know that won’t be the case.
With that in mind I did a little bit of digging to see whose contract is running out at the end of the season but more so, who fits the criteria, under 27, ideally scouted, long term targets, you know the drill.
Some listed below don’t fall into the latter mentioned criteria but are players I’m somewhat aware of and think might be up to scratch, although some more knowledgeable than myself may be able to correct me if I’m wrong.
Anyway, lets get the ball rolling, starting with defenders…..
Douglas Teixeira of FC Twente. 24 year old centre back we have been linked with for a good while now. Most will be aware of his potential and chances are there will be competition for his signature come the summer, but would be a massive signing if we could pull it off.
Mathias Jorgensen of FC o. 21 year old centre back better known as ‘Zanka’. Newcastle were linked with him in the summer but not in January, maybe there’s a reason for that I’m not aware of but anyway. He is a monster of a man and rated very highly with English and European clubs looking at him over the past couple of years.
Kostas Manolas of AEK Athens. 20 year old centre back who came close to a move to Everton in January, only for the transfer of Jelavic to scupper the deal. Another Newcastle were linked with in the past and may feel slightly miffed at Everton for what happened. The AEK chairman has also confirmed that Everton face stiff competition for his signature in the summer.
Nathaniel Clyne of Crystal Palace. 20 year old right back who we all know about at this stage. Heavily linked with Newcastle since last summer and hotly tipped to be a top right back in the future, could our long standing interest have a bearing on his decision once his contract runs out?
Matthew Bates of Middlesbrough. 25 year old centre back and captain who was linked along with Rhys Williams in January. Boro have tried to tie their captain down to a new deal but with no success as yet, and failure to secure promotion would surely spell the end of his spell there.
As for midfielders….
Mohamed Diamè of Wigan. 24 year old defensive midfielder who despite Wigan’s poor form has looked very promising. Another whose future may hinge on the outcome to their season and as much as Perch has won a few fans over deputising for Tiote during his absence, Diamè is simply a better all round player.
Lewis McGugan of Nottingham Forest. 23 year old attacking midfielder with a knack of scoring absolute belters and someone Newcastle tried to sign in the summer but Forest were looking for too much. Heard he is not having a great season but could be somewhat down to being unsettled and if available for free would certainly strengthen our back-up options.
Alan Dzagoev of CSKA Moscow. 21 year old attacking midfielder who has been linked with some top English clubs in the past year or so including Man Utd. May be out of our league due to level of competition and CSKA I’m sure are offering big money for him to stay but as we saw with the signing of Cabaye in the summer, Newcastle are well capable of punching what some would say is above our weight in the transfer market these days.
Sotiris Ninis of Panathinaikos. 21 year old versatile midfielder and someone who seems very highly rated given I only became aware of him of late. Like Dzagoev, rumour has it plenty are lining up to secure his services but again, in Graham Carr we trust and if he is on the hitlist we have a chance.
Shikabala of Zamalek. 25 year old versatile attacking midfielder who Newcastle were linked with last summer, confirmed by the player at the time, but nothing seemed to materialize. Not a fan of youtube scouting but looked a very handy player if I remember correctly and would make more than adequate back-up for those already at the club.
Tranquillo Barnetta of Bayer Leverkusen. 26 year old versatile winger and a name we all know too well at this stage. We have been linked with this lad for coming on four years I think, and for one reason or another, usually injury on his part, nothing ever comes of it. I don’t expect it to in the summer either to be honest but you never know. Whatever happens I won’t believe it until I see him holding up the jersey.
David Hoilett of Blackburn. 21 year old, highly rated and looks the real deal. Again, someone Newcastle have been heavily linked with for the past year and could face stiff competition for come the summer but nevertheless is a player who is definitely on our radar and would be a great signing if we could convince him St. James’ is the place to be.
Salomon Kalou of Chelsea. 26 year old attacking midfielder slash forward who looks set to leave Stamford Bridge at the end of the season. Maybe I’m missing something but any time I have watched Kalou he looks a good player, just doesn’t seem to get a look in at Chelsea even despite their poor form and lack of goals this season. Strange one, but someone I’d definitely love to see come to Tyneside.
Finally, the forwards……
Hugo Rodallega of Wigan. 26 years old striker who has been linked with a move away ever since last summer. Newcastle were said to be one of the interested parties, and given he could be free at the end of the season could well still be in the hunt, but he has had a poor season to say the least, certainly by his standards and may one who could flop at a big club.
Edgar Da Silva of Vitoria Guimaraes. 25 year old versatile forward who apparently was on the radar of Sir Alex Ferguson until he got Hernandez and was later recommended to Alan Pardew as a good signing. Now that could be nothing but speculation as a lot of transfer rumours are but from the little I have seen would make decent back up for our Senegalese strike duo.
Eder Lopes of Academica. 24 year old versatile forward who was linked with both Newcastle and Arsenal in the summer. Again, not a big fan of youtube clips to judge players but one thing I did notice about this lad was his first touch and link up play. It’s been a while but I remember being impressed and very surprised I hadn’t heard of him before. Another who would make for very good back up for our first choice strikers.
Jay Rodriguez of Burnley. 22 year old forward Newcastle were linked with late on in the January transfer window. Although I have known the name since he was in his teeens, not a player I have seen much of to be honest but 18 goals in 37 games this season suggests he is decent enough. Once more, as a back up option may well be worth a punt, especially considering his age and potential sell on valu if it doesn’t work out.
Last one, Yaya Sanogo of Auxerre. 19 year old striker which I know the FIFA heads will be buzzing about as he apparently turns into one of the best players in the game. Not my style of judging players. What I do know is he is someone who, before his long term injury last season and some of this, was being tracked by some of Europes top clubs. He may still be on the big gun hitlist but maybe the injury caused a few to look elsewhere and a potential star of the future could be snapped up for free.
Of course there are a lot more whose contracts run out at the end of the season and I’m sure we’ll hear many a name linked with us between now and then, but for now, that is a mixture of who has been linked with Newcastle in the past and who I think just might be attainable given they’l be free transfers.
If nothing else, it just shows you don’t have to spend big to improve. Major squad strengthening is the next step to consistent European contention for Newcastle and a lot of those players would fit the bill.
As I said, in Graham Carr I trust, but I really hope a few listed above are on his radar for the summer.
Who would you like to see in black and white come next season?
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77 Comments
Agree. Doubt we will see Barnetta, that ship has sailed surely.
Some interesting ones in there Keith. I’m sure Carr will be looking at a few complete unknowns as well.
http://www.newsnow.co.uk/A/551866134?-19390 another free bee there maybe 1 for the youth though
also on frees royston drenthe and claudio yacob
Kalou is an interesting one. He is without doubt a quality player and could potentially solve our right hand side problem. He will know Tiote and with Drogba set to move on/ retire that partnership will be broken up anyway. Big stumbling block of course is wages and whether Liverpool ect. want him, if we got into Europe though…who knows.
Im trying to be positive.
DJG
aye that Kalou 1 surprised me,they really leting him go for free
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2091322/West-Ham-bid-Salomon-Kalou-Chelsea.html
The comments here are just daft. I would definately want Kalou, he is quick, decent on the ball and he chips in with goals.
you missed off Welliton: Plays for Spartak moscow and has scored 57 goals in 93 apps
The more pace they got the better i like it,with pace in all positions you put the other team on the back foot
would like us to take a chance on rhodes of huddersfield,need cover up front and this lad could fit the role ,
Keith some interesting names in there, and some would add to what we have. But I don’t believe we should be restricted to the freebees or bargain bin.
TAE who are the younguns that Manure are shipping out in the summer ? We could maybe get a few decent players from there to add to the squad?
Mathias Jorgensen will go to psv in the summer thank god for that. He is a lanky weak titus bramble, dunno why we would be looking at him.
Beatski – Is weilliton a free agent this summer?? Always buy him when playing fifa
I would defo take Clyne, Diame and Rodriguez, but other players on the list certainly arent shabby!
So the lad from France is Romain Amalfitano then. Anyone know anything more about him (apart from – midfielder from Reims (L2) creative player, good technically, brother of Morgan)?
BIG DAVE
check at 2 hes another 1 of there young guns on way for free
Romain amalfitamp from Reims apparently the mystery ligue 2 player. Anyone heard of him?
mattspiro: “#NUFC set to sign Reims attacking midfielder Romain Amalfitano, bro of Marseille’s Morgan, on 3yr deal this summer, says L’Equipe”
Anyone know much about this lad?
TC
beat me to it
Is there an echo in here?
just gos to show though you dint need to spend 100s of millions on players like ya man citys and 1 or 2 other teams i could mention
I’d be made up a few of them. Clyde douglas hoillet etc would be great additions. One maybe two signings for a fee and that’s a big improvement over the summer
That Amalfitano certain seems like a Carr special. Wonder if they are cloned in some secret lab somewhere by him??? But if he is good enough for Carr he is good enough for me. Hope he can play winger because we dont really need an attacking central midfielder?? no?
He has played 1290mins this season with 3 goals and 3 assists to his name.
Mathias Jorgensen of FC o. 21 year old centre back better known as ‘Zanka’. Newcastle were linked with him in the summer but not in January, maybe there’s a reason for that I’m not aware of but anyway. He is a monster of a man and rated very highly with English and European clubs looking at him over the past couple of years. like the sound of this 1
TAE im on my phone and it wont load the page, who is he and who are the rest of the manure younguns that they can’t hold on to ?
Has only played full 90min 5 times this season over 20 games( Ligue 2 only – Dont know about cup ties )
TAE – Trust me he is not a beast!
@BIG DAVE
Juventus are understood to have outlined a four-year contract for Manchester United teenager Paul Pogba
The 18-year-old midfielder, who is also wanted by Chelsea, is out of contract at Old Trafford at the end of this season.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2105061/Paul-Pogba-closer-Juventus-move.html#ixzz1nCE3VM9b i was on 1 of there blogs a few weeks back they were all moaning suppose to be a good few wont sign new deals, they were all slaging rooney for being a bad influnce on them
ALANPARDEWPROJECT the word beast was the thing i liked about him
Sorry to burst your bubble then
Anyways he has signed with PSV yesterday so we are not getting him = me happy 
TAE so your source is the daily fail and a few bloggers
and from that you conclude that Manure are on the slide and can’t even hold on to their talanted younguns.
Then in the next breath you say its because of Rooney.?? Which is it ?
Keith – you’ve been busy mate, another good read though mate..
Stand out ones for me would be Douglas, Clyne, Diame, Hoillett and Hugo.
Not saying we should get all of them (tho why not) but I certainly see them improving our team either starting 11 or on the bench.
Off topic but Vuckic could get to play in the CC final on sunday, and he has scored against Peterborough for Cardiff after only 3 games.
Anyway I will just sum up what I found on this Romain Amalfitano guy.
He has figured in 20 matches this season for 1290mins. 16 starts and 4 substitute appearences. He has 3 goals and 3 assist. 2 goals with right foot and 1 with left – So dont know which foot he prefers or if he is equally comfortable with both.
Last season he figured in 32 matches with 17 starts and 15 sub appearences in which he also scored 3 goals.
+ 2 assists last season.
Big Dave – I know what youre saying about the bargain bin but I think free transfers have changed from that now a bit. They only used to be players that their clubs didn’t want anymore, but now I think agents encourage the player to see his contract out so that they can negotiate better contracts for their players.
I think that may be the problem we encounter in the free agent market, players have made themselves available to try and secure a lucrative contract – as there is no transfer fee involved. Trouble is, Newcastle don’t really do big money contracts anymore and we may find that we loose out on these players to clubs prepared to pay them more.
Sharpy17 – Aye it would be the number 1 reason they want to become free agents. The game is changing and we are seeing footballers act more like they are in american sports like NBA and NFL where most players dont have any loyalty and will go where the buck is biggest. The problem for football clubs is they are going to miss out on transfer fees.
# He can’t play in the final as he has already played in the competition for us.
BIG DAVE both are right the fans all blaming rooney for being a bad influnce on the youth, so were slaging rooney for there hotshot kids not signing there contracts
did i say it slow enough so even you can keep up 
dint worry mate il be here to show you the 
Some very good articles on here last couple of days…
I reall think this is food for thought.
Out of those you have to imagine that due to newcastles spending policy that we would be in for most of these players and then a value for money ie driving a hard bargain until we get the ones who are willing to play ball.
I can see douglas and clyne happening as they would get much higher wages at the toon than at their current clubs but the likes of barnetta and hoillett will command high fees.
I could also see jay rodriguez happening as a replacement for best who could go to celtic.
All speculation of course but they would be relatively good additions. for free…without spending a bit of money on the likes of mbwia and zaha or the like.
morning lads, hope all’s well.. cheers for the comments, and additions, missed out on and left a good few off the list
Dave.. nor me mate, don’t think we should be restricted to freebies necessarily but with investment in youth this summer can’t see us spending a lot of money on first team unless we get CL, which is highly doubtful.. MA is all about balancing the books and without CL the only way we would do that would be to sell someone for big money.
APP.. cheers for that mate, didn’t know PSV pre-agreed a contract with him. Thought he was very highly rated though
how do you know he’s poor?
Also, re : Romain Amalfitano… think that spells the end for Guthrie in the summer? maybe not happy to be 2nd string any more?
Sharpy no mate I have nowt against free players or bargain buys, if they are decent players the more the merrier as our squad needs strengthning. I’m just saying that we shouldn’t be restricted to bargains or free’s
AlanPardewProject – yeah, the other stat that struck me about Amalfitano was that in the 16 games he started he was substituted 11 times. I know he’s still quite young, but that seems a hell of a lot for a central midfielder- maybe there’s a fitness issue there?
dint nar about you guys but if we only got 1 of the above list who would it be hoilett for me
KEITHR – Fantastic article. One that really makes people think, well done mate.
Of those suggested, I’d like and to see Clyne, Bates, Diame, Hoilett and Sanogo join us.
Don’t get me wrong, I’d love for us to sign Dzagoev and Ninis too. However, those two are players that will demand £60k+ a week and will attract interest from the biggest clubs in Europe.
KeithR – I have watched him in the domestic league, chl and for the national team. He has been hyped and made captain this season for Copenhagen for god know whatever reason. Very nervy player and has bramble-esque brain freezes. Defo dont think he would be worth any in the PL because the game would be too fast and too physical for him. Hes also coming off a knee injury and was off form before the injury.
KeithR – Also he has been on trail at Newcastle and Arsenal back in 2008 when he was 18, which I think could lead to some lazy journalism as if we have been interested in signing him ever since?
TAE you really do think your a smart ass
.
I’ll explain it a bit slower for you and i’ll break it down so as not to confuse you.
You stated on here that Manure were on the slide because they couldn’t even hold on to their talented younguns (Ravel Morrison).
To which I said Manure didn’t lose him but actually told him to find a new club because he was making crazy wage demands, and that Fergie would never bow down to demands made by a trouble making younguns, or anyother player.
So did Manure get shot or are you still saying that they couldn’t keep him ???
ChrisG – yeah it seems abit odd. But as you say he is still young, and for all we know he could have had fitness issues due to niggling injuries, tactical subs by the coach and what not.
But defo seems like a rabbit-out-of-a-hat-type of transfer and intriguing seeing as the last “kind of” transfer like that was Tiote
(All though he had figured in the WC and full international at the time )
BIG DAVE
before they told him to go,they took the money before they lost him for free, 
so emmmm yes im saying they could not keep him
he turned down the contract
Dave – aye, I know we spent £9m in Jan but I’d like to some cash splashed in the summer as well… and not cash generated from the sale of one of our best players either.
I think Ba has proven freebies are worth a pundit and I’d happily see 2,3 or as many as 4 free transfers come in.
But I would like to see players bought as well. I’m still a fan of Pieters and Redmond from Brum and I think Yanga for £5m would be a really good buy.
I think there was a suggestion yesterday that we could get Redmond for £5m – I think double that and we may closer to a realistic figure for the lad.
We could also raise a few quid selling Perch, Forster, Williams, Ranger, Best and loosing Smith and Loven.
And of course we were going to spend about £3m on Mariappa in Jan.
So if MA throws in another £10m that should give us £15m + to spend on new players as well as the freebies and we should be looking canny
Gary.. cheers mate.. agree on Dzagoev and Ninis, wage demands more than likely too high, just included them based on the clubs their at currently.
APP.. yeah you’re probably right lad.. know he was linked with a few Italian clubs last summer, and England before that.. but anyone that is compared to Bramble gets scratched off the list immediately for me!.. unless of course it is in the context of ‘he is the farthest thing from Bramble you could imagine’
APP – yeah, I agree. I’m not sure if anyone else has pointed it out but apparently he’s out of contract in the summer so he’s exactly the kind of player that we would be targeting.
Sharply/dave I think there will be some investment in the summer ( the amount obviously depending on where we finish) but I seem to remember pards saying after cisse that the money had been taken from what was earmarked for the summer
Does anyone know how old this kid Amalfitano is were supposed to be signing and is he free in the summer?
Would tal Hoillet in a heartbeat , think he is a smahing little player and I think we need to add more pace to the team and he would bring that in. I like the loom of that Clyne lad off crystal palace as well when ive seen him.
I have a feeling if we got Holliet we would play 433 with him Ba ( if he stays ) and Cisse up front. And I think we could tehn accomadate Guthrie in a midfield trio of himself Tiote and Cabaye
Sharpy
TAE so we wern’t good enough to hold on to Nolan
.
So he decided to go to the Hammers 
As for Ravel he was that good that Manure couldn’t hold on to him, because all the top teams and the rest of the prem teams were after him
SHARPY17
hes 22
Sharpy don’t forget the freebies cost a lot of money
BIG DAVE
2 whats nolan got to do with it 
wernt we 1 of them teams that put a bid in for him that you seem to be taking the p out
KeithR – haha, I love that context!!!
Dubtoon i remember that also. I think if Ba stays then we won’t see much much incoming movement on the attacking front! Dependant on where we finish (Europe) i reckon an investment to add strenght in depth is likely to happen. How much? Ask Mike
If I can throw my view in on the Man Utd youngest debate, it would be this. Man Utd dont loose out on top quality youngsters that are already at their club. They loan them out til they are happy they have a place in the first team squad – Danny Welbeck, Tom Cleverley and Jonny Evans as an example.
Man Utd have Wayne Rooney on about £200k a week and can therefore offer any young un they think is worth keeping hold of a top salary – probably only beaten by City at the moment.
So Morrison and Progba leaving Utd, in my opinion, is Utd letting them go. I’m sure they have been offered new contracts (an amount Utd felt was reasonable for where they were in their career) and were probs told they would be going out on loan, which neither would have suited the players or agents and so the player has been allowed to leave. Similar to Daniel Sturridge leaving City for Chelski.
Now Morrison and Progba may go on to be big successful players, but I bet Man Utd would drop out of the top 4 without them.
TAE im just interested in how you see the Nolan case if you think we couldn’t hold on to him so we lost him
dint nar if its true but i read reports the kid on 60k a week at west ham
BIG DAVE
be back laters save ya next 
til then 
just no theres a nother 
coming lmao 
yeah if we want to
Why is frazier campbell in the england squad
TAE thats it lad as usual you do a runner because you can’t answer the question honestly, without making yourself look silly, run along.
BIG DAVE
who looks silly lmao 
dont want to burst your bubble but i did answer if you look
now i defo got to grab some kip
Apart from the obvious ones, I take Diame. Instant cover for Tiote and I personally think he is a cracking player!
Hoilett and Clyne for me also, and maybe Douglas
Some cracking freebies about. We could strengthen significantly without spending a penny in transfer fees
Ninis and Dzagoev are FM legends of mine
Agree!
Nice to see kalou In there:-) great player.
Mattias Jørgensen is crap(injured for 8 months) and have already signed for PSV.
I would still like some Danish talent in Newcastle, because in my opinion some of Them are way better than british talent and cheaper:-)
Still i support The french revolution and lets see some french talents!!!
Danish – fantastic to see another one sharing my opinion on Jørgensen.
TOONARMYELITE – This is a Ravel Morrison tweet from January 16th;
“I have never 1s turned down a contract off manchester united”
Now I may be wrong, but wouldn’t this suggest that Man Utd didn’t even attempt to keep him?
CASE CLOSED.
TAE still can’t see your answer
Gary @ 72 TAE will want the case to remain open as it would make him look very silly
But then stating that Manure were on that much of a slide that they can’t hold on to their talented younguns done that already 
I would love to see Yaya Sanogo come here but I doubt he would. I think any striker would think twice about coming to NUFC whilst they are facing such formidable opposition.
as long as NUFC keep to the spending policy and keep the club moving forward I’ll be delighted. Texiera is top banana.
BIG DAVE
check 64 il point ya cause i know you a bit blind so who really looks silly little dave
TAE help me out here
Big Dave
February 23, 2012 at 11:16(Edit)
TAE im just interested in how you see the Nolan case if you think we couldn’t hold on to him so we lost him
to which you reply
TOONARMYELITE
February 23, 2012 at 11:25(Edit)
BIG DAVE
yeah if we want to
So does that mean you are saying that we can keep Nolan ‘if we want to’ or we could have held on to Nolan if we wanted to.
What you published made a great deal of sense.
But, what about this? suppose you were to create a awesome post title?
I am not suggesting your content isn’t good., but what if you added something that makes people want more? I mean Free For All | NUFC Blog – Newcastle United Blog is a little plain. You ought to peek at Yahoo’s front page and see how they write news headlines to grab viewers to click. You might try adding a video or a picture or two to get readers excited about everything’ve got to say. In my opinion, it might bring your posts a little livelier.
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