The 21-year-old Netherlands international has long been linked with Newcastle United and it would now appear, after his country’s elimination from EURO 2012, that the club have decided to test the water with a bid.
FC Twente are said to be looking for closer to £12m although once again we get back to the whole cash is king argument. Will Steve McClaren be tempted by thought of having a slightly lower fee up front so he can reinvest it in his team? Or would he prefer to wait for some of the cash like most other deals are structured?
Of course the news that we are actively pursuing a striker will fan the flames of the Demba Ba rumours once more and may even point towards to the fact that something has happened behind the scenes and that Ba has perhaps given an indication that he may indeed be off after all.
That is pure speculation on my part of course, but to me it seems strange that our club would be willing to spend what is a relatively large amount on a striker, which to me would suggest de Jong is eyed as being a starter. Yes I know we have more games next season with Europe and everything, but I still didn’t expect us to be willing to spend that amount on a striker.
For his part de Jong is a cracking not-so-little player with an impressive record in the Eredivisie and has racked up 59 goals in 119 appearances. Although his real breakthrough only came two seasons ago, it’s worth pointing out that since then he has scored 52 goals in 99 appearances.
The 21-year-old is tall (he stands at 6ft 2in), physical and can find the back of the net. He can improve and has years ahead of him in his career. An unused substitute for The Netherlands in all three EURO 2012 group games, de Jong has already represented his country seven times. Maybe they should have given him a go rather than sit him on the bench?
All in all, good stuff. Time will tell whether our bid is successful or not, but you never know, it might be. Alan Pardew and Steve McClaren get on – the former Middlesbrough manager was a guest of Pardew’s at the training ground not so long back remember – so perhaps the wally with the brolly may fancy doing us a favour?
We wont be the only club interested in de Jong though, which could be a problem, but then again I guess we’ll just have to wait and see how it all pans out.
KIM just dont want the french manager getting it as there was talk of him in for it,he might have nicked wor french players 🙂
icedog(Quote)
Ice ,exactly ,that’s why I wanted to be sure he’d defo got it as I don’t want Blanc in there nicking our players 😉
kimtoon(Quote)
Oh my god, have you guys seen the news that Rangers are contemplating buying out Bury so that they can play in the English league system?
Andymag(Quote)
Andy – yeah, another Sun ‘exclusive’ 🙄
I couldn’t help noticing how they reported it slightly differently in their English and Scottish editions.
For the benefit of the English readers it simply said:
“It is not clear whether the amazing plan to buy is even allowed under Football League rules in England or Scotland.”
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/4385272/Rangers-plan-to-buy-Bury-and-play-in-English-League-One.html
The Scottish edition, however, had a few extra bits that, for some reason, were excluded from the English version, ie:
“But Green’s historic bid looks set to fail.
One senior Scottish football source said: “This just would not be allowed.
“It would need the permission of UEFA, the FA and the SFA and it’s a non-starter.”
http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/4385538/Greens-plot-to-buy-Bury.html
Interesting to see the same story reported in two slightly different ways by the same person (Shaun ****ing Custis, Chief Sports Writer)
http://www.yorkvision.co.uk/sport/there-are-too-many-fing-custis-in-this-world/
Chris G(Quote)
Being reported here in Oz that an offer is ‘imminent’ for young Melbourne Heart defender Curtis Good. (Figure of $600,000 quoted in article would convert to approx 400K GBP).
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/soccer/melbourne-heart-waits-for-offer-on-curtis-good/story-e6frfg8x-1226403371905
Chris G(Quote)
Looks as though that link isn’t working properly. Here’s the full text of the article:
MELBOURNE Heart defender Curtis Good’s English Premier League dream remains alive with an offer from Newcastle United believed to be imminent.
The clubs have been in talks for seven weeks after Good, 19, impressed the Magpies during a two-week trial.
The Herald Sun revealed in April that Newcastle United would launch a bid and it’s understood inquires about Heart’s asking price were made.
It’s believed an offer in excess of $600,000 would seal the deal. That’s a similar fee to Red Star Belgrade’s purchase of Heart striker Eli Babalj this month.
Despite joining Heart only in February last year, youth international Good made the centre-back position his own, appearing in 25 games for the club.
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“We are planning for Curtis to stay with the club, but if a suitable offer comes we won’t stand in his way,” Heart football manager John Didulica said.
“We haven’t received anything for a few weeks, but they indicated they were still considering him as an option.
“They’ve left the door open to put a proposal forward for us to consider, but it’s always difficult at big clubs because they look to conclude the big signings first – and Euro 2012 has probably held the process up a bit also.”
Good’s representative, Zeljko Susa from Pitch Management, hoped a deal would be struck.
“Discussions are ongoing and we are hopeful of a positive outcome,” Susa said.
“It would be a fantastic opportunity for Curtis to continue his football development with a successful club from one of the world’s best leagues.”
Chris G(Quote)
Chris…cheers for that, not sure if that looks good for the lad or not as it seems to contradict itself a bit, the quotes certainly don’t indicate any bid is “imminent”…”If a suitable offer comes”
“we haven’t heard anything for a few weeks” then “discussions are ongoing” 😕 ❓ wait and see I guess.
richietoon(Quote)
That is an old quote regarding Curtis Good… At least a couple of months..
Rich, How about supporting Aussies ! 👿
You have been awol a few days and your back doubting us Aussies already 😕 😆
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Aussie… just doubting an article that keeps contradicting itself with each sentence 😉
I’ve nowt against Aussies, only come across one who was an bit of an idiot 😉 😆
Not been on much ‘cos Ice keeps picking on me 😥 😥
richietoon(Quote)
🙄 😥
Welcome back Rich 😎 😆
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)