Hello and welcome to the Newcastle United live blog for Monday, January 8.
A new week but the same old issues at St James' Park as Rafa Benitez looks to do loan deals on a budget. Sunday brought reports of a bid for Diafra Sakho that had been knocked back, while Benitez is hoping to do a Kenedy deal quickly.
We will have the latest on his loan enquiries. Mike Ashley is back this week so we'll see how that affects things. United are also in the hat for tonight's FA Cup draw.
We'll have the latest on the takeover and also all of the January transfer rumours that are starting to stack up.
As ever we want to hear from you, so please send us your thoughts over Facebook at www.facebook.com/chroniclenufc/ or on Twitter at @ChronicleNUFC.
Key Events
Krul on his exit and Benitez
Interesting words from the former United goalkeeper.
I said to the gaffer: ‘Give me a chance, I’ll show you I’m back’. Rafa had different ideas. He said: ‘It doesn’t matter what you do’. That’s the business. We know we’re puppets to a certain extent.
The Toon impact...
What a difference a few days make.
Alisson Becker to PSG?
Reports in Italy and France suggest that PSG are closing in on Alisson Becker who plays for Roma; and that might force Kevin Trapp out of PSG. As previously reported, Trapp is keen to stay.
Gossip: Iker Casilla
Newcastle have been strongly linked to Real Madrid keeper Iker Casilla, but reports in Spain suggest that Getafe are now eyeing him up as Crystal Palace make a move for Guaita.
Will a deal get done?
Here’s hoping.
The £350m question. My educated guess is it will but if it drags towards the end of the season, a lot will depend where Newcastle are in the league, if they stay in the Premier League and if Ashley fancies waiting it out to see how lucrative the new TV deal is and lots of other factors. Unless there’s a big breakthrough when Ashley returns from the US (not inconceivable), we might have a few more weeks of uncertainty yet.
Ings in Dubai
Linked to Newcastle but enjoying himself with team mates in Dubai.
Gossip: Islam Slimani
United have been linked but it Leicester City boss Claude Puel seems keen to keep the striker at the Foxes. Asked by Slimani and a potential exit.
This period is always difficult with speculation about different players. I am happy with Slim. He played well in the second half against Huddersfield and he needed to build on this with another opportunity (at Fleetwood). I think in this transfer window we need to have a look at the balance of the squad. For example, we have a lot of strikers and offensive players. We need to have better balance to give them more game time
What happened in December when the deal was reported as 'almost done'?
There was a surge of excitement based on progress made in talks between the two parties. Agreements seemed to be in place and people very important to the deal seemed to be agreeing that we were very close. But the excitement subsided because - crucially - the price remained the sticking point. Based on what happened in those few days, you feel a deal could get done very quickly. But at the same time, all parties are a bit more cautious now.
Gossip: Lee Clark
The former United midfielder has been out of work since being sacked by Bury in October; he’s reportedly got the manager’s job at FC Riga.
FA Cup draw. .
The number to look out for.
Gossip: Aleksandar Mitrovic
Reports on the continent suggest that Mexican side Club América are ready to come in for Aleksandar Mitrovic.
Aleksandar Mitrovic is a serious candidate to reinforce to the Eagles, from the Newcastle’s Premier League
Gossip: Joe Hart
The Manchester City goalkeeper, currently on loan at West Ham, has been linked to Newcastle United but David Moyes is yet to decide whether to cut short the former England no.1’s time at the London Stadium. This from ESPN.
West Ham United manager David Moyes will have the final say on whether goalkeeper Joe Hart will be allowed to seek first-team football away from the London Stadium in order to safeguard his place in England’s World Cup squad, sources have told ESPN FC
Who are PCP Capital Partners and if they're so rich, why don't they up their offer?
More from Mark Douglas on why PCP haven’t just met the asking price.
Let’s be brutally honest: we know very little about Amanda Staveley or PCP Capital Partners. What we do know - which feels quite exciting - has come from briefings encouraged by her own people, so have to - in my opinion - be taken with a pinch of salt. But my understanding is they’re serious business people looking to make NUFC profitable by sensible but substantial investment. I don’t think it would be a case of a Man City-style bonanza: I’m fairly certain the club would need to be profitable down the line. And that, ladies and gents, is why she won’t “just pay the price” Mike Ashley wants. After long due diligence her valuation is, she believes, a sensible one. She won’t pay more.
Gossip: Kevin Trapp
Newcastle United have been linked to PSG goalkeeper Kevin Trapp who is currently second choice at the club but speaking yesterday, the German appears to rule out leaving Paris.
As soon as I can play, I try to answer this and for the World Cup, it is the coach (Joachim Löw, Ed) who will choose. The transfer window is open and there are many [rumours] I’m still in Paris and I never asked to leave.
Why hasn't the takeover happened yet?
Throughout the day I’ll be bringing you several snippets from NUFC editor Mark Douglas about the Newcastle United takeover. First off, why hasn’t it happened?
Simply, the two parties left things after the last round of talks with a distance between them on valuation. £50m is the claimed figure which is about right. There are areas of agreement which point to something getting agreed in the medium-term, but until that gap is bridged one way or another, it’s not going to go through. These things take time, so don’t be unduly alarmed. But the longer it goes without an agreement, the more scope there is for either side to either walk away, change their asking price/valuation (which may happen if the club pull away from relegation or get dragged into it) or generally undermine the agreements they have so far.
Jack Colback and Crystal Palace?
We know Jack Colback has no future at Newcastle United and that has been the case since the summer but an exit has yet to materialise. Those over at HITC believe he’d be a good fit for Crystal Palace.
Roy Hodgson has helped to improve matters at Crystal Palace since being appointed as manager, with the club currently in 14th place in the Premier League. However, it is clear that there is still much work for Palace to do if they are to succeed in retaining their top flight status. Palace’s activity in this month’s transfer window could be very important in terms of determining whether or not they stay up, and one player who has been linked with a move to Selhurst Park is Newcastle United midfielder Jack Colback. Colback hasn’t played a senior game for Newcastle all season after being frozen out by the club, but the 28-year-old still possesses a considerable amount of Premier League experience and would be a useful asset for Palace in their quest to avoid relegation.
Murphy on twitter!
Nearly as good as Neymar!
Pitch inspection to take place. This from the club website.
Newcastle United Under-23s are set to take on Middlesbrough Under-23s at Whitley Park on Monday night – though there will be a 4pm pitch inspection to determine whether the Premier League 2 Division Two clash will go ahead. Freezing temperatures overnight mean the afternoon inspection is necessary to determine whether the Benton venue’s playing surface is playable, with the Magpies preparing to face table-topping Boro in their first outing of 2018. Should the game go ahead, tickets will be available on the turnstiles at Whitley Park priced at £3 for adults and £1 for concessions, while admission is free for season ticket holders and members.
Southampton left-back on the move
United came close to signing the left-back on loan back in the summer.
Shearer on online abuse
The Toon legend spoke out after receiving online abuse for his criticism of Liverpool. He wrote in his Sun column:
I appreciate that these people are keyboard warriors and if you walked past them in the street, they wouldn’t have the front to say anything to you.
And I don’t usually take what they say too seriously.
But when your family comes into it, that is overstepping the mark and that is when I take exception and tend to want to have a pop back.
What is wrong with some football fans? Where has the humour gone?
Read the full piece on the Sun website here: https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/5288585/alan-shearer-horrific-abuse-twitter-liverpool-penalty/
Cenk Tosun on Everton move
Newcastle were interested, but were never realistically in with a chance given the price he eventually went for. They were known to have scouted him on a number of occasions though.
Here’s what he said about his arrival at Everton:
Gilliead: Bradford the right place for me right now
Newcastle youngster Alex Gilliead has explained his decision to extend his stay at Bradford to the end of the season.
The young forward has impressed in League One in the first half of the campaign and that led to speculation he might step up to the Championship, with rivals Sunderland credited with interest.
However, after extending his deal, he told the Bantams club website:
I feel that being here is the best place for me to be at the moment.
I am enjoying playing my football, plus working with the gaffer and the lads.
The fans have also taken to me really well.
Playing virtually ninety minutes every week is massive for someone like me at my age.
It is great experience for me.
I know I still need to improve on a few things, but I’m confident can do that over the course of the next four or five months that I will be here.
I want to add more goals and assists in my game. I feel that can come about with the more matches I play here and the more minutes I get.
Last season I suffered a little bit with injury when I came here, but this season I’m in the team and I feel like I’ve played a good part so far.
Rafa on Coutinho big money Barcelona move
Rafa Benitez has had his say on Philippe Countinho’s £142m move to Barcelona.
Rafa worked with the Brazilian at Inter Milan, and told Mundo Deportivo:
The truth is that it was a pleasant surprise to meet a player with the conditions of Philippe Coutinho . We had the chance to have a kid who, even then, during our time at Inter Milan, had a lot of quality, a big imbalance. He had an excellent pass, shot, definition. He had everything despite his youth and a wide margin for improvement.
I remember that, apart from all the above, we were struck by the great vision he had to give the last pass, the final one. Something very important in football. It was very complete.
The best thing is that, with all the exposed, he was a humble kid, very hardworking and professional and eager to learn. Willing to listen to improve their abilities. I had everything, everything.
He was barely 18 years old, but we were very positively surprised by the things he represented, by the characteristics he gathered, by the values he treasured and, even, by the enormous projection that he saw for the future.
Something negative? Well I do not know if it is negative or it was the result of age. But I remember he was pretty shy, but that does not necessarily have to be negative. It was his way of being then. What interested us, and a lot, were the skills that I had and that were enough to succeed.
Newcastle linked with Kevin Trapp
According to the Daily Mail, Newcastle are keen on a loan move for PSG keeper Kevin Trapp.
The Magpies are in the market for a new keeper and have been linked with moves for Kiko Casilla and Joe Hart in recent days.
Now the Mail are claiming Trapp is a target, with the 27-year-old currently playing second fiddle to Alphonse Areola.
The former Eintracht Frankfurt shot-stopper has been restricted to just three first team appearances and is keen to get first-team football to boost his chances of making Germany’s squad for the 2018 World Cup.
Trapp - who has won two caps for Die Mannschaft - started his career at Kaiserslautern and was one of the Bundesliga’s most highly rated goalkeepers prior to his move to PSG in 2015.
Martin O'Neill the front runner for Stoke
Martin O’Neill is the bookmakers’ favourite to replace Mark Hughes at Stoke.
Ladbrokes have the Republic of Ireland boss as the 6/4 frontrunner to fill the void at the bet365 Stadium.
Ryan Giggs is at 6/1, while Aitor Karanka, Gary Rowett and Slaven Bilic (all 10/1) are also in the mix.
Poll: Would you send Woodman out on loan?
A bit shaky on his debut, could he benefit from a loan spell away from Tyneside?
Freddie Woodman's future explained
After handing him his debut on Saturday, Rafa said:
He needs to enjoy this moment because we have won and he was part of it. After that we will decide what is best for him and the club.
We have to manage both of those things. If we are going to do something with him, it will have to be this month, but Elliot is injured and we are working to try and find what we need and after we will make a decision.
It is not difficult, it is simple to take responsibility and do what you need to do. I was talking with his agent and they know the position. We have to wait and see if we can do something, but if not, it is the same for every player.
They say I would like to do this and that, but we are professional and what we have to do is make sure what we do is best for the team and best for the club.
Gossip: Rafa interested in loan deal for Real Madrid youngster
Some new transfer gossip now, and this one comes from yesterday’s Sunday Express.
According to them, Rafa Benitez is trying to do a deal with his former club Real Madrid to take their 19-year-old right-back Achraf Hakimi on loan.
A bright prospect at the Spanish giants, Hakimi has already been capped six times by Morocco despite his age. He’s also reportedly caught the attentions of Real Betis and Sporting Lisbon.
He made his first team debut in October and played the full 90 minutes against Tottenham in the Champions League.
We’ll check this one out as always.
What we can say for certain, however, is that in the summer Benitez did use his contacts in Spain to notify both Real and Barcelona that he needed players and told them if either had young players available for loan he’d be interested.
It is likely the same will be the case in January too.
With a limited budget, Benitez knows if he’s to strengthen this month then loans could be his easiest option. But he can only sign two players on loan from English sides and therefore he will be casting his net further to add more this month. It is believed he wants up to four new arrivals.
Keith Downie on three signings Rafa would have liked this month
The Sky Sports reporter told the Sky Sports transfer podcast:
He’s looked at David Luiz this window. He’d like to bring him on loan until the end of the window but there’s no chance of that happening.
He’d like to bring in Daniel Sturridge from Liverpool and Danny Ings but these aren’t going to happen. For one they can’t afford it and two he hasn’t even been told the budget.
Rafa on the Cup and transfers
Rafa seems to be suggesting that the success or not of his transfer window will determine how seriously he takes the Cup this year...
That is the key, obviously. If you have a strong squad and you have a good position in the table, then you can approach it a different way.
But when you have to keep an eye on everything, it’s important to make decisions. Maybe one week before, you’ll have an idea, but at the moment it’s just about enjoying it.
That is the ideal situation [that we can attack the latter stage of the competition], get to a comfortable position in the league and then decide how to approach the FA Cup.
At the moment, the position in the league is so close, we have to win some games and make sure we are fine.
