Hello and welcome to the Newcastle United live blog for Saturday, January 27.
The clock is ticking for the Magpies on the transfer front with the transfer deadline less than a week away.
Newcastle sealed the loan signing of Kenedy from Chelsea on Tuesday, while they also rejected a bid from Brighton for Aleksandar Mitrovic.
Manager Rafa Benitez is ready to add more players to his squad, but faces a key period if United are to get the players he wants.
We'll have the latest on the all of the January transfer rumours that are starting to stack up. Meanwhile, on the pitch, we will have all of the fallout from Newcastle's 3-1 defeat to Man City on Saturday.
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.
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Newcastle United in the January transfer window
Key Events
Daryl Murphy retires from international football
The former Toon striker posted the following on Twitter today...
Leicester 2-0 up against Peterborough
Looks like it will be a safe passage to the fifth round for Leicester today.
They’re 2-0 up after 12 minutes as former Toon target Iheanacho added to Diabate’s first goal for the club.
Gossip: Newcastle linked with Espanyol goalkeeper
Newcastle United and Crystal Palace are said to be battling one another for the signature of Espanyol goalkeeper Pau Lopez.
That is according to Sport in Spain, who say the player looks almost certain to depart the Catalan club after recent contract negotiations broke down.
The 23-year-old Spanish international spent the second half of last season on loan at Spurs where it was believed he would sign permanently in the summer transfer window just gone.
However, with just a year remaining on his deal, Spurs tried to lower the previously agreed €7m fee and a deal was not reached.
He’s established himself as Espanyol’s number one this season, with six clean sheets in 19 impressive appearances, but his exit now seems inevitable.
With just six months remaining on his deal, the club president revealed last week that talks had broken down and he said they would not start again until he and his agent reconsidered their demands. Sport do say that the shot-stopper is open to renegotiating his deal with the La Liga side, but if that fails he will be very much needing to find a new club.
It’s no secret that Newcastle are interested in signing a goalkeeper and this news has reportedly perked Rafa Benitez’s interests - as well as Roy Hodgson’s at Palace.
Both could try to do a cut-price deal to sign him this month, or wait until after the window closes and negotiate a pre-contract agreement by which he joins in the summer for free once his contract at Espanyol expires.
Have Brighton moved on from Mitro?
The Argus say no this morning, but now reports suggest they’re close to signing another striker.
The Mail claim they’re about to pay Leicester a £1m fee to take Leonardo Ulloa on loan for the rest of the season.
Ulloa’s first club in England was Brighton, and Hughton hopes the Uruguayan can fire the goals that keep the Seagulls up this season.
Rafa on Kenedy
One new signing in so far this month. Here’s what Rafa said of Kenedy yesterday...
Worth noting that he won’t make his debut tomorrow, remember, because not only is he cup-tied, but Newcastle play his parent club Chelsea too. All being well, we should see the Brazilian in action on Wednesday against Burnley - and hopefully we see Jorgensen then too!
Report: Newcastle 'closing in' on Jorgensen
This from the very reputable De Telegraaf in Netherlands:
Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez is hopeful that he has Nicolai Jorgensen, the top scorer of last season at Feyenoord, for Wednesday in the north of England. The owner of his club has given the green light to go full for the best reinforcement. And that is the Danish striker, who, if it is up to Giovanni van Bronckhorst, is still in the basic position against ADO Den Haag tomorrow.
Newcastle United has already risen to over 17 million euros in the negotiations (£ 15 million). With this, the British are slowly moving towards the redemption sum of over € 20 million required by Feyenoord. The coach has already had a conversation with Jorgensen and therefore knows that the Dane is open to a departure to the Premier League. He does not even blame his rush. Jorgensen can become multimillionaire in Newcastle within a few seasons and also gets a new chance to prove himself in a top competition.
Mick Quinn on his NUFC
A really good feature in today’s Daily Mail with Chronicle columnist Mick Quinn. In it he discusses his career and his life today where he’s switched sports to horse racing. A little snippet from the feature on Quinny’s Toon exit here:
His relationship with new manager Kevin Keegan hit troubled waters in 1992.
Quinn scored twice in a 3-1 win over Portsmouth and, after a promise from chairman Sir John Hall, there were cases of champagne waiting for him in the dressing room.
‘All Kevin could say was, “I hope you’re going to share that?”’ says Quinn. ‘I said, “No, I’m going to drink the lot myself!” I was dropped for the next game. I knew he’d already made his mind up on me. I went to his office, “Gaffer, I don’t know whether I’m coming or going”. He said, “No, you’re going”. That was it, literally sent to Coventry.’
Read the full piece from Craig Hope here.
West Ham want Deeney - reports
A player Newcastle have looked at, Troy Deeney is now said to be wanted by West Ham.
Newcastle were put off by Watford’s ridiculous asking price, but the Hammers are ready to pounce, according to the Sun.
Will there be any outgoings at NUFC?
Chris Waugh with the latest...
Van Bronckhorst looking for replacement for Jorgensen
This is positive for Newcastle.
It seems that Feyenoord boss Giovanni Van Bronckhorst is resigned to losing Nicolai Jorgensen to Newcastle, as he admits he is already searching for a replacement. Speaking at his press conference yesterday he said of a replacement:
Yes, how do you do that? You have a list of possible successors, but you are dependent on many factors, and I now wait for information from Martin (Van Geel).
The good news for Newcastle is that the Dutch side have already signed Robin Van Persie in this window. It means, as has frustratingly been the case this window in a lot of other scenarios, Newcastle won’t have to wait for Feyenoord to get said replacement before signing Jorgensen.
In fact, it could speed up the deal, because Feyenoord will want it complete as soon as possible in order to use the money to get said replacement.
That said, Newcastle have been told in no uncertain terms that they must improve their £15m latest offer.
Sturridge nears Inter move
A player Newcastle had interest in - Daniel Sturridge is now closing in on a move to Serie A giants Inter Milan.
According to Corriere dello Sport, Liverpool and Inter have agreed a loan deal which will see them pay £1.75m, and then have the option to pay £25m in the summer to make the move a permanent one.
Brighton not giving up on Mitro
This one from the Argus in Brighton - they claim that Brighton are not yet giving up on Mitrovic, despite the fact that Benitez said it would take an offer of £50m for him to sell to a PL rival this month.
According to the Argus, while they know a deal will be difficult to do in the final few days of the window, they haven’t given up hope that a fee can be agreed.
Newcastle won’t consider Mitrovic’s exit anywhere until they sign a striker of their own.
Transfers: Aleksandar Mitrovic
Here’s what Rafa Benitez had to say.
Transfer gossip: round-up
Here’s what happened yesterday.
Podcast Preview: Chelsea (A)
Take a listen!
Transfers - Benitez is positive
The Spaniard is confident that United can bring players in before the deadline.
We will not talk about names. What I said before is what I will say now: until January 31, I have to wait and hopefully we can do what we have to do
Players who can leave. . .
Benitez has noted two who can leave - while others have to wait.
What I said was very clear: Colback and Sterry are on the market and the other players, it depends if we sign or not and in which positions
Transfer: Rolando Aarons
The young winger could be set for a loan deal. Here’s Rafa Benitez on a potential exit.
One that maybe now has more chance to leave is Rolando Aarons. I was talking with him and he was saying that we were bringing in another player and asking if maybe he could go. [It would be a] loan. But we need to have the right team for him.
Good morning!
Welcome to today’s live blog - we’ll bring you all the latest in Newcastle United news. Let’s start with the top stories on the site right now.
- Rafa Benitez feels Kenedy is ready to make immediate Premier League impact
- How Christian Atsu played a role in convincing Chelsea youngster Kenedy to join Newcastle United
- Frustration for Newcastle United in Nicolai Jorgensen pursuit as improved bid rejected
- Newcastle United boss Rafa Benitez on transfers, Jorgensen interest and Mitrovic’s future
- Alan Shearer wants to see more arrivals at Newcastle United to secure Premier League safety
- Newcastle United transfer gossip round-up - Mitrovic will cost £50m and latest on Jorgensen bid