Transfer Rumours Matip our number 1 target in January

I think this could have legs. we went for him in the summer and is club wanted no deal. He's out of contract soon so his value will be low (£5m?) so maybe this is why Mike didn't panic buy at the end of the window. After all it fits his recruitment profile as this lad is a £10m player so we would make instant profit longer term.

I also have a feeling we will see movement on Austin also. These two, plus a LB would make it a very good window if we can do the deals.


http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sp...oon_defender_their_number_one_January_target/

NEWCASTLE UNITED will make a renewed attempt to sign Schalke centre-half Joel Matip in January as the club begin to turn their attention to the second phase of a three-part plan to overhaul the squad.
With Mike Ashley and Lee Charnley determined to back Steve McClaren despite a disappointing start to the season, the Magpies’ ‘transfer committee’ will meet in the forthcoming international break to analyse the summer’s recruitment policy and firm up their plans for the January window.

While questions have been raised about the wisdom of continuing to target young, relatively unproven players from overseas, there will not be a radical change of approach when the window reopens at the turn of the year.

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Newcastle’s scouting team have continued to operate on the continent in the last month or so, with a particular focus on Germany and Spain, and are continuing to monitor a handful of players who have been heavily on the radar in the past.

There is a shared acceptance that the squad is light at both centre-half and centre-forward, and the hope is that despite an outlay of more than £50m in the summer, both problem areas can be addressed in January.

However, there is an acceptance that clubs tend to overinflate their asking prices in the January window – particularly in relation to strikers – and the first priority will be to improve a defence that has looked rocky despite the recent arrival of Chancel Mbemba.

With Fabricio Coloccini’s long-term future still uncertain despite the signing of a new one-year contract extension in August, there is a desire to sign a commanding central defender who can take on a leadership role at the heart of the back four, and Matip, a 24-year-old Cameroon international, is currently seen as the most viable option.

Newcastle officials discussed Matip’s position with their counterparts at Schalke on a number of occasions in the summer, and were close to tabling a formal €10m offer for the towering defender.

However, Mbemba’s availability, coupled with a reluctance on the part of Schalke to sell, persuaded the Magpies to drop their interest before the window swung shut.

They have continued to keep a close eye on Matip though, and are hoping a combination of circumstances will enable them to push through a deal in January.

Matip will enter the final year of his current contract next summer, and while there have been suggestions of a new round of contract discussions in Germany, he is yet to be offered a new deal. Despite Schalke’s presence in the Europa League, and current position of third in the Bundesliga, Newcastle would be confident of trumping any offer from Matip’s current employers.

Schalke’s potential pursuit of a Champions League place could complicate things, but having received positive feedback about the German club’s potential valuation of Matip in the summer, Newcastle would hope to avoid too big a ‘January premium’ if they returned to the table in three months time.

Chief scout Graham Carr is also understood to be running the rule over Wolfsburg defender Robin Knoche, although he is regarded to be at a less advanced stage of his development than Matip.

In attack, Newcastle continue to monitor Lyon’s Alexandre Lacazette, another long-standing target who was the subject of considerable interest in the summer.
The Magpies were unable to talk Lyon down to a price they regarded as realistic for the 24-year-old before the start of the season, and are wary of becoming involved in lengthy negotiations again, only for the goalposts to keep on moving. However, they will be aware of mounting speculation in France about a brewing contractual dispute relating to the striker, and could try to exploit any uncertainty.

Charlie Austin’s future will inevitably be the subject of much debate come January, but while McClaren has publicly confirmed that Newcastle retain an interest in the striker, the fact he is currently facing around a month on the sidelines will hardly assuage their previous fears about his injury record

 

That is good news, what about left back?

 

There's no such position at Newcastle. The words "Left" and "Back" cannot be used together by anyone employed by Mike Ashley. What we have is a blank space on the pitch that nobody thinks matters, hence we put people in it who don't have the faintest clue what being a "left back" means. Rumour has it John Beresford copyrighted the term "Newcastle Left Back" and Mike refuses to be held for ransom on paying for the use of the terminology. So it remains a "retired" space on the NUFC tactics boards, hence Kevin Mbabu, a Swiss right back/centre back, wandering around on that patch of field last time out.

 

We need to get some points on the board fast at the moment though. If you were either Matip or Austin would you come to us in our current predicament?

 

No

 

Need a CB asap! CF I'm happy with Mitro and Perez first in line, Cisse as back up Riviere as 4th choice and then we have Arma out on loan so i think CF is covered.

Personally always defended Saylor as I love his wacky enthusiasm and he loves the club to bits but no good only playing a handful of games a season and being a bit of a liability when you do.

Willo < Vlaar
Saylor < Matip
Colo < ? Young English CB ?

AND THEN SAM BYRAM FOR LB!!!

 

Only if we were offering the highest wages, in any predicament. If I were them.

 

We should get Balanta, wish we could get Ginter aswell

 

Couldn't give a fck. Unless they're selling Premier League Points in January, we're knackered.

 

It's no good signing Matip when you have deadwood in front/ around him. Get rid of Sissoko, Coloccini, Gouffran, Williamson, Tiote, Cisse, Obertan, Anita, Colback and sadly now Krul. We need to gut the core of the first team.

 

Can you imagine going to Matip, Ginter or Balenta now.

"Hi chaps fancy coming to try and sort out the worst defence in Europe?"

Not gonna be chomping are they. Get Marcelo Gallardo in and hope he brings Balenta with him.

 

http://www.themag.co.uk/2015/10/con...bella-revealed-but-marseille-set-to-duck-out/