Newcastle cool interest in Cheikh M'Bengue

NEWCASTLE UNITED have cooled their interest in Toulouse left-back Cheikh M'Bengue – despite reports from France that the Magpies had tabled a fresh offer.

The Chronicle understands that United are looking at other options on their shortlist when it comes to the left-back spot, with Jose Enrique’s future still uncertain.

French 21-year-old M’Bengue has been on Alan Pardew’s radar since February when we reported that the Toon boss had embarked on a scouting mission in France to take a closer look at the player.

But despite talk from France today that a 6m offer had been pushed in the direction of the Stade Municipal outfit, while Newcastle are keen on M’Bengue it is thought that they will not be upping their original offer of 5m.

M’Bengue, who is also being tracked by Marseille and Lille, is thought to be keen on the move to St James’ Park. But even though Pardew will be ruling nothing out at this early stage of the summer transfer window, he is not afraid to look elsewhere.

Ideally, United and Pardew would love Enrique to stay on at St James’ Park and, after the Londoner revealed that the former La Liga star had been made a “fantastic offer” last week, there have been no further developments on the Spaniard’s future.

Enrique has been unsettled on Tyneside since January and is mulling over the package offered by the Magpies, with Newcastle keen to fight for the player for whom they paid £6m in 2007.

Pardew has always insisted: “We’ll do everything we can to keep Jose at the club.”

However, one player understood not to be making his way to Tyneside is Cedric Hengbart, who was linked with Newcastle this morning.

The 30-year-old Auxerre defender is in the final year of his contract at Stade Abbe Deschamps, with Wigan Athletic and Blackburn Rovers also reportedly interested.

But club sources today distanced themselves between the £500,000-rated ex-Caen man.

And it has also emerged Newcastle have no interest in 27-year-old striker Craig Mackail-Smith, with Peterborough United confirming they had accepted a bid from a Premier League side.

Norwich, QPR and Wigan are all interested in the Posh forward.

Meanwhile former Plymouth Argyle hot prospect Aaron Spear has left Newcastle after failing to make an impact on Tyneside three years since signing from the Pilgrims.

The 18-year-old was understood to be unsettled in the North East and has now been linked with Fulham and an unnamed side in Holland.

 

Maybe Jose is staying?!

 

Can't say I've Cheikh'ed him out.

 

Mmmmm fingers crossed

 

This.

 

Good news as it points to Jose staying possibly. But i'm guessing if he does leave then Chiekh MII will be our most likely replacement

 

Every time I read his surname I keep hearing the lyrics to 'Um Bongo' in my head.

If he signs I have the basis for a song...

 

Who else could they be looking at? Maybe Gibbs from Arsenal?

Jose could be swayed by these new signings so there is no point in writing it off just yet, there is a long way to go!

 

We already have Enrique and Ferguson so this is not a prioty just yet

 

ferguson is more of a wing than a leftback and hes only played a handful of games i dont think pardew would want an inexperience winger playing left back for any Prem game regardless of how talented he is. i think LB is the position we should be looking at improving first, well that and a new striker.

 

Good news about Mackail-Smith!

 

indeed it is <thankfuckforthat>

 

Ok here's the new lad with a stupid question. What is all this notification lark?

I hope we stick to our guns with the price on this lad. If he wants to move, and we've offered decent money it'll happen. I'm resigned to losing Jose but you never know. Liverpool not getting into Europe was sweet!

 

I hope that if Enrique does go that we don't leave it too late. I would rather sell him now than wait till the end of the transfer window when we might get 2-3m more but no player in to play left back (apart from Ferguson)

Pardew said he see's Ferguson as more of a left back but needs to beef up a bit, so he will be going on a meat and potato diet (or something like that).

 

Notifications are when you either have a message off someone or you have an achievement. It looks like you have just got the 100 experience points achievement (under your name it is a blue ball, hover over it and it will tell you what it is for).

 

Steak and Milk i think it was, he's irish so i imagine he's had enough meat and potatoes

 

That's probably the one, I knew it was something like that

 

Cheers Nobby

 

"However, one player understood not to be making his way to Tyneside is Cedric Hengbart, who was linked with Newcastle this morning.

The 30-year-old Auxerre defender is in the final year of his contract at Stade Abbe Deschamps, with Wigan Athletic and Blackburn Rovers also reportedly interested."

This part fills me with dread