Latest Rumblings.

2 more names to add to our alleged possible signings from the Chronicle. More into our price bracket but I still believe we'll sign no-one.


Newcastle United look set for a return to the French market this month if Alan Pardew does bring in fresh blood. Highly-respected French newspaper L’Equipe last night strongly insisted the club had recently scouted Lyon midfielder Gueida Fofana (pictured left) and Sochaux striker Cedric Bakambu.

And while Monday night’s Fans Forum meeting indicated that there was a chance that nothing would be done this month, both players perfectly fit the bill

Newcastle were first mentioned with the 22-year-old Fofana, a natural defensive midfielder who can play in a number of positions, three months ago. Bakambu, also 22, will be allowed to leave his club this transfer window in a bid to raise funds for Sochaux, who are second bottom of Ligue 1.

A fee of close to £3million has been touted for the young and powerful striker, who has scored six goals this season.

Pardew has been keen to get in a centre-forward with a bit or presence as he feels this type of player would benefit both Loic Remy and Papiss Cisse.

Fofana is highly rated in France and has also been linked with Marseille and German outfit Stuttgart.

He would cost somewhere in the region of £5m-plus if Newcastle did make a move, although Lyon have said recently that they would like to offer him a new extended contract.

Fofana won the French Cup with Lyon in 2012.

 

Good names. We seem to be fairly realistic about the targets we go after these days, which is a good thing. Shane Long and Luuk De Jong also seem to have a bit of substance to them. I remain fairly optimistic about this window; it's the time to get bargains, there's never a bargain in the Summer for a club like us - when players run out of contract, good players that is, there's ALWAYS going to be a club like QPR or Cardiff who'll trump our salary offer. It's a sensible notion and on we should be almost proud of, if it comes off of course!!

Four players in this January and a "revolving door" policy in the Summer will see us right. Better to be realistic now that in a WC/EC year, Newcastle are always among the worst to conclude business. With good reason - transfers tend to revolve around chain reactions, and WC's have a tendency to inflate players values which causes a log jam at the bargain end.

 

If Shane Long is kicking about for 4m-5m as reported, I hope we are considering him.

 

Fofana? He's a rugby player - will they literally link us with anyone from France?