Newcastle set for Europe after Liverpool reach FA Cup final
Newcastle United are all but assured of a place in Europe next season after Liverpool beat Everton in the FA Cup semi-final.Newcastle United’s Shola Ameobi enjoying Hatem Ben Arfa talent
Newcastle striker Shola Ameobi believes that any team in the Premier League would want Hatem Ben Arfa in their squad.Spurs to rival Gunners for Vertonghen signing
According to reports in the press, Tottenham Hotspur will go head to head with North London rivals Arsenal in the summer for Ajax’s highly rated Belgian defender Jan Vertonghen. Arsenal want Vertonghen to be reunited with former club mate Thomas Vermaelen at the Emirates Stadium as they seek to mount a title challenge next season, but Spurs are viewing him as a possible replacement for inspirational but injury prone defender Ledley King, whose deal expires at the end of the current season
Vertonghen, who has also been linked with Newcastle United, is a versatile defender who can also double up as a defensive midfielder. The 24 year old is valued at somewhere around £10m.
Given – No Magpies regrets
Aston Villa goalkeeper Shay Given insists he has no regrets about leaving Newcastle United in 2009.Premier League round-up
Newcastle United moved into fifth place, as Arsenal were held at Bolton and Djibril Cisse scored on his QPR debut.Premier League round-up
Newcastle United moved into fifth place, as Arsenal were held at Bolton and Djibril Cisse scored on his QPR debut.French giants target unsettled Tottenham defender
French giants Olympique Lyon and Lille are in a race to sign Tottenham Hotspur’s unsettled defender Sebastien Bassong. The Cameroon international is far from happy being a part player at White Hart Lane and is said to be favour an exit in order to get first team football.
Bassong joined Spurs from Newcastle United in 2009 for £8.5m. QPR and West Ham United have already made enquiries about his availability while Lille and Lyon are both said to initially want him on loan, with a view to making the deal permanent at the beginning of next summer.
Spurs have plenty of defenders in their ranks with the likes of Ledley King, Michael Dawson and Younes Kaboul ahead of Bassong, but Harry Redknapp wants to keep him because of the current injury problems with the Lilywhites.
Magpies to bid for Morrison
Newcastle United are set to make another bid for Manchester United wonderkid Ravel Morrison despite seeing their original £500,000 turned down by the Red Devils. Morrison, 18, is hailed as one of the best talents in the United youth set up, but is known to have disciplinary issues and his contract at Old Trafford is over at the end of the current season.
United have therefore been forced to listen to offers for Morrison, but want a significant part of any future sale should he go on to fulfill his potential.
Newcastle aren’t new to players with disciplinary problems, and manager Alan Pardew believes that he can get the best out of the youngster, who’s often been compared to Ryan Giggs.
Magpies offer young Lens star trial
Newcastle United have offered a trial to young Lens star Abdelhakim Omrani. Manager Alan Pardew, in continuation of his policy of bringing talented French players to Tyneside, has given the 20 year old an opportunity to impress the Toon management with his skills.
Omrani, who is of mixed Franco-Algerian descent, also had a trial last season at German giants FC Bayern. He impressed the Bavarians enough for them to make a bid for him, but unfortunately for Omrani, the two clubs could not reach an agreement regarding his transfer fee.
Newcastle have a sizable French speaking contigent at the Sports Direct Arena, with the likes of Yohan Cabaye, Demba Ba and Hatem Ben Arfa impression for the Magpies this season in the league.