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Buying
From Our Premiership Rivals - Manchester United |
28th May 2005
Index:
Arsenal
Aston
Villa
Birmingham
City
Blackburn
Rovers
Bolton
Wanderers
Charlton
Athletic
Chelsea
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Palace
Everton
Fulham
Liverpool
Manchester
City
Manchester United
Middlesbrough
Norwich City
Portsmouth
Southampton
Tottenham Hotspur
West Bromwich Albion
Europe
Conclusion?
So Graeme Souness wants to bring in players who have Premiership experience
or who can perform in the League, then? Well lets take a look at our
Premiership rivals and see who is available, who could be available
and who we could potentially attract.
Buying from Manchester United?
With new owner Malcolm Glazer prepared to hand manager Sir Alex Ferguson
£20m to spend in the close-season, the Scot could well be forced
to off-load one or two 'stars' to boost what would almost certainly
be a meagre kitty, especially in comparison with Chelsea's expected
budget.
The need to strengthen at Old Stafford has never been greater. With
Chelsea's money and sheer dominance over the League last season, Arsenal's
boosted coffers and the Champions League success of Liverpool, the
Red Devils are looking like the odd one out at the moment. Add the
turmoil that Glazer's takeover has caused and the once dominant mighty
Red machine looks very vulnerable indeed.
With a goalkeeper, a central midfielder and options down the flanks
needed, those required players won't come cheap. And this is where
Newcastle could take advantage as we look to strengthen our own squad.
The last player we bought from Man Utd to do just that - Nicky Butt
- hasn't worked out at all, but there could be one or two we could
go for who would strengthen Newcastle.
I'll start with Jon O'Shea who despite signing a
new and improved deal recently, could, if the price is right, be made
surplus to requirements by Fergie. Linked back in January the Republic
of Ireland man hasn't quite lived up to his early promise but he's
a fine alrounder capable of playing in a number of positions across
the whole of the back-four and even in central midfield where some
suggest he is more suited too.
A £4m bid could tempt Sir Alex and the opportunity to play more
games could well tempt the player himself. At that price, he would
be a far better bet than some of the players we have been linked with
recently and although we have just sold Aaron Hughes, a very similar
player, O'Shea would be an improvement in that area in my opinion.
Worth a try.
Next up is Quinton Fortune who has a year left to
run on his contract. The South African has had a great season at Old
Trafford, getting a good run in the first-team due to injuries and
suspensions and has been linked before - back in January. Another
player capable of playing in a number of positions such as central
midfield, left-back and on the left-wing. Not the greatest player
in the world but he could be a very cheap fix and a more than decent
squad player.
Lastly, lets take a look at Alan Smith shall we whom
once again has been linked with a Summer switch to St. James' Park.
Having chased him this time last year many were shocked to see him
opt for Man Utd and despite impressing early on, his first-team opportunities
have been few and far between and given the injuries they have had
up front, it would seem Sir Alex doesn't fully trust him to bag the
goals. And with good reason too because Smith just isn't that type
of striker.
Smith has reiterated he wants to stay at Man Utd but a desperate need
to strengthen other areas could see the club tempted into a a quick
sale just 10 months after signing him but whether he would chose a
club hoping to gain entry into Europe via the back door that is the
InterToto Cup remains to be seen.
And if I'm honest, I'd prefer any number of strikers ahead of the
England man. He's a fine individual in his own right, don't get me
wrong, but unless he has a partner that can score 20-25 goals a season,
then there would be little point in buying him as he most certainly
won't reach those type of figures. He isn't that type of striker.
Now alongside a Michael Owen or even a Craig Bellamy...
Next up, a look at who is available, who could be available and who
we could potentially attract from Middlesbrough.
Write In... Who would you like Newcastle to sign
in the Summer? Write in with your suggestions, reasons for your choices
and what these players would bring to the squad and we will publish
your thoughts on these very pages. Send in your suggestions using
the below e-mail form:
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