Newcastle United's hopes for Mevlut Erdinc hang in balance
by Mark Douglas, The Journal
Jul 7 2011
Striker Mevlut Erding of the Paris Saint Germain football club
NEWCASTLE United?s hopes of landing Mevlüt Erdinç are hanging in the balance.
United have lodged a £7million bid but The Journal understands that they were handed a downbeat message by Erdinç?s advisers yesterday.
And the Tynesiders fear that the Turkey striker is now ready to stay put and fight for his place at Paris-Saint Germain.
United are determined not to give up their pursuit of the striker and have not been put off.
However, it appears they will have to play the long game on a player who is their number one striker target.
New PSG director of football Leonardo has told Erdinç that he wants him to remain in the French capital and complement an attack which now includes Kevin Gameiro, who was also a one-time United target.
Interest is certainly not dead but that has left Newcastle disappointed as the signs from Erdinç and his advisers were positive when they first made contact a month ago.
They will hope to get Erdinç over to Tyneside for talks, with Alan Pardew keen to try to sell his vision for United to him.
But they know that if the former Sochaux forward remains unmoved by their approach, they will have to move on to other targets.
United do have a Continental-based alternative, but that is not Lille?s Moussa Sow, because they do not believe he is ready for English football.
Their interest in Reading?s Shane Long ? who came highly recommended to Pardew ? has cooled and United do not anticipate doing much business between now and the start of the season.
Wigan?s Charles N?Zogbia, who has made it known he is keen on returning to United, has priced himself out of a move to Tyneside with his excessive wage demands.
Similarly a move for Daniel Sturridge ? who has been priced at £20million ? has been ruled out by United?s hierarchy for the time being.Of course, United are prepared to revise their transfer plans if they manage to move on any of the players who have been made available.
But, at the moment, it appears as if the only movement will be for a striker and Neil Taylor, the Swansea defender who remains a target if he can resolve the dispute over his price-tag. They have other left-back targets on ice in case José Enríque decides to stay.
But his intentions remain clouded ? although he was back in the North East yesterday.
Club insiders reported that he was in good spirits as he reported for pre-season training following a summer spent with his family in Valencia.
Despite a close season full of speculation linking him with a move the club have had no approaches for the left-back.
And, while they have long anticipated interest from Arsenal and Liverpool in the 24-year-old Spaniard, the fact that neither have made an official enquiry will inevitably boost hopes that they can cling onto their highly-rated defender.
Understandably, Enrique wants to play Champions League football but if there is no move for the player imminent, United will challenge him to commit his future to them.
There was certainly no perceptible change in his demeanour yesterday as he chatted to club staff and Pardew will hope to pin Enríque down before the weekend.
Meanwhile, the club are set to turn down the chance to take Real Madrid?s Spain Under-21 winger Sergio Canales on loan.
His advisers contacted the club to enquire about the possibility of a switch to St James? Park ? however, United did not believe the terms of the deal are right.
The Tyneside club are well stocked for wide players and Canales ? although known as a precocious talent ? has only played 10 times for the La Liga giants.
United believe that they need players who will hit the ground running.
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