http://www.nufcblog.com/2011/08/21/newcastle-make-significant-progress-with-two-transfer-targets/Newcastle Make Significant Progress With Two Transfer Targets
Newcastle?s win against Sunderland yesterday was really good news, but there may even be more good news on the way, so buckle up those seat belts.
Newcastle?s win against Sunderland yesterday was really good news, but there may even be more good news on the way, so buckle up those seat belts.
Modibo Maiga ? held meeting with Souchaux President
The good news is according to the local Sunday Sun (Mark Douglas), and it?s that Newcastle have made significant progress in their endeavors to get left back Aly Cissokho and striker Mobido Maiga to Newcastle.
The report is that Maiga had a meeting with Souchaux President Alexandre Lacombe, over the weekend, to try to get a move to Newcastle, which the 23 year-old Mali International craves. Thye were to discuss the terms of the move, but there is no news on the outcome of that meeting.
But we have to hope the news is true and that something can be worked out, since Maiga has been in big demand over the summer by some top clubs, but he seems to have set his heart on Newcastle.
And we understand that Aly Cissokho is now the club?s number one transfer target to replace Jose Enrique, and that Managing Director Derek Llambias has met with his English agents to try to get a deal pushed through. As we reported a couple of say ago, Newcastle have cooled their interest in Dutch International Erik Pieters, who is big friend of Tim Krul.
Newcastle have so far been unwilling to meet the asking price of either player, it?s supposed to be between £8M and £10M for Lyon?s Cissokho, and an initial offer of £7M for Maiga was turned down by Souchaux, that all according to the Sunday Sun.
Souchaux have been asking £10M for Maiga, but there could be a compromise deal worked out.
If Newcastle cannot agree a deal for Cissokho, they may even go back in for Toulouse left-back and French U21 player Cheikh M?Bengue, whom Newcastle bid £5M for early in the summer.
But the news is that manager Pardew has yet to be convinced that M?Bengue would be a good buy for the club.
Newcastle cannot wait too much longer to make these deals, because the transfer window closes a week come Wednesday, so they need to get busy this week.
Comments welcome.