FOOTBALL SPY: SOUEY READY WITH A WELCOME MATT
By Alan Nixon
NEWCASTLE United manager Graeme Souness is ready to join the chase for Birmingham City centre half Matthew Upson with an emergency bid.
And Souness, plunged into a defensive crisis by Titus Bramble's dislocated elbow, has put him at the top of his list and could offer Nicky Butt in exchange.
Upson has been linked with Liverpool and Everton in the past few weeks as Birmingham wonder if he will commit his future to them by signing a new deal.
But now Newcastle have come in as they face up to being without Bramble for up to three months after a freak training ground injury.
And Souness has an ace card in midfield schemer Butt, who was wanted by Birmingham chief Steve Bruce and has never really settled with the Toon.
With Butt rated at £2.5 million Newcastle could throw the former Manchester United and England star plus around £3m at the St Andrews club for Upson.
Souness has let defenders Aaron Hughes and Liam O'Brien go and is left with young Steven Taylor to partner Frenchman Jean-Alain Boumsong as the Intertoto Cup campaign approaches.
Upson is on a list that also includes former St James' Park star and Manchester City skipper Sylvain Distin, valued at over £6m and an old Souness target.
Other short-term solutions have been considered as Souness comes up against a new and unexpected problem, while trying to juggle to save funds for his other problem positions.
-------------------------------------
Veldig bra deal detta! 3 mill pund + Butt er berre heilt lekkert!
Upson er ein knall god engelsk stoppar, som kan steppe inn som venstre back.
Ja takk!
Trur det skal være Andy o'Brien i stedet for Liam :wink:
