According to Kevin Keegan he already has a list of potential transfer targets for the summer. However, Director of something or other at St James’s Park Dennis Wise has another list of possible recruits.
As I’m feeling a little left out I thought it was only right that I also made a list and we’ll see how many of them are linked with a move to Newcastle in the next few weeks.
Top of my shopping list is Tottenham striker Dimitar Berbatov. He is almost certainly going to leave Tottenham at the end of the season and, with Mark Viduka’s poor fitness record, Keegan needs to have four strikers if he is going to persist with a three-man front line.
I suppose Alan Smith could act as cover, but I’d be tempted to sell him, firstly because I don’t think he is very good and secondly because he only came to Newcastle when he was sick of sitting on the bench at Manchester United. Keegan also has Andy Carroll’s development to consider.
I know Berbatov is a sulky so and so, but the same has been said about Viduka in the past and look how he has responded to Keegan’s man management. Berbatov is a quality goalscorer, but he is also an excellent link up player, which would be good news for Michael Owen and Obafemi Martins.
I’d also raid Tottenham for Aaron Lennon. The kid has lost his way a little bit in the last two years, but he remains an exciting wide player and he will bring some much needed pace to the side. It’s easy to forget that, after the World Cup in Germany in 2006, Lennon was widely regarded as one of the most exciting young players in Europe and for good reason.
A new challenge would do him the world of good and an attacking player like him is bound to enjoy working with a manager like Keegan who will give him the freedom to express himself.
At left-back, I can’t look any further than Chelsea’s Wayne Bridge. Newcastle have been linked with an interest in him for the past two summers, but I suspect his patience has finally snapped at Stamford Bridge, where he has to play second-fiddle to Ashley Cole the whole time.
At 27, Bridge needs to be playing first team football each week and United will be able to offer him the sort of lucrative wage packet to persuade anyone to more North. I’ve always liked Bridge, even though he has had his critics in recent times. He is solid at the back and good going forward, exactly the sort of full back Keegan likes.
In midfield, what are the odds on Keegan trying to lure Michael Carrick back to his native North-East. It is a move which is probably destined to fail, as he is still very much involved at Old Trafford, but perhaps we’ll be lucky and he’ll be punished for that costly handball against Chelsea last weekend.
It is a slim chance, I know, but it would be a fantastic signing. Nicky Butt isn’t getting any younger and Carrick would be perfect in that holding role. His passing range is also far superior to Butt’s.
I still think Newcastle need another midfielder, but I’m a little stuck here. I think Emre will probably stay, although expect plenty of speculation about his future, particularly if he has a good Euro 2008 tournament with Turkey, but that still isn’t enough for me.
I’ve talked about Jimmy Bullard before and he’d offer good value for money, especially if Fulham go down and have to get rid of their top earners. But what about someone like Sebastian Larsson at Birmingham City? Young, decent shot, good passing ability and plenty of energy.
Either that, or Keegan will go into the foreign market, probably after he has scouted a few players at the European Championships. As Charles N’Zogbia’s head still appears to be wedged between his cheeks he will be sent packing, so a wide left player might be an attractive proposition. I just can’t think who. Any ideas?
Keegan will also look to sign two new centre-backs. Richard Dunne is an interesting one as he has rid himself of the donkey tag that plagued him in his early days in the same way that Tony Adams did. And we all know what a fantastic defender Adams became.
Dunne may well want to leave Manchester City in the summer as well because, as I understand it, a lot of the City players are far from happy at Eastlands because of the poor treatment shown to Sven Goran Eriksson. If Keegan was looking for a young defender with plenty of potential, he might also want to consider a bid for Dunne’s City teammate, the England Under-21 international Nedum Onuoha.
A former Sam Allardyce target is also available, Tal Ben Haim. The Israeli centre-half was a good player at Bolton and, unlike the foreign defenders who flooded in last summer, has plenty of Premier League experience to bring to the table.
I've gone for British-based players here, mainly because I don't know enough about any possible foreign targets. That may well change after Euro 2008, but for now I'll go with what I know.
I’m sure you will all have your own thoughts on who should come and go at Newcastle this summer, but let me know your thoughts.
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