Summer transfer rumours, speculation and out-and-out b*ll*cks.

[TheSandman]

I'd be all for Petrov being dropped if we had a convincing replacement but we don't and I don't see us signing one.

[JJ-AV]

We definitely need a couple more experienced players.

I'd try and get Hutton - Spurs will have to sell, he's out of contract next Summer and isn't going to get a look in this year. If we leave it till the last week of the window we'll get him for £2m.

Parker or Barton - the former more likely, the latter doesn't want to leave Newcastle until his deal is up. Barton is a loudmouth and a wanker, but he was matured a little and McLeish has a track record for getting the best out of players like that.

Still think Parker will go Spurs, however if they won't pay the fee - it might leave only us?

One of Milner or Adam Johnson on loan would also be nice.

[Mazrim]

I can imagine him trying to get a replacement for Petrov at least. Or a viable alternative.
Maybe for Mahamdou Diarra or perhaps a more agreeable loan deal arrangement for Scott Parker than £4m a year.

[Greg N'Ash]

We definitely need a couple more experienced players.

I'd try and get Hutton - Spurs will have to sell, he's out of contract next Summer and isn't going to get a look in this year. If we leave it till the last week of the window we'll get him for £2m.

Parker or Barton - the former more likely, the latter doesn't want to leave Newcastle until his deal is up. Barton is a loudmouth and a wanker, but he was matured a little and McLeish has a track record for getting the best out of players like that.

Still think Parker will go Spurs, however if they won't pay the fee - it might leave only us?

One of Milner or Adam Johnson on loan would also be nice.

hmmm. it's just wrong saying it but i'd have Barton *spit*


Milner sadly isn't going to happen barring a major fallling out with Mancini

[JJ-AV]

Things change quickly in football. Mancini has said he wants another winger and a midfield player, if he gets them I could see Milner going out on loan.

[Greg N'Ash]

Things change quickly in football. Mancini has said he wants another winger and a midfield player, if he gets them I could see Milner going out on loan.

then he's a fool. Milner is easily a regular in a top 4 side.

[Concrete John]

Is anyone else starting to like the idea of signing Parker on loan?

If our issue is wages, as we're lead to belive it is, then it should be viewed as a lump sum to get the player for 12-months.  I believe he's on circa £60k a week, so rather than think "That's another £3m a year on the wagebill" rather think "It's a flat £7m out of the Ash/Downing money to fix the biggest weakness in our side."  Then, should it go well, we have the option of a pernament transfer in summer 2012, presuming West Ham don't come straight back up, as by then the likes of Heskey and Beye will be off the books, thereby making room for Parker's wages.

I think the key to it would be agreeing the price now for 2012.  If they want £4m loan fee and then another £6m on top, then they can do one.  Parker in 12-months time will be worth less due to his age, so maybe £4m now and then another £3m in 2012?  So it's basically a transfer fee of £7m, which is reasonable for the player, paid in two parts.   

[eastie]

Milner won't happen , Parker would be ideal and I like the idea of Barton who since going teetotal seems to have calmed down on and off the pitch- mcleish could handle him I feel, whoever comes in needs to be of quality in that midfield role - albeit if it's only a loan deal.

[Greg N'Ash]

Is anyone else starting to like the idea of signing Parker on loan?

If our issue is wages, as we're lead to belive it is, then it should be viewed as a lump sum to get the player for 12-months.  I believe he's on circa £60k a week, so rather than think "That's another £3m a year on the wagebill" rather think "It's a flat £7m out of the Ash/Downing money to fix the biggest weakness in our side."  Then, should it go well, we have the option of a pernament transfer in summer 2012, presuming West Ham don't come straight back up, as by then the likes of Heskey and Beye will be off the books, thereby making room for Parker's wages.

I think the key to it would be agreeing the price now for 2012.  If they want £4m loan fee and then another £6m on top, then they can do one.  Parker in 12-months time will be worth less due to his age, so maybe £4m now and then another £3m in 2012?  So it's basically a transfer fee of £7m, which is reasonable for the player, paid in two parts.   

can't see the board seeing it that way. 13m in fee's and wages on a player who could be finished in 3 seasons? pffftt.....

[JJ-AV]

Supposedly Barton will know at 4pm today if he's staying at Newcastle or not.

[Merv]

I've read that. I follow him on Twitter - he's actually quite entertaining on that, and not in the way you might think.

If we had the £££, I'd go for Barton. But I think loans are the option facing us, and if we can use our allocation to nab an experienced midfielder and a versatile defender, I'd be breathing a little easier ahead of the season.

[JJ-AV]

From what I understand Barton (if he's leaving) wants a long deal. He's 28 so I think it'd be a 5 year deal on 60k, or something similar. Seems alot but we gave a 29 year old Dunne, 31 year old Heskey and 31 year old Beye 4, 3.5 and 3 year deals respectively.

And if it's between him and Parker, financially he'd make more sense than Parker.

I expect Newcastle would only want £3-4m for him though.

[Concrete John]

He could be, but then for those 3 seasons we'd have a cracking player in a position we're currently quite weak in.  Maybe the key would be to make his contract quite heavily appearance based, so that is he's out of the side in a 2-3 years, he wouldn't be costing us so much?

Or maybe we just think 'he'll be good for 3 years', so put him on a 3 year contract worth £9m, so with a say £7m fee that's a £16m commitment.  May be worth it for a player as good as he is.

[Concrete John]

And if it's between him and Parker, financially he'd make more sense than Parker.

I expect Newcastle would only want £3-4m for him though.

Does it?  If you imagine both players would want £60k a week, then the extra year or two of Barton would cost us £3-6m.  Both players would have negligable re-sale value, so it's be that extra cost, of setting the smaller fee (think he'd cost £5m myself) for an extra year or so.

Not much difference there, IMO.   

[Greg N'Ash]

He could be, but then for those 3 seasons we'd have a cracking player in a position we're currently quite weak in.  Maybe the key would be to make his contract quite heavily appearance based, so that is he's out of the side in a 2-3 years, he wouldn't be costing us so much?

Or maybe we just think 'he'll be good for 3 yars', so just put him on a year contract worth £9m, so with a say £7m fee that's a £16m commitment.  May be worth it for a player as good as he is.

Just can't see us doing it john. the impression i've got at least is we're now investing in youth, and older players on long contracts are a no-no however good they are. A lot of the big clubs hesitate to give more than 2 year contracts after the player gets past 30 so with our budget its unlikely i think.