Transfer Speculation / Gossip

[Toronto Villa]

Maybe, or given the choice of the two so situations maybe he'll carry on playing for a manager that bought him to the PL and has shown faith on him. My guy I instinct is that he'll see out his contract with us and we'll only see him move if the offer is a bit mental. Not like that couldn't happen considering some of the deals we've already seen this summer.

[bobdylan]

Arsenal apparently keen on Ki, so i can understand him stalling, hopefully they'll look elsewhere and we can snap him up.

[Tom_Mc9?]

I'd imagine the papers will report that every Tom, Dick and Harry will be in for Vlaar until he is back from his World Cup rest. At that point I'd imagine Lambert will sit down with him and he'll sign a new contract, as he did with Benteke last summer.

A good player playing well at the World Cup whilst playing for a club of our stature is too irresistible for those writing various gossip columns in the newspapers. Here's hoping a new contract will put an end to it.

[Dante Lavelli]

How about a loan deal for this chap?  Always seems to play well against us:

Newcastle midfielder Hatem Ben Arfa, 27, has not been given a squad number for the new season. Daily Mirror

[Clampy]

How about a loan deal for this chap?  Always seems to play well against us:

Newcastle midfielder Hatem Ben Arfa, 27, has not been given a squad number for the new season. Daily Mirror

As nice an idea as that is, i'd be surprised if they loaned him to us.

[Damo70]

How about a loan deal for this chap?  Always seems to play well against us:

Newcastle midfielder Hatem Ben Arfa, 27, has not been given a squad number for the new season. Daily Mirror

As nice an idea as that is, i'd be surprised if they loaned him to us.

He fell out with Pardew a couple of times last season and has now been fined and sent to train with the under 21's because Pardew reckons he came back to training overweight.

[Dante Lavelli]

How about a loan deal for this chap?  Always seems to play well against us:

Newcastle midfielder Hatem Ben Arfa, 27, has not been given a squad number for the new season. Daily Mirror

As nice an idea as that is, i'd be surprised if they loaned him to us.

He is seemingly a bit of a 'wrong un' so I'd be reluctant to sign him on a long deal despite being a talented player.
A loan deal would take him off Newcastle's wage bill and potentially the trouble off their hands.  Their choice whether they'd accept it or not.  Depends on who else comes in for him I guess.

[mattjpa]

Reports coming out Ki has now turned us down now. Depressing

[Mister E]

Reports coming out Ki has now turned us down now. Depressing

Not surprising, if true.
Until the ownership thing is sorted it is likely to be a blocker to acquisition simply becuase players and (more relevantly) their agents will be wary about the uncertainty.

[David_Nab]

Suprised if he has turned us down ( similar situation with Borini at Sunderland ) as generally the club will have spoken to the players agent to see if they are prepared to move before it gets to the bid stage.

[supertom]

Reports coming out Ki has now turned us down now. Depressing

I guess we move on. I'd honestly prefer a bit more of an up and at them kind of signing in midfielder to be honest. Ki is an upgrade on Westwood, but like Westy, he's neither defensive, nor much of an attacking threat. I think we've got our quota of tidy midfielders. I'd like someone who can sit in front of the back four and help cover the fullbacks, allowing our more forward thinking mids to push on. Essentially a more talented version of Herd.

That said it perhaps suggest we're going to find it hard to attract the level of signing above what we've been going for so far.

[supertom]

Suprised if he has turned us down ( similar situation with Borini at Sunderland ) as generally the club will have spoken to the players agent to see if they are prepared to move before it gets to the bid stage.

There's been conflicting reports. Some say that Swansea want to keep him now and will offer a new deal. Others say he's got other potential suitors interested, including (but not very likely) Arsenal.

[Mister E]

[.. I'd like someone who can sit in front of the back four and help cover the fullbacks, allowing our more forward thinking mids to push on. Essentially a more talented version of Herd ...

Pity to see Lambert continuing to play Herd as a defender last week at Mansfield. Herd's ability to cover the full backs when playing in CMF was pretty good in the tSM season.

[Tom_Mc9?]

I won't get too depressed about Ki turning us down on the basis that I couldn't begin to tell you what kind of player he is or his ability. However, I'd be a bit nonplussed if Lambert doesn't have an alternative.

[PaulWinch again]

I won't get too depressed about Ki turning us down on the basis that I couldn't begin to tell you what kind of player he is or his ability. However, I'd be a bit nonplussed if Lambert doesn't have an alternative.

I think it's more indicative of what we're offering.