CHN Links: One CB Close To Signing, One CB Back In The Mix

Today is an encouraging day in the rumor mill- at least insofar as rumors are pointing in positive direction regarding defensive targets for Newcastle United. An improved offer is rumored for Mathieu Debuchy and it is now being said that Lille have said he can leave (with the famous stipulation "when a suitable replacement can be found"). Additionally, it appears that another CB target is near a move to Tyneside while yet another CB may be re-entering the frame.

The links after the jump!

Australian defender Curtis Good set for NUFC switch - NUFC News - NUFC - JournalLive

There has been other interest in Good, but Susa said that Newcastle remains the priority for the player. “The reality is we’re not trying to flick him on to anyone. Newcastle United is a massive, massive club with a great history,” he said. “He certainly enjoyed himself at Newcastle. I think we just want to wait and see what happens with Newcastle before we look at anything else with Curtis.” Although some may find it strange that United are not hunting for an experienced centre-back at the moment, they have Fabricio Coloccini, Taylor and Mike Williamson fighting for two places.

Curtis Good has been an ongoing summer story for NUFC. As a 19-year-old he made a splash in the Australian league and impressed in his trial on Tyneside earlier in the summer. His agent is flying to England giving hope that this deal can be finalized before the beginning of pre-season training... but the question remains: exactly what is this player's readiness regarding the Premier League, Europa League or even the League or FA cups?

Also, so far as the italicized portion of the quote: Let us not talk silliness. The club need CB reinforcements and we all know it. We can try the rose-colored glasses all we want (three players fighting for two spaces... please.) but Steven Taylor is coming off a long-term injury and it would be near impossible to expect any CB pairing (or three player rotation) to come through 60+ matches playing the full 90 every single time and remain healthy.

Newcastle United could go back in for Douglas - NUFC News - Newcastle United - ChronicleLive

The Brazilian-born centre-back has found himself in hot water with the Dutch outfit after failing to report for pre-season training – and has subsequently been fined by former England boss Steve McClaren. McClaren is resigned to losing the big defender but while the original deal – which we first reported last December – was complicated by the interference of his represen- tatives earlier this summer – it could yet be resurrected by United and FC Twente before the transfer window shuts. United are refusing to call time on Douglas, but his recent antics with his current club have hardly impressed Toon officials who have no time for prima donnas as they look to maintain a hard working team ethic in their squad.

I don't think that I have much to say about Douglas that hasn't already been said over the months that he has been in the frame for Newcastle. It is interesting to me (perhaps it's a need to drive conversation?) though that Douglas is being tagged the "prima donna" for trying to manipulate a move in exactly the same way as Hatem Ben Arfa.

John Carver salutes Newcastle Academy success - NUFC News - Newcastle United - ChronicleLive

And he was delighted to see Dave Watson’s Under-18 side finish top of their Premier Academy League group, with the black-and-whites streets ahead of Sunderland and Middlesbrough only to lose a play-off game at the end of the campaign to a strong Blackburn Rovers side. But with a new intake of youngsters in Rolando Aarons, Macauley Booth, Macaulay Gillesphey, Alex Gilliead, Tom Heardman, Ryan McKinnon, James Morgan, Greg Olley, Jonathyn Quinn, Lubomir Satka and Liam Smith – and the likes of Adam Campbell, Marcus Maddison, Michael Riley and Dennis Knight all hoping to be involved in more first-team training sessions next year, Carver is excited about the future.

Bang on cue as the very real potential that Newcastle United's Academy will be classified Category Two is hitting people's consciousness, John Carver jumps in to say we're in great shape. (Interestingly, the article trips over itself to point out that the Academy is "streets ahead" of the scum and the smoggies who both stand ready for Category One classification) It remains to be seen exactly how the Academy situation will be resolved, but whichever way it does go, we'll be hoping that we can hold on to the brighter talents that helped lead the Academy to the excellent season that they had.