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The number on the Demba Ba watch is down to 8- 8 days until the widely reported escape clause in his contract closes. It is feeling less and less likely that there will be any movement here, but as we all know, anything could happen at any time out of the blue, so I'd install your athletic supporters and cups just in case.
In the mean time, it's certainly time to check in on the incoming part of the transfer window. There were some reports over the weekend that Newcastle had lodged a surprise bid for French winger Loic Remy- Marseille have swiftly and decisively moved to reassert that the player (also a long-term target of Spurs) is going absolutely nowhere.
After the jump, we'll revisit the Fenerbahce match very briefly, see which player rumored to have interested the club in January is now perhaps back in the frame (or re-leaving the frame as the case may be) and try to get excited that at least one target's logjam situation might be breaking free.
For me, I’m really happy to score," he added. "Sammy gave me the ball in the box, and I turned and shot. "It was a good goal. I’m really happy and pleased to score for Newcastle. I hope to do the same in the next game. "I like this position and I like to go forward. That’s what I like doing. I did well, and I hope to do well again and again every week.
I'm not going to lie- an attacking midfielder who can make an impact on the score sheet is a very attractive proposition to me. When the club sold Kevin Nolan last year, there was very much a feeling (at least to me) of "where will the goals come from?". We very clearly answered that question with our striker acquisitions and the emergence of Hatem Ben Arfa in the forward position. Adding a consistent goal threat from the middle of the park would go a distance towards making us an even harder matchup on the opposing teams' defense. Disclaimer: This is by no means an indictment of Yohan Cabaye or Cheik Tiote - but neither of those would rightly be considered a CM of the Nolan mold. It has seemed that Mehdi very well could be.
United will also make a decision soon on young Le Mans striker Anthony Koura, who has been on trial on Tyneside.
Anthony Koura has impressed on his trial on Tyneside and would be a great acquisition for sure. I'm still hoping for a senior striker to be brought into the fold, but if he can step in and impress like Gael Bigirimana has, I'd certainly not complain. Ultimately the takeaway from this article is that there has been no real progress in our transfer negotiations... or has there been?
Newcastle-target Debuchy edges closer to Lille exit door - Newcastle United - Shields Gazette
Lille, Debuchy’s club, has signed right-back Djibril Sidibe from Troyes. Up to now the French club has been adamant that Newcastle-target Debuchy would not be allowed to leave until a replacement had been signed.
I don't think that this is going to be a magic potion that is going to see the Debuchy transfer through in the next day, but ultimately this could be the news that we've been waiting for in order to get at least one of our major confirmed targets through the door at St. James'.
Newcastle United failing in Aly Cissokho pursuit - National Soccer | Examiner.com
Cissokho has been linked with multiple clubs across Europe as well as with other clubs in the English Premier League aside from Newcastle. The highly rated defender is wanted for not only his defensive prowess, but also his versatility on the attack that allows him to play a multitude of positions on the left side of the park
Although left back would seem to be a position at which we are at least covered, if not set, versatility is the new black and white in Alan Pardew's book, so a player like Cissokho would certainly be a welcome addition. I think this is a pretty low probability that a deal gets done to bring him to Newcastle, but I guess one never knows. The club seem to be able to keep a lot of their movements on the transfer front somewhat silent (except the ones they want out there), so nothing would surprise me.
Carroll to link up with Liverpool as Newcastle play waiting game (From The Northern Echo)
Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers continues to insist that Carroll will not be leaving on loan, but Llambias, who is reluctant to offer a permanent transfer at this stage, is biding his time as he ponders a renewed approach. The next few days could be crucial as Rodgers will attempt to reintegrate Carroll into his first-team squad despite having admitted that the Gateshead-born forward does not form a key part of his plans for next season.
This is a story that is not going to go away, and it is a story that is going to divide opinion amongst Toon supporters. I think that ultimately as far as the player is concerned, a swallowing of pride and a return home may be his best chance at re-establishing his career on the trajectory that it once seemed to be on. He might stay and fight at Liverpool and might get a handful of games here and there and may end up being a solid pro... but it would be a sad result if that is the extent of what he becomes.