Gervinho and Gameiro appear to be non-starters for the Toon
Posted on May 10th, 2011 | 14 Comments |
As with any transfer speculation bear in mind that it is indeed just speculation, but two players the club was said to be interested in were Gervinho and Kevin Gameiro.
It seems however that both players have slammed the door on our club (assuming said speculation was true in the first place of course).
Lille and Ivory Coast striker Gervinho (whose real name is Gervais Yao Kouassi) has said he will only consider a move to clubs who are playing in the Champions League:
“I am trying my best to concentrate on the final push for the league. We want to win the championship. Also, we are in the cup final.
“At the end of the season, my advisers and I will speak to the club and see what to do, but if I am leaving a club which will play in the Champions League I will only go to one who is in the Champions League. It is the best competition and I want to be a part of that set-up every year.”
That would seem to rule us out for the 23 year-old who has 25 goals in 54 matches for Lille.
And apparently Lorient forward Kevin Gameiro (48 goals in 103 games for Lorient) has told French radio that he wants to move to a club in the Spanish Primera Liga, so if we want him the entire Toon will have to up sticks and move to Madrid.
More unsubstantiated speculation has Newcastle interested in Cheikh M’Bengue and Franck Tabanou – both from Toulouse – as potential replacements for Jose Enrique if/when he leaves in the summer.
Tabanou in particular looks quite versatile as it seems he’s happy to play at either left back or on the left wing. He’s 22 years old and has 8 goals in 72 games for Toulouse.
But of course it’s all most likely a load of guesswork by the press anyway, who I trust about as much as an MP’s expenses claim.
Anyone think Carlos Vela could be a decent buy if he is not in Arsenals plans?