Pardew: Sochaux resigned to losing Maiga and just want the best price.
Posted on August 24th, 2011 | 26 Comments |
Sochaux are accusing Newcastle United of improper conduct over their transfer dealings under Article 18 of the FIFA rules regarding ‘tapping up’ players.
Their statement on their referral to the game’s governing body read:
“On Monday August 22, 2011, FC Sochaux-Montbeliard sent a referral to FIFA with the aim of obtaining (assurances) on the part of Newcastle United that they will stop their contacts with Modibo Maiga, who is under contract with FCSM until 2014.
”This (contact) is in violation of Article 18 of the current international regulations. This measure comes after Sochaux demanded without success, in an official manner and on two occasions, that the English club put a stop to their actions.”
The player himself is on record as saying he wants a move to Tyneside, telling French media:
“I want it to be done with Newcastle. I want to leave – it is necessary that the president agrees to negotiate, I met everybody, they want me and it is not any club. England is a dream. I want to go.”
However Pardew, after distancing himself from the current controversies involving Newcastle United, as I covered in this story, has now made a rare volte face and waded into the dispute, brushing aside Sochaux’s claims and adding that he thinks he will get two positions (striker and left back) filled before the transfer window is closes in a week’s time. Pardew remarked:
“I think there is a little bit of brinkmanship going on, which is understandable, If clubs are resigned to losing a player, they want the best possible price.
“So, when a transfer gets close, suddenly other clubs and the media get to know about it and all sorts of accusations fly around. But when you cut through everything, I want two positions filled before the end of the window and I think we will do that.”
Well lets bloody well hope so after all this carry on!
Really Alan, thanks for that, of course I believe everything you say and you never contradict yourself. Ps will Barton be replaced as he is off to QPR, although you probably don’t know that!