Prefers PSG ... diplomaticallyAlleged Newcastle United target Blaise Matuidi prefers a move to Paris Saint-Germain.
Newcastle has been ‘linked’ with a move for Blaise Matuidi for most of the summer but in a recent interview he seems to be expressing a desire to remain in France. Matuidi said:
“I have a contract with St Etienne and so I was prepared to return for pre-season. Having played well doesn’t guarantee a move.
“My wishes haven’t changed, but there are things I can’t control. I’m a St Etienne player, but what is true today may not be true tomorrow.
“PSG are an attractive club, although other clubs could be attractive too.”
Very diplomatic and all bets hedged there by Blaise.
Apparently there’s a €15m buy out clause in his contract, which I would think is a bit rich for Toon finances and, although Liverpool and Arsenal are also supposedly interested in the player, it seems there have been no actual bids made for him yet. (more…)
Matuidi and Erdinç - realistic targets?Newcastle United allegedly maintain a strong interest in Saint-Etienne’s Blaise Matuidi and Paris Saint-Germain’s Mevlüt Erdinç.
According to ‘France Football’ (as well as our very own Chronicle) the French revolution is far from over at Newcastle.
Apparently we are still pursuing a legendary ‘double swoop’ for Blaise Matuidi and Mevlüt Erdinç. I have reported our supposed interest in both these players a few times on this ‘blog and the rumours seem to be gaining momentum rather than going away.
Matuidi won’t come cheap though. Saint-Etienne President Roland Romeyer has previously said:
“We will not discuss anything below €15m for Blaise Matuidi.”
That’s £13.4m that Ashley will have to fork out if he wants to bag the 24 year-old.
As a defensive midfielder, presumably the plan would be to play him alongside Tiote, maybe in a standard 4-4-2 or possibly in a 4-2-3-1 formation. (more…)
Fortunately a change in medication meant I slept through a lot of yesterday but it was a bit of a shock to the system to wake up and find that our Captain’s off and a Mount Etna of fan opinion has ensued as a result.
There were rumblings in the French press yesterday – before the Nolan news broke – about Newcastle’s potential interest in Blaise Matuidi, a 24 year-old Angolan-French midfielder who currently plays for Saint-Étienne.
Matuidi is apparently a defensive midfielder and ‘deep-lying playmaker’ who has played all his football in France, first for Troyes and then for Saint-Étienne, scoring 7 goals in 209 appearances. He also has three senior caps for France. (more…)
