Aston Villa’s Martin Laursen has admitted to Sky Sports News today, that he would be open to a move to either Tottenham Hotspur or Newcastle United. He describes both as “big clubs”.
Martin Laursen - interested in a move to Newcastle?
The Denmark international, who has played extremely well since Martin O’Neil took over as manager of Aston Villa about 17 months ago, has been Villa’s number one center-back during that time. His contract with Aston Villa surprisingly runs out in June, and it is therefore not surprising that a number of Premier clubs have been linked with a bid for the defender.
New reports yesterday that both Tottenham and Newcastle are keen to sign him, the 30-year-old has admitted today that an offer would be tempting.
“I’ve read in the press that those two clubs would be interested in me,”
“I don’t know if they have spoken to Aston Villa, I haven’t heard anything, but it’s two big clubs and it’s certainly something that would interest me.”
“I’m feeling really well with Villa and would be open to extend with them if the terms are right.”
We are not sure where Laursen stands about leaving Aston Villa, but it’s probably true he could get better terms at either Spurs or Newcastle United. But the ball is really in his court as to what he wants to do. Certainly Aston Villa are becoming a very strong side under Martin O’Neil and are headed upwards in the league.
But from a Newcastle viewpoint, Laursen has played very well this season and if he is available he’s what Sam is after – an experienced defender in the Premier League, who has proved himself. And since his contract at Villa has but 6 months to run, he wouldn’t presumably cost much either. In fact he wouldn’t cost anything in the summer.
He has played 48 times for both Aston Villa and Denmark, and scored 6 goals for Villa and 2 goals for Denmark. He was previously at AC Milan and Parma and stands 6’2†tall.
But over his career, he has also missed quite a few games through injury, and as players get older, injuries usually become worse rather than better. So that could be a potential drawback with Martin.
We would still expect Big Sam to make an inquiry with Aston Villa however, at the very least.
What do you think?
Comments very welcome.
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64 responses so far ↓
1 Tom_Toon // Jan 8, 2008 at 18:12
Hes definitely in the upper half of good defenders in the prem, but we should be aiming higher and younger.
2 ChrisM // Jan 8, 2008 at 18:13
Yip he is a good player. We would buy him and low and behold he would straightaway get back into being injury prone!
3 Hadrian // Jan 8, 2008 at 18:20
i think he’s been pretty immense for villa this season , would love him here .
i would have expected him to sign a new contract at villa , but maybe he’s a bit annoyed they have left it so long (i would be if i was playing like him)
4 Jamie // Jan 8, 2008 at 18:21
He will sign a new contract at Villa! hes done well there right now and a new contract will see him end his playing career with them (on a side note, he may want a change?? )
5 Jamie // Jan 8, 2008 at 18:23
Sorry guys on another side note? what about a move for Defoe? (another forward totally off topic with defense) Much fitter than Michael Owen has ever been, faster, younger! just needs regular first team football.
6 scottish mag // Jan 8, 2008 at 18:25
brilliant signing if it happened, one of best def in prem the now and scoring a heap of goals, big threat at corners.
7 Midjew // Jan 8, 2008 at 18:27
I would love him to come, i DEF think we will be able to offer him better wages than most and that may JUST sway it for us.
And in regard for aiming for younger Def, there are none avaliable with Prem experience, and most GOOD defenses have experienced CB witha younger one.
SOOO May i introduce, laursen and taylor/Faye for our NEW CB
8 Jamie // Jan 8, 2008 at 18:29
Plus a young defender normally starts life in a lower division and then gets bought - 2-4 seasons down the line gets introduced at the higher level first team games. Or you could buy lescott who has seemed to slot right in at Everton lol.
9 Doocey // Jan 8, 2008 at 18:30
Would be a very good signing
Hope we get him
10 scott9 // Jan 8, 2008 at 18:34
tom-toon stop with ur high expectations aim higher than martin laursen ur kiding me m8 hes one of the best defenders in the premier league in fact aprt from ledley king hes probably the best outside the top four.
if hes interested i think we should bust a gut to get him howver i dont think aston villa will sell in januery unless they recieve a good offer and laursen says he wants to leave
11 Midjew // Jan 8, 2008 at 18:34
well why not lescott and laursen. thats sounds fine to me.
12 scott9 // Jan 8, 2008 at 18:37
jaes i agree defoe would defienatley sort out our lack of converting our chances hes one of the best finishers in the premier league however he said he wnats to stay with tottenham
13 Ross // Jan 8, 2008 at 18:37
i’d love to see him come. from what i’ve seen of him this season he seems strong at the back, he’s a big lad and is very good in the air in both boxes, a threat at corners.
however, apparently oneill said he is the one player he will not let go of in jan. he means too much to them.
i can see a new contract being signed unless he says no and we can sway it over spurs.
it must also be noted he did say in the interview with sky should the terms be right, he’d be more than happy to stay with villa.
14 Tom_Toon // Jan 8, 2008 at 18:39
Ledley King is nowhere near the bes defender outside the top 4, ive got low expectations compared to the most of all us bloggers. Laursen has made some comical misakes this season, but everyone seems to be overlooking that fact as he is scoring a good amount of goals for a defender, dont rate him as highly as others.
15 Tom_Toon // Jan 8, 2008 at 18:40
Who said i want a young one?
I want younger than Lausen as hes 30!
16 Tom_Toon // Jan 8, 2008 at 18:43
Midjew faye is 29, so he cant be classed as the young one.
17 James // Jan 8, 2008 at 18:46
Just because a player wants to come and get our high wages, doesn’t mean he deserves them
18 Midjew // Jan 8, 2008 at 18:48
true but i mean, faye and taylor could alternate, or all 3 really depending on perfomances
19 doc // Jan 8, 2008 at 18:49
probably using us to get a better and longer contract at villa
yes to defoe
20 scott9 // Jan 8, 2008 at 18:55
without ledley kings injuries hes the best outside the top four if u dont agree tom toon tell me who is
21 James // Jan 8, 2008 at 18:58
Scott9 - I too think he’s a good player but he’s 30 and we shouldn’t be looking to buy a 30 year old on a 4 year contract.
22 scott9 // Jan 8, 2008 at 19:04
with our defensive problems who gives a s*it how old they are if there top quality like laursen get them in cause rozenhals no were near good enough and we need faye in midfield so laursen would be a s*it hot signing
23 Tom_Toon // Jan 8, 2008 at 19:06
Samba, Nelson, Lescott, Faye, Campbell, Dunne, Richards, Taylor (IMO), Woodgate, Laursen and probably a few others. Thats only the CB’s.
24 valle // Jan 8, 2008 at 19:09
As a dane i have seen plenty of Laursen, and has always been a great defender. U dont get that many games in the Milan defense if u arent. He has however been injury prone over the last 2 years and thats as far as the downsides go… As a big plus, he would be very cheap, since his contract is about to expire
25 Johann // Jan 8, 2008 at 19:11
Primus Yobo Stubbs
26 Ben // Jan 8, 2008 at 19:11
Lauesen,undecided about this one,whenver hes been on match of the day its his counterparts doing the defending for him,you only ever notice him on the picth from set pieces so would not be too fussed if we did or didnt get him,but given his rediculous injury record,i recon hes a no go….but who knows!Very OPTIMISTIC about Wesley,think he could be top pllayer….Big sam give Lua Lua another chance to prove himslef this weekend if only for 8-10 mins!would love to watch vidic get turned inside out by the little speedster!our new dyer without the ego and injuries!
27 Drago // Jan 8, 2008 at 19:13
Defoe is one best finishers ? lol who said that ?
:D
28 valle // Jan 8, 2008 at 19:13
Taylor?!?!… Your dreaming mate, Taylor is nowhere near the top half of defenders, only reason you think so is beause he’s a local
29 Tom_Toon // Jan 8, 2008 at 19:15
Im saying he’s better than Ledley King
30 Ben // Jan 8, 2008 at 19:19
drago stats prove it,was on sky sports today,goal every 110 mins or something,the best in the league
31 sean1881 // Jan 8, 2008 at 19:25
“probably using us to get a better and longer contract at villa”
QFE!!!
lmao, doc seems to be the only sane one amongst you!
he doesn’t know of any contact between the two clubs, but he’s read in the press that us & spurs might be interested in him, but then again might sign a new contract at villa if the terms are right.
for those of you who lack the ability to read between the lines, what he’s really saying is:-
my contracts up in 6 months & if you dont give me a new one, & a bloody good one at that, i’m gonna bugger off somewhere else. the top four aren’t gonna be interested so i’ll go for the next best thing, a big club with plenty of money. since you could drive a bus through spurs & newcastles’ back four, i’ll still be 1st choice & i’ll be laughing all the way to the bank!
who’s his agent? jerry maguire by any chance?
32 The black in the blacknwhite // Jan 8, 2008 at 19:58
big sam is a tit
33 Thomas // Jan 8, 2008 at 20:14
think sean’s spot on
34 Graham // Jan 8, 2008 at 20:16
Why the hell would Laursen come to NUFC over Spurs or Villa - Villa a team on the up, Spurs a team on the up - NUFC a club in decline. And dont give me the bullshit about support and fan base and big clubs.
The only reason he’ll come is if we offer a bucket load of cash (or we get a decent manager in)
I’m sorry, but be prepared to be content with the young signings and the Bolton signings this winetr time…
35 joel // Jan 8, 2008 at 20:21
Tottenham and Hammers head the chase for Brazil star Fred ?
36 joel // Jan 8, 2008 at 20:22
go on lyon in newsnow everyone and it saids that fred wants to leave the club!!!!!!!!!QUICKLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
37 joel // Jan 8, 2008 at 20:25
COME ON NEWCASTLE BID FOR FRED!!!!!!!!!!1
38 Bosck // Jan 8, 2008 at 20:32
Doubt we could get him but if we could i’d say by him now. I work with a villa fan and he has said that along with agbonlahor, laursen has been their best player by far this season. taylor and laursen in defence with faye dm would suit me fine or faye and laursen with taylor getting reasonable amount of game time and experience rotated in for both.
39 joel // Jan 8, 2008 at 20:33
Afonso Alves IS ABOUT TO GO TO MAN CITY
40 joel // Jan 8, 2008 at 20:36
Vágner Love is up for sellllll
41 Leo // Jan 8, 2008 at 21:10
it would be good to get laursen, he is a top defender, and at the weekend watching villa he looked a strong player, get him in if the terms are right… young defenders only learn if they are learning from great Center Backs
42 Toon Al // Jan 8, 2008 at 21:26
looks like warren barton there with that mop haha
43 ToonJon // Jan 8, 2008 at 21:31
Newcastle signings: Giles Barnes £3.5 million, Wes Brown £6 million and Laryea Kingston £5.2 million.
Guess where this is from?
http://www.football-rumours.co.uk/
lol
44 ToonJon // Jan 8, 2008 at 21:34
apparently we are also getting dos santos and gabriel milito on loan lol
That site is full of CR*P
45 Ross // Jan 8, 2008 at 21:43
lmfao. dos santos.
barcelona use dos santos. im sure he’d rather bench warm at the nou camp than end up on tyneside anyway,haha.
46 keeganpleasecomeback // Jan 8, 2008 at 21:45
he’s awesome its for nothing hes called LIONHEART but i think hes just using it all to get anew contract at villa as he owe them..they stood by him when he wAS injured…hes a good defender and lethal on corners and made for the premiership but he owe villa to stay loyal and thats why he will stay there
47 obafemimartins // Jan 8, 2008 at 22:02
why would he leave a good team to join relegation fodder? if he did leave he would go to spurs because you can drive a bus through their defense like sean pointed out and they are a team who will qaulify for europe next season. read this article on sky sports because he says he is open to a move to us. http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11678_3031331,00.html
48 keeganpleasecomeback // Jan 8, 2008 at 22:38
playing Butt as a creative midfielder fells alittle like w@nking with your left hand
49 ToonKing // Jan 8, 2008 at 23:27
not if your a lefty……… i have no idea what i meant with that…….
50 Tom_Toon // Jan 8, 2008 at 23:28
avin a wnk, im a lefty but i aint avin a wnk with my left!
51 ToonKing // Jan 8, 2008 at 23:38
I’m James Ferguson, Sir Alex Ferguson’s Great Newphew.
At My Dads Birthday Party Last Week He Told Us Berbatov Has Agreed Terms And Is Going To Be Unleashed On Thursday For Around 35 Million And Messi Will Be Joining Man United For a Fee Around 40 Million.
————————
Luis Figo Has Accepted The Contract From Queens Park Rangers and Has Rejcted The One Off Of Fulham.
He Said “Queens Park Rangers Are On The Up. And I Want To Help Them. ”
————————————————
E’too Has Been For A Medical At Manchester City.
———————————————–
Also Claudio Raneiri New Middlesborough Manager
To Be Confirmed
————————————————
My Dad know Big Sam and he has informed me that Newcastle are going to make three big signings in the January transfer window. These players being
1. Juan Riquelme
2. Tal Ben Haim
3. Dos Santos
They will also try and capture the highly rated FC Barcelona defender Gabriel Milito on a loan deal until the end of the season.
————————————————-
oohh this Football - Rumors is a bloody brilliant site, better then lee evans. lol
52 Tom_Toon // Jan 8, 2008 at 23:42
ahaha, i posted one on there saying:
Im berbatov’s aunties nephew’s best friend’s sister’s dog and berbatov will be signing for luton for 2p and a bowl of dog biscuits.
53 ToonKing // Jan 8, 2008 at 23:47
hahha i posted something similar but involving Sam becoming a player-manager………………but i guess they filter the good ones and only post the rubbish.
54 Tom_Toon // Jan 8, 2008 at 23:49
how come you dont rate nicolita?
55 ToonKing // Jan 8, 2008 at 23:58
he’s crap, that’s why i don’t rate him. He’s okay for Steaua but would never cut it in a tougher league. but that’s just my opinion.
56 Tom_Toon // Jan 9, 2008 at 0:04
Looked very decent to me when he played in the cl, at least he can cross well, pretty fast and strong too.
Not many romanian footballers acually stay in thier national team and get continuously called up, only the good ones, hes got a lot of senior caps and he only 22.
57 Leo // Jan 9, 2008 at 0:08
whats with the lefty righty wanking convo, must be a concensus, but am a lefty and i dont use ma left hand… i use both haha
58 TITUS BRAMBLE // Jan 9, 2008 at 0:10
I AM STARTING A BRING BACK titus BRILLIANT bramble back CAMPAIGN
……………………………………………………………………………signature………………….
59 Leo // Jan 9, 2008 at 0:12
i loved the berba rumour btw tom toon, i was just gutted that i hadnt thought of it…
do you post on football-rumours.com often? we should all ralley the troups and get everyone putting newcastle rumours up there. flood the website with toon fans haha
60 ToonKing // Jan 9, 2008 at 0:28
that is actually………a pretty funny idea..
61 wes // Jan 9, 2008 at 1:35
I am surprised Villa will even let him go especially as they are also likely going to lose Olof.
62 Andy C // Jan 9, 2008 at 7:39
I dont understand why we need more centre backs when weve got 4 competing for first team as it is. Cacapa Rozenal need more time to settle into England and Faye is proving he is ready. Theres other areas of the team we need to strengthen more than centre back.
63 James // Jan 9, 2008 at 8:45
This is most likely instigated by the Agent who is trying to get a better deal for the player at Villa so he says we would be interested in him. It’s happened so many times in the past.
64 Johann // Jan 9, 2008 at 10:00
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=496279&root=england&cc=5739&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab3pos2
Agree?
Enrique described as an awful defender 
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