At last Sam Allardyce is close to making his first signing for Newcastle United.
Even though still officially on holiday until next week – Sam has been working the phones on the transfer front – and it looks like his first signing for Newcastle is close.
The news is that Sam will make Ghana’s international midfielder Derek Boateng his first signing at St. James’ Park.
Derek Boateng
The 24-year-old is with Israeli club Beitar Jerusalem – and apparently Big Sam has been an admirer of Boateng for some time. Since Boateng is a converted mid-fielder this suggests that Big Sam will not only bring in a new defense but also will alter our midfield – so we would expect one or two of our current midfielders to be moving on.
So how much are we paying for this new midfielder ?
In the Sam Allardyce tradition he will cost us under £1M – so utterly different from the Souness era – and probably a good bargain.
Originally a striker, Boateng has moved further down the pitch and is currently considered a defensive midfielder at his club due to the position slightly behind the other midfielders he tends to have during the game. While he is not a traditional holding player his ability to hold the ball and make the opening passes make him suitable for that position.
Years Club Appearances (Goals) 1999–2001 Kalamata 27 (9) 2001–2002 Panathinaikos 24 (3) 2002–2003 OFI Crete 12 (1) 2003–2006 AIK 55( (5) 2006– present Beiter Jerusalem FC 20 (1)
In total he has played 138 club games and scored 19 goals.
He has played 20 times for Ghana scoring one goal.
It is also being reported to day that Ben Tal Ben haim is keen to join Newcastle so we can probably expect Ben Haim to be on his way to Newcastle on a free transfer.
So there’s two players coming for …. less than £1M.
Big Sam Allardyce
Ben Haim knows that he will be given a prominent role at Newcastle – and this combined with the fact that he knows Sam well – apparently has tipped the balance for us over other clubs like Chelsea.
Sam Allardyce seems to be getting on with the business and he spoke to the Evening Chronicle today on the transfer market – this is what he said:
“We’ve already had lots of meetings and talked about future plans for new players here.
“Those talks are continuing, and we are close to making a breakthrough in the not-too-distant future.
“Everybody here is working together to take the club forward.”
“Freddy Shepherd is the man who brought me to Newcastle United as manager and I hope that everyone involved with the club can work well together.”
It’s good to see Big Sam getting on with the job – and it looks like his first two signings for the club are good – and in the tradition of Sam Allardyce.
Comments always welcome.
20 comments so far
Dips
May 29, 2007 at 10:59 AM
Comment #1Derek Boateng was said to be one of the future Ghana talents alongside Essien, if he can fulful his said potential then he would be a quality signing. Likewise, Ben Haim would definately be a great player and defender for us, it’s about time the defence started looking better, after having such players as Bramble, Moore etc. Players, which clearly did not belong to a club like ours.
Andreas
May 29, 2007 at 11:01 AM
Comment #2I´m telling you. Derek Boateng “Tre poäng” is the next big star. I saw him once or twice for AIK in Sweden and he´d run a game totally. He could keep the ball if 10 defenders were on him… amazing potential and for that money (they bought him for more from AIK) he´ll be a great buy.
JP from The Rock of Gibraltar
May 29, 2007 at 11:02 AM
Comment #3Looks promising 🙂
carl
May 29, 2007 at 11:04 AM
Comment #4sounds good, we all know haim is a great defender and ive actually seen boeteng play and hes a good player.infact id rather have him than dyer, hes work ethic,commitment and fitness would be an asset to newcastle
Major Newcastle News Stories - 29th May 2007 - New Midfield | Newcastle United Blog
May 29, 2007 at 11:46 AM
Comment #5[…] RSS ← Allardyce About to Make First Two Signings for Newcastle […]
Ed Harrison
May 29, 2007 at 11:52 AM
Comment #6carl – it looks like Big Sam wants new midfield – just put up the major stories for today and it looks like Parker may be going.
liam
May 29, 2007 at 12:17 PM
Comment #7i like how sam can get really good and hard working players for so cheap. 2 excellent players (keep getting them in) wot do you think
Outlaw
May 29, 2007 at 12:40 PM
Comment #8If Parker goes I couldn’t careless as long as Reo-Cocker comes the other way!
Ed Harrison
May 29, 2007 at 12:46 PM
Comment #9Outlaw – think probably he will let Parker go – not sure whether Joey Barton will be coming too – seems like Sam likes him.
Rollo
May 29, 2007 at 1:51 PM
Comment #10I´m swedish and Dereck Boateng is crap. he played for my team for 3 years and got ridiculed for being a lazy as punk. Altough he was pretty good the last season. there is no f**king way he will be able to hold down a shirt in Newcastle
carl
May 29, 2007 at 2:15 PM
Comment #11ed- i wouldnt be too bothered if parker goes.hes over rated and done nothing this season really.i think players leaving should be dyer,parker,carr.id like to see barton and / or nolan.i dont any worrys about the prevoious of any player as we all know sam will get best out of him. players id like would be nolan,barton,ben haim,davies,baines,ribery??,crouch or anelka , and some unknowns on top of that.id ilke emre to stay as hes an amazing talent and sam will get the best out of him
Sean
May 29, 2007 at 3:06 PM
Comment #12Not a typical Newcastle signing………………….. good news then.
Ed Harrison
May 29, 2007 at 3:46 PM
Comment #13Sean – really good (and funny) comment 😀
Ed Harrison
May 29, 2007 at 3:48 PM
Comment #14carl – yes – think it will probably happen – he was great in his first season but so so last season . Sure Sam has his eyes on some playesr he will bring in – the team may look a lot different than we thought in August – we need one more good center back – assuming Ben Haim comes – to fight it out with Taylor and Ramage.
Ed Harrison
May 29, 2007 at 3:50 PM
Comment #15carl – whoops – didn’t see your end comment – yes Davis seems to be available from WBA – ₤10M seems a lot but if Ashley comes – hey – we should get him.
jacobmannjones
May 29, 2007 at 6:31 PM
Comment #16Ben Haim will be an absolute steal for a free transfer. We know that he has the ability to be a great defender, something missing from the side in recent years. So the value that he brings to NUFC will be tremendous.
As for Boateng, I think that that is a project (he’s still yet 24) that Big Sam thinks can improve his midfield. He can play defense and is a former striker, so he adds some versatility to the midfield. And we’ve Allardyce get more out of players than prvious gaffers were able to. So the Swedish fan that ridiculed him in this thread; well I wouldn’t have those worries with Big Sam leading the charge.
After all Allardyce is known for doing his homework on players that he brings into the fold; so I’m sure that it’s no different with Boateng. And also why he seems comfortable with the idea of bringing Joey Barton into the club. So to me thoseconcerns go by the wayside (especially the way that they were stated on here).
So all in all I believe these two to be a good first step into re-building the tradition at SJP.
Stelios
May 29, 2007 at 6:32 PM
Comment #17By the way..they guy in the picture is not Boateng..thats Emanuel Olisadebe that used to play for Panathinaikos, same team that Derek used to play..change that picture!
Ed Harrison
May 30, 2007 at 12:57 PM
Comment #18Stelios – really ?? I’ll try to find the right one….. thanks.
Ed Harrison
May 30, 2007 at 1:11 PM
Comment #19Stelios – new picture of Boateng put in – is this the right guy?
WASHINGTON
May 30, 2007 at 11:30 PM
Comment #20I TELL U THIS GUY IS JUST A GREAT PLAYER . IN FACT I WAS THINKING CHELSEA WILL GO FOR HIM BECAUSE I WAS TOLD M. ESSIEN WAS TRYING TO BRING HIM TO CHELSEA. ACCORDING TO ESSIEN HE THINKS DEREK IS BETTER THAN HIMSELF.
I MUST SAY THIS IS A CHANCE IN A MILLION FOR US, WE JUST HAVE TO ACT FAST BEFORE ANY TEAM PUT A FAST ONE ON HIM. HE WAS AMONG THE TOP THREE PLAYERS IN THE ISRAEL LEAGUE.