Inevitably there are a number of transfer targets being linked with Newcastle today. That is to be expected and we will try to sort out what is real and what may be made-up stories.
We look at one of the more interesting ones today – Geremi from Chelsea.
Chelsea’s Geremi
Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce is reported to be closing in on a deal to take Chelsea utility man Geremi to the Magpies. Newcastle are hopeful of securing the 28-year-old Cameroon international on a free transfer.
This sounds reasonably feasible because Geremi is the exact type of player Sam wants at Newcastle. An experienced no-nonsense defender that can help solidify what has been a very leaky defense over the last 10 years. Sam has already managed to secure mark Viduka on a free transfer and the capture of Geremi would be another coup for Sam. With Newcastle also going after Habib Beye who can play right back or center back – maybe Sam would play Geremi at left back – although we expect a left back to be signed before the season opens. No doubt that Geremi’s versatility would add experience and skill to Sam’s defensive squad.
Geremi has been at Chelsea since 2003 and made 72 appearances for them – scoring 4 goals. While at Middlesbrough in 2002-2003 season (on loan from Real Madrid) he played 33 games and scored 7 goals. While at Real Madrid from 1999 – 2003 he appeared 45 times and didn’t score.
With Allardyce going after these bargain players – it’s hard to see how he could spend £50M in the summer. Of course he doesn’t have to spendthat amount or anywhere near it – the real key here is that Sam is not encumbered by any shortage of transfer money this summer. He therefore has a free role as to who he brings in. Sam is obviously not deserting his previous talent for getting real bargains – and we’re all for that at Newcastle.
Comments always welcome.
20 comments so far
john75
Jun 27, 2007 at 12:16 PM
Comment #1A perfect signing for us if it goes through. Plenty of premiership experience, good player in his own right, versitile in terms of his position, can score goals as well. Plus he knows plenty of other top players and could be a good aide to help persuade them to come to us. Nice one Sam!
Watson
Jun 27, 2007 at 12:17 PM
Comment #2Geremi would be a class signing. He has proven Premiership experience, he can actually defend which is more than can be said for Carr, and has anyone seen his free kicks? My god. I’m not saying he is our long standing answer to our right back problems but as far as free tansfers and cover for the first team (if we sign another quality right back) go, its a fantatsic bit of business. As far as the 50mill kitty goes, how about bringing a bit of flair to Tyneside? Kaka anyone?
steve
Jun 27, 2007 at 12:22 PM
Comment #3geremi would be a nice signing.
john75
Jun 27, 2007 at 12:23 PM
Comment #4Watson, I’ll take Kaka if we have to!! Not sure how he could improve our squad though, especially with the likes of Carr, Babayaro and Luque. We might not have room for someone of his mediocore talents, when compared to the likes of those 3 superstars!!!!!!!!!!!
Mimo
Jun 27, 2007 at 12:35 PM
Comment #5Though he has been played as a full back at times by chelsea I believe Geremi is actually a midfielder and far from being a solid defender he is distinctively average in that position. While still the right age for a l useful utility player I’m not convinced he is what we need and obviously Mouhrino agrees.
Tom
Jun 27, 2007 at 12:45 PM
Comment #6Good signing! Can hopefully get rid of Stephen Carr now. £50m war chest and Sams still chasing the freebies 🙂
Makes a change to paying ridiculous amounts for players who can adjust to the premiership! Brace yourselves for next season Toon fans, i have every confidence we’ll be back where we belong in the top 6 in the next season or two!
Fergie
Jun 27, 2007 at 12:54 PM
Comment #7Geremi fits the bill perfectly. His versatility will allow him to play at right back, right wing or centre-mid and after last season at Chelsea he probably knows how to play at centre back as well! with only Butt, Barton and Emre (and possibly Dyer) to compete for central midfield next season, this is perfect as it would allow us to have back up without having to buy another designated central midfielder. Also, with Nobby and Emre inconsistent to say the least from free-kicks last season, it will be good to haven a top-quality set piece taker, the likes we havn’t seen since Robert left. It is a serious point. How many goals did we get direct from free kicks last season? none? In the days of Robert, we would get at least 4 or 5 a season….if its true, great signing!
Newcastle Major News Stories - June 27th - 2007 | Newcastle United Blog
Jun 27, 2007 at 1:13 PM
Comment #8[…] ← Taylor And Forde Joining Sam’s Newcastle Revolution Newcastle Moving Quickly for Free Agent Geremi […]
Neil
Jun 27, 2007 at 1:31 PM
Comment #9More importantly is anyone else concerned at the lack of statements coming officially from NUFC about the Rozehnal transfer? This has gone on far too long now and the chronicle (Not that I ever really believe the ugly tw@t Oliver) reckons the player is back in his homeland now.
ricky shah
Jun 27, 2007 at 1:52 PM
Comment #10geremi would be a good buy on a free, AS A BACK UP. along with solano, the youngsters and hopefully beye and luke young we have great cover at RB, and he can also play RM. so i’m all for him
chris
Jun 27, 2007 at 2:25 PM
Comment #11I must admit Neil, I haven’t got a clue what’s going on with the Rozenhnal deal. He surely should be signed up by now. I just hopeing that Big Sam is busy with other transfers and the deal is already done.
Soren
Jun 27, 2007 at 2:34 PM
Comment #12Im also a bit concerned about the Rozehnal deal. First he was to sign for us monday, then it changed to today, and we have still heard nothing from NUFC. Wondering about what could drag this deal so far. 🙁 But great news about Geremi! He will surely add depth and experience to the squad, and for free, he’s a coupe!
Keep Oba
Jun 27, 2007 at 4:09 PM
Comment #13Geremi would be a good pickup, but as for left back…now that there is money to spend, why not go after a John Arne Riise or even better Taye Taiwo from Olympique. Both would certainly be a huge upgrade over Carr and Babayaro
Neil
Jun 27, 2007 at 4:11 PM
Comment #14I think the club may have made a balls up on this Rozehnal deal – Obviously I hope this isn’t the case although to be truthful I haven’t EVER seen him play and am just taking the word of the press people that he is anywhere near decent. For him to be in his homeland now suggests he has not signed – Hopefully it will be like the Asprilla deal – Remember where he popped back to Italy before officially signing – and everything will be rosy in the NUFC garden!! Whilst Geremi is a good signing in my opinion, surely we should be setting our sights even just a tiny bit higher than having free cast-offs. I am the first to confess we have wasted a boat load of money on garbage – J.A. Boumsong will live long in the memory – but I’d just like Sam to go and get someone who will make the league and the supporters stand up and think WOW I must renew my season ticket as the good times are back. So far Barton and Viduka have failed to do that for me. I like the noises Allardyce is making but what has happened so far is that our wafer thin squad from last season has been shortened yet further as “strength” in depth goes. Shifting out the dead wood was a must for us however if we can’t get the numbers in to replace this dead wood then I am slightly concerned. I think we’d all like Owen to let us know what he’s doing but lets be honest he’s not going to so we should forget about that happening – At present he is here so we should get on with things for now as if he’s staying. I am pretty sure the manager already knows what actually is happening with him so until we hear otherwise lets leave that subject alone. To sum up I just want us to get some class defenders – If we have 50 million then at least half of that should be on the defence and the rest on bulking up the other areas of the team. Lets hope for a great season.
Ed Harrison
Jun 27, 2007 at 4:56 PM
Comment #15Neil – think it’s good that Allardyce is picking up bargain buys – which he’s good at. We are told that the board meeting on Monday reviewed Sam’s transfer targets at length and you have to believe some of these would actually cost good money – would like to see both types of buys going on. We also need a bigger squad this year – if only to ready ourselves in case we still get too many injuries – think Sam is taking no chances – which is good. Poor Sam seems to have been working his socks off – but now will get big help from the board – now they have sorted things out.
Toppsy Krett
Jun 27, 2007 at 5:03 PM
Comment #16Anyone else think it’s slightly odd that the official website has not yet confirmed the signing of Rozenhal?
As for Geremi, would be a great signing.
Craig
Jun 27, 2007 at 5:41 PM
Comment #17This would be another great coup and Sam has the ‘pulling power’ to lure him to Newcastle. Does anybody know why there has been no ‘official’ annnoucement on the Rozenhaul transfer?
kieran
Jun 27, 2007 at 5:53 PM
Comment #18nope , there seems that no anouncment has been made so far, i think this one may be hitying the rocks if you ask me, there hasnt even been an official announcemt from newcastle united yet, as for geremi, he would be a great buy,
deos anyone know where he can play?
Neil
Jun 27, 2007 at 7:54 PM
Comment #19Hi Ed – I think I am singing from the song sheet as yourself – I like the fact he is (By all accounts extremely slowly) starting to get some numbers in however all I would like SA to do is really make the other teams who are vying for europe and/or a domestic cup to think blimey I wouldn’t want to face NUFC every week however so far the 2 signings made don’t REALLY do that for me. I admire the POSSIBLE signing of Geremi I just want more “class” signings and quicker. Is it just me or do players signing for NUFC take much longer than what players signing for other clubs do??!!
Darren
Jun 27, 2007 at 8:30 PM
Comment #20Neil – plenty of time yet for transfers, things should hot up now Ashley has taken full control…
It could be worse – the mackems have been expecting to sign Scholes, Forlan & Giggs now the leprachaun is in charge, they have managed only Halford & Anderson – I hear the mackems cannot believe their luck in getting two superstars on board!