De Jong set for Newcastle Switch

Newcastle United are close to signing Dutch international Luuk De Jong. De Jong has been a long term transfer target for the club, but elected to sign for Bundesliga outfit Borussia Mönchengladbach when he left FC Twente in 2012 as he did not feel he would be guaranteed first team football on Tyneside.
Newcastle were also reluctant to match Mönchengladbach’s offer of £12.6m for a player at such an early stage in his career, but are increasingly confident they will be able to offer less than that this month to finally land the 23-year-old.
The club were initially rebuffed when they asked if they could take De Jong on loan - their preferred option as it will enable manager Alan Pardew to see how suited De Jong is to English football before they hand over a significant transfer fee - but they have been locked in talks with the German club and a compromise has been reached.De Jong has talked publicly about his desire to move to Newcastle and Mönchengladbach are likely to have agreed to Newcastle’s loan, with a view to buy.

Newcastle and PSG agree Cabaye deal

Newcastle and Paris Saint-Germain have reached an agreement in principle over the transfer of Yohan Cabaye, who will cost £25million.Toon boss Alan Pardew admitted on Monday afternoon he was not confident of retaining the services of the 28-year-old France international after PSG formalised their interest and those fears appear to have come true. Newcastle knocked back PSG's bid of £14million on Sunday but they have come back with an much improved offer, one that Newcastle are unable to turn down. PSG officials were in Newcastle on Monday to thrash out a deal and after agreeing a fee with the Magpies, now just need to agree terms with the player before he undergoes a medical.

Match Report:WBA 1-1 Newcastle

Newcastle held on for a 1-1 draw in a nervy second half at West Bromwich Albion to boost their chances of Premier League survival.
Defeat to arch-rivals Sunderland last weekend dragged Newcastle back into the scrap to avoid the drop into the Championship. It looked like it had taken its toll in the opening stages as the Magpies started slowly in the Spring sunshine. However, they suddenly burst into life on eight minutes when Papiss Cisse's deflected cross bemused Ben Foster and Yoan Gouffran was able to glance into the net from six yards. The goal seemed to fill the visitors with confidence as they went in search of a second and chances continued to come and go for Cisse as he failed to put the game beyond a West Brom side who had simply not got going. The best of which was a gift from the Baggies defence as they gave the ball to Cisse on the edge of the box but the Senegalese striker failed to find the corner when he had just Foster to beat. Those chances would later come back to haunt them as Steve Clarke made a change at the break and it almost paid immediate dividends with substitute Shane Long bringing a superb double save from Rob Elliot just seconds into the second period. Just after the hour mark West Brom finally managed to peg them back as Romelu Lukaku held off Steven Taylor and laid the ball into the path of Billy Jones who drilled it into the far corner. West Brom continued to press and Newcastle had both Rob Elliot and had their hosts' wastefulness in front of goal to thank as they withstood attack after attack to hold on for what could prove to be a vital point come the end of the season.

Newcastle United 3-0 Bordeaux

Bordeaux's dismal record in England continued as Newcastle cruise to the most comfortable of victories at home in the Europa League.The Magpies barely got out of second gear as they eased past their French opponents. Shola Ameobi opened the scoring before an own goal and a Pappiss Cisse strike secured the three points.Gabriel Obertan's fine wing play opened up the visitor's defence on 16 minutes, as he broke to the byline before pulling back for Ameobi, who made no mistake from close range.Newcastle's second had a touch of good fortune about it. Danny Simpson crossed from the right hand side and Bordeaux's Brazilian Henrique needlessly swiped at the ball, only to divert it past his keeper and into the net four minutes before the break.The game was put to bed on 50 minutes when Shane Ferguson was afforded far too much time on the left wing to pick out a cross. The Ulsterman centered for Pappiss Cisse, who's left-footed shot bounced in off the far post.Neither side exerted too much energy after that point with the result seemingly in no doubt. The result sends Newcastle to the top of Group D, while Bordeaux drop to second level on points with third place Bruges.

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Fulham Newcastle and West Ham chasing Douglas

West Ham United, Fulham and Newcastle have all made offers for FC Twente's Brazilian defender Douglas.The 24-year-old gains Dutch nationality next month which means he will be able to play in the Premier League without any need for a work permit.He has been linked with clubs in Italy and Germany, but it is believed he would relish the prospect of playing in England.Newcastle United firmed up their interest earlier this week by submitting a bid, but Dutch sources claim that Fulham and West Ham have also made offers. It is not clear which bid is currently winning the race or how much it would take to persuade Twente to part with the player who has been a virtual ever-present in Steve McClaren's side for the past two seasons.Fulham boss Martin Jol knows all about Douglas from his time in charge of Ajax and is keen to add him to his squad while Sam Allardyce is looking for more depth and experience in that position.

Davies linked with Newcastle

Newcastle are once again being linked with a move for Bolton midfielder Mark Davies as a replacement for Danny Guthrie. Magpies boss Alan Pardew is facing up to the prospect of losing Guthrie on a free transfer in the summer as the player is showing no signs of agreeing a new deal. Aston Villa are poised to swoop for the midfielder, who had a loan spell at the Reebok Stadium before joining Newcastle, and Pardew is lining up possible replacements with the talented Davies high on his wanted list. The midfielder has impressed for Bolton this season despite their struggles and if the worst happens and Wanderers go down, there will be a number of clubs ready to swoop. Davies is likely to stay at the Reebok Stadium if Bolton do survive so any move is on hold until the end of the season when the Trotters know their fate.
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Chelsea Preparing £40M Newcastle Raid

Chelsea are reported to be lining up a £40million double swoop for Newcastle duo Chieck Tiote and Tim Krul. Chelsea are on the look out for a new manager but whoever is in charge during the summer, will be given funds from Roman Abramovich to strengthen and the Magpies duo are targets. Newcastle will be reluctant to sell and are in a strong position as both players are tied down to long-term contracts but Chelsea hope that they can still persuade them to cash in by offering big money. Tiote has been one of the Premier League's top midfielders this season while Krul has also been outstanding in goal for Newcastle, who have shone under the leadership of Alan Pardew. A major squad overhaul will take place at Stamford Bridge this summer and it looks like being a case of out with the old and in with the new as Chelsea look to the future.

Redknapp Targeting Krul

Reports suggest that Newcastle 'keeper Tim Krul will be Harry Redknapp's number one summer target if he remains at Tottenham. The Magpies shot-stopper has been in impressive form this campaign and has helped his side remain near the top end of the Premier League table. Current Tottenham goalkeeper Brad Friedel turns 41 in May so Redknapp will be keen to find a younger man to step into his shoes with the prospect of playing the Champions League likely for his replacement. Redknapp is however, the bookies favourite to pick up the England job at the end of the season, with the European Championship in the summer. The public have made it clear they want the 64-year old to replace Fabio Capello, who resigned from his post earlier this month. Krul's contract is set to expire at the Sports Direct Arena in 2014 and he has a £15 million price tag on his shoulders following interest from Tottenham in the January transfer window.

Newcastle planing summer raid for Bolton midfielder

Newcastle are in the hunt to sign Bolton midfielder Mark Davies and could make a move in the summer. The Shield Gazette claim that Newcastle boss Alan Pardew has already drawn up his list of transfer targets for the summer and say the former Wolves man is on it. Davies has been one of the few shining lights in what has been a disappointing season for Wanderers and it comes as no surprise that rival clubs are starting to cast admiring glances towards the Reebok. Trotters boss Owen Coyle rates the 23-year-old very highly and he is sure to reject all offers for the player but much will depend on what division Bolton find themselves in next season. If they manage to beat the drop then Coyle will be in a strong position and should be able to rebuff any bids, but if they are relegated to the Championship then it will be difficult to keep hold.

Manchester United 1-1 Newcastle United

A controversial Demba Ba penalty saw Newcastle steal a point at Old Trafford after Javier Hernandez had opened the scoring. Hernandez's deflected goal opened the scoring on 49 minutes, but Ba levelled from the spot just after the hour mark when Rio Ferdinand was adjudged to have brought down Hatem Ben Arfa in the box. The visitors never looked like pushing on and winning though, and when Jonas Gutierrez received his second yellow card on 78 minutes the stage was set for a thrilling finale. Desperate not to drop points in the title race, the hosts piled forward and created plenty of chances. Just three minutes after Gutierrez's dismissal Patrice Evra teed up a shot on the edge of the box and Tim Krul was at full stretch to tip it around the post. Moments later Nani found Ashley Young free in the box and his shot beat the Newcastle keeper and hit the foot of the post. With no real outlet up front Newcastle struggled to clear their lines properly and another corner was flicked goalwards by Hernandez only for Danny Simpson to make a remarkable goal line clearance. The home side kept on coming and it looked like they had snatched all three points when Hernandez tapped home from close range, but the linesman's flag was up and Newcastle walked away with a draw. It was all a far cry from a second half which never really got going. The visitors were industrious, closing down their opponents all over the pitch and Manchester United were unable to dictate the tempo of the game in the manner they would have liked. There were chances though, and Krul had to pull off an impressive save when Ryan Giggs got a toe on Fabio's cross, while at the other end Ryan Taylor kicked thin air when presented with a chance of a volley deep inside the 18-yard box. But it took until the second half for the game to really get going. The hosts took the lead early on. Wayne Rooney's freekick was dinked into the wall, but the rebound fell for him and he lashed in a shot. The ball then hit Steven Taylor, before bouncing off Hernandez and past a helpless Krul. If the visitors felt hard done by in the manner in which they conceded, their luck returned 15 minutes later when Ferdinand made what looked like a good challenge on Ben Arfa only for the linesman to flag for a penalty. His team-mates were incensed, but after the fuss had died down Ba stepped up to tuck home an excellent spot kick. The home side then shifted up through the gears and they were already in the ascendancy by the time Gutierrez saw red. But a backs-to-the-wall effort from the Newcastle defence and some fantastic saves from Krul somehow kept them at bay. Sir Alex Ferguson will rightly be furious at the penalty decision, but of more pressing concern is the fact Manchester City will have the chance to go seven points clear tomorrow. For Newcastle though, the good times roll on.

Newcastle set to raid Palace

Reports suggest Newcastle are leading the chase for highly-rated 20-year-old Crystal Palace right-back Nathaniel Clyne. Clyne is out of contract with Palace in the summer and seems unlikely to sign a new deal, with a clutch of Premier League clubs keeping tabs on his situation at Selhurst Park. Newcastle boss Alan Pardew has been linked with a January move, although Clyne is thought to be keen to see out the season with Palace as he is securing regular first-team football. A January sale may be the better option for the Championship side, despite Clyne's desire to remain until the summer, although they will be in line for compensation even if he does move as a free agent due to his age. Everton, Fulham, Wolves and Blackburn have also been credited with an interest, but reports suggest Newcastle are the favourites to seal a deal, either in January or at the end of the campaign.

Match Report Stoke 1 Newcastle 3

Demba Ba – who almost joined Stoke earlier this year – haunted the Potters on Halloween night, by returning as a Newcastle United player to score a brilliant hat-trick in a 3-1 win which lifts Alan Pardew’s unbeaten side into third place in the Barclays Premier League. Ba, who scored a hat-trick for Newcastle earlier in the season, was all set to sign for Stoke from Hoffenheim in January, but failed a medical. He joined West Ham instead, and following the Londoners’ relegation returned to the top-flight with Newcastle. Booed by Stoke supporters from the start, he had an astonishing impact on this match, heading home an opener after 12 minutes, adding a second after 40 minutes, then completing a treble from the penalty spot with nine minutes left. In between, he also conceded a penalty for a push on Peter Crouch, which Jonathan Walters converted to pull Stoke briefly back into the match. But Ba’s third goal ended Stoke’s resistance, and Newcastle headed north buoyed by yet another excellent result in what is developing into a terrific season. Newcastle had not won a league match at Stoke since 1985 but their start to the campaign meant they were confident to take the game to their hosts. And it paid off as they scored with their first genuine chance in the 12th minute. Goalkeeper Tim Krul’s kick was headed on by Leon Best to Gabriel Obertan, who found himself in plenty of space behind left-back Marc Wilson. The Frenchman’s inviting cross into the six-yard area picked out Ba and the Senegal international nodded home his sixth league goal in five matches. The Magpies doubled their lead five minutes before the interval when Upson could only help Fabricio Coloccini’s lofted pass on to Best on the right of the penalty area and he mis-hit a shot low for Ba to tap in his second. Referee Mike Dean handed Stoke a lifeline when he adjudged that Ba had shoved Crouch over in a crowded penalty box, and Walters converted, but the official saw a push at the other end which allowed man of the match Ba to complete the hat-trick.

Match Report: Newcastle 2-2 Tottenham

Shola Ameobi scored an 86th minute equaliser to give Newcastle a 2-2 draw with Spurs in an end-to-end encounter at St James’ Park. The 30-year-old striker has been pushed out of Alan Pardew’s starting eleven by the partnership of Leon Best and Demba Ba but he was on hand late on to ensure the spoils were shared on Tyneside. Rafael Van Der Vaart opened the scoring for Tottenham four minutes before half-time when he converted a spot-kick won by Emmanuel Adebayor. But Newcastle were level just three minutes after half-time when Demba Ba was able to bundle home Jonas Guiterrez’s cross, although Brad Friedel could have done better to keep the effort out. Jermain Defoe looked like he had given Harry Redknapp’s men all three points after 68 minutes when he gather Scott Parker’s pass and rifled a left-footed strike past Tim Krul. But it was Ameobi who had the last word when he was able smash the ball into the back of the net after some sloppy play from the Spurs backline. Thanks to that late strike Newcastle remain fourth and are still unbeaten this season while Tottenham stay sixth with a game in hand.

Tottenham Eyeing Swoop For Blackburn Forward

Blackburn Rovers could be set to lose star forward Junior Hoilett in the new year with Tottenham reportedly lining up a cut price bid.Hoilett is in the last year of his existing contract and Rovers have yet to thrash out a new agreement to extend his stay at Ewood Park.Spurs chairman Daniel Levy is therefore looking to take advantage of the situation by putting in an offer for the talented 21-year-old for less than Blackburn's £15m valuation when the transfer window reopens in January.Newcastle are also tracking the Canadian, who can play on both wings, and if neither club is able to reach an agreement on a fee, Hoilett could still move on in the summer with a tribute ruling on a compensation package with Blackburn are entitled to due to his age. Rovers have already held extensive talks with Hoilett and his representatives over a new deal, but the club's desire to insert a fixed transfer fee has proven a major sticking point to date.

Newcastle Sign Santon

Davide Santon has completed his move to Newcastle and has penned a five-year contract. The Italian full-back has been strongly linked with the Magpies over recent days, with Inter Milan prepared to discuss a deal. The 20-year-old arrived in England on Tuesday ahead of undergoing a medical with the Magpies. It is understood that he has been given the all clear and has put the finishing touches to a move. Santon will be hoping to breathe new life into his career on Tyneside, with the last couple of seasons having seen him stagnate. He is capable of operating on either side of the back four and Alan Pardew may opt to use him as a replacement for Jose Enrique at left-back.

Barton Set for QPR

Premier League new boys QPR are ready to smash their wage structure to offer midfielder Joey Barton a £30,000-a-week pay rise. Barton was having a medical last night after telling a friend: “I’ll talk to QPR because Newcastle don’t want me, so I have to go somewhere.” He later tweeted: “Going for a medical now, still no contract offer from NUFC... think that just about makes my mind up. Don’t want to leave Newcastle. I’ve made that clear but my hands are tied.”Barton has less than 12 months on his £70,000-a-week deal at St James’ Park after being refused a new contract and dumped on the transfer list following a fall-out with boss Alan Pardew. He made matters worse with a blistering attack, saying the club lacked ambition under owner Mike Ashley. However, Barton, 28, played in both Newcastle’s Premier League games this season After his £35m takeover, new majority shareholder Tony Fernandes made the quest for Barton part of a charm-offensive, also cutting ticket prices after massive increases this summer

Liverpool finalise £6m defender deal

Liverpool have completed the signing of Newcastle defender Jose Enrique after the left-back put the finishing touches to a long-term deal at Anfield. Negotiations were concluded swiftly after the 25-year-old travelled from the north-east to have a medical at the club's Melwood training ground on Thursday. The Spaniard is believed to have cost the Reds in the region of £6million."This is one of the happiest days of my life," he told liverpoolfc.tv. "I have come to one of the biggest clubs not just in England, but in the world. I am really, really happy."

Host of Club's Chasing Barton

Arsenal, Tottenham and Stoke have reportedly made enquiries about Newcastle's Joey Barton. Barton has been made available for transfer by The Magpies after the board's patience finally snapped following his fresh criticism. Newcastle have confirmed the controversial midfielder can be signed on a free transfer, meaning the club are looking to offload his services as quickly as possible. Despite the 28-year-old's past, a number of big-name clubs are keen on acquiring his services, with Arsenal, Spurs and Stoke all interested. Meanwhile, Bolton manager Owen Coyle was quizzed on whether he would like to bring Barton to the Reebok and while he confirmed the midfielder is a talent, he stopped short on confirming his intent. "He's a very talented player. We know that," Coyle told Sky Sports News. "There's no doubt Joey will have very attractive offers because he's a talented player. "We'll continue to bring the right players to football club. Hopefully I can have one or two new faces, ideally before the QPR game, but certainly before the end of the transfer window. "Every manager is in the same boat. We're trying to improve our squads and trying to do the best business we can for our clubs."

Joey Barton ready to quit Newcastle over Twitter Row

NEWCASTLE United were today understood to be looking into comments made by Joey Barton via the social networking website Twitter. The Chronicle understands that Toon boss Alan Pardew is far from impressed by the outburst, exactly one week since Jose Enrique was fined £100,000 for hitting out at the United board. Barton criticised the United regime just moments after yesterday’s game. He tweeted: “If only we as players could tell the fans exactly how it is, without them above fining us lots of money. “There will be a time and a place.” He added: “If it wouldn’t effect (sic) team morale and cause unrest within the dressing room, am certain Jose’s comments would be the tip of the iceberg.....” Barton then said: “And again it would be left to those magnificent fans to pick up the remnants of their once great football club,” ending that he had “had enough of certain people”. The player’s remarks prompted a mixed reaction from fans, some in support but others claiming that he had eroded team spirit.However the latest development Barton tweeted just before 1pm 'I will be making an announcement regarding my future, on here at 4pm today'.Leading to speculation that he may be ready to quit the club

Allardyce Set to Raid Newcastle Again

Newcastle United boss Sam Allardyce is ready to raid his old club for Nile Ranger.Allardyce is considering taking the striker to relegated West Ham United.Blackpool had a bid accepted for Ranger, but the 20-year-old failed to agree personal terms.Ranger – who has been told he can leave St James’s Park – was back training with his Newcastle team-mates yesterday after his proposed move to Bloomfield Road broke down.
 Allardyce is keen on Ranger, who showed a lot of promise when he broke into United’s first team during the club’s Championship-winning campaign the season before last.However, Ranger found his opportunities limited in the Premier League under Pardew and his predecessor Chris Hughton.And regular first-team football at Upton Park, and a return to his native London, would be an attractive proposition for Ranger, who scored one goal for the club last season.

It would also see Ranger reunited with his former captain Kevin Nolan, signed by Allardyce from Newcastle earlier this season.