Sam Eyes Gud Deal

[curry stained pilchard 0]

Sam eyes good dealMay 25 2007

 

By Lee Ryder, The Evening Chronicle

 

Newcastle United are on the trail of Barcelona striker Eidur Gudjohnsen. It's no secret in football that former the former Bolton and Chelsea striker Gudjohnsen would like to quit Barca despite the glamour of the Nou Camp.

 

And it is thought that the Iceland international would favour a return to the Premiership after just one year in La Liga.

 

The 28-year-old was highly thought of at Chelsea during his six-year stint at Stamford Bridge, but he also struck up a rapport with Allardyce and his right-hand man Phil Brown to fire in 21 goals in his only season under the pair at Bolton.

 

Newcastle would face a fight for his signature and would have to pay £8m for his services from Barca.

 

 

 

 

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Man United, Tottenham, West Ham and Sunderland are also keen on Gudjohnsen, but his good relationship with Allardyce may swing the balance for Newcastle.

 

 

And a source close to Allardyce told the Chronicle today: "Sam used to call Eidur a `proper' player when he was at Bolton. He enjoyed working with him and I would suggest he would be happy to bring him back to the Premiership."

 

 

With Owen's future up in the air at the moment and Oba Martins' no-show at Watford also casting doubts about his future, Allardyce will have a keen eye on the striker department, especially with Antoine Sibierski snubbing a one-year deal this week.

 

 

United do still have Shola Ameobi and youngster Andy Carroll, but last season proved to be a real struggle with little or no cover in key positions at key times resulting in a bottom-half finish.

 

 

Gudjohnsen has netted 12 goals this season for Barca with five coming in La Liga, but he has struggled to break into the starting XI with world stars Lionel Messi, Samuel Eto'o and Ronaldinho all ahead of him in the pecking order.

 

 

And the likelihood is he would find himself as first-choice to partner either Owen or Martins at St James' if he made the switch to rejoin his old boss.

 

 

And with Liverpool winger Bolo Zenden, a former United target, having been released by Liverpool following their Champions League defeat against AC Milan, it would be no surprise if Newcastle have not already been alerted to the 30-year-old's availability, with Allardyce no stranger to working with players who have proved they can do it on the big stage.

 

 

Zenden will leave Liverpool frustrated his final game for the club was ruined by the whistle of German referee Herbert Fandel.

 

 

The Dutch midfielder fought off an ankle injury to play in Wednesday's Champions League Final in Athens before being replaced by Harry Kewell on the hour mark as his side slipped to a 2-1 defeat against AC Milan.

 

 

Liverpool expressed their surprise at the disproportionate amount of fouls they conceded against the Italians, including the crucial free-kick in the last seconds of the first half for a foul by Xabi Alonso on Kaka which resulted in Milan's first goal.

 

 

Zenden, out of contract this summer and told after the game by boss Rafael Benitez that he could talk to other clubs, said: "We were surprised to see how many free-kicks were given against us. We did not feel we were that aggressive.

 

 

"But we felt that the referee did give a lot of easy free-kicks, and on an occasion like that you need more things to go your way. When it is that uneven it makes things very difficult." Zenden and several of his colleagues were not impressed by Fandel's performance, while Benitez was furious with the official's time-keeping.

 

 

Fandel blew the final whistle before the allotted three minutes of injury time were completed, Liverpool having just scored through Dirk Kuyt.

 

 

Filippo Inzaghi's first goal also went in off his arm past Jose Reina.

 

 

Zenden is now open to offers from other clubs, and will leave Anfield this summer.

 

 

Who was saying recently that the Ronny Gill put things in their reports to wind us up??!?

 

EDIT: Tried to edit the title i.e. "good" deal, spell check thingy kicked in... should be G U D deal...

Edited May 25, 2007 by Fat Boy

[Guest alex]

Proper player rather than a 'proper' player tbh

[Asprilla 96]

As long as he's not a proper "playa" then I'll be happy...

[ewerk 31604]

As long as he's not called Bolo Zenden I'll be happy.

[newcastlebroon 0]

"door opener" as Sir Souness would say

[Asprilla 96]

"door opener" as Sir Souness would say

dark days indeed...

 

 

*shudders*

[skhwoody 0]

would be a good foil for --- dare i say it ---- Owen, and a player that should have been here when he left chelsea, instead we missed the boat

[Bombadil 0]

"door opener" as Sir Souness would say

 

Someone you'd want next to you in the trenches.

[wellsy 0]

 

Do it...

[Scottish Mag 3]

Eidur Gudjohnsen's father and agent, Arnor, insists he son will not be returning to the Premiership next season.

 

The Icelandic ace has been strongly linked with a move back to England, after failing to really hit the heights with Barcelona - since his move to Catalunya two years ago.

 

However, Gudjohnsen senior feels the likes of Newcastle, West Ham, Portsmouth and Sunderland can forget about making an offer for his son.

 

"He hasn't been thinking about coming back to England at all," he told the Sunday Sun.

 

"He really wants to make amends for the last six months at Barcelona, which have been difficult for him.

 

"He wants to do better there next season having now learned how Spanish football is.

 

"Of course, you never know what is going to happen, and it is flattering that clubs like Newcastle are linked with him.

 

"But the fact is I have not heard anything from any clubs in England, and Ediur wants to stay where he is."