Scottish Mag 3 Posted June 11, 2007 Share Posted June 11, 2007 Sam Allardyce has admitted that he has turned his attention to bringing some "top quality defenders" to Newcastle United. But the word from Israel today was that United will have to improve their offer to Bolton central defender Ben Haim if they are going to pip Chelsea for his signature. Jose Mourinho has already informed Ben Haim's man, top agent Pini Zahavi, that he is willing to pay the Israeli defender £60,000 a week in his bid to get him to Stamford Bridge. Now the ball is very much in United's court if Ben Haim is going to be one of the three defenders - two central defenders and a left-back - which Allardyce so desperately needs. After a weekend in which United were linked with some weird and not so wonderful strikers and midfielders, Allardyce told me today: "We are happy that we have got Mark Viduka in the bag and Joey Barton almost tied up. "Now the next venture is to create a defensive strategy by bringing in some quality defenders to blend with the attacking flair we already have. "We want top defenders to help us acquire the right amount of clean sheets and obviously hope the scorers will do the business which will help us win football matches and put three points on the board on a regular basis." Ben Haim is getting married in Tel Aviv this weekend and would love his football future decided before then. And he knows that he will walk straight into the United defence while he would probably only be cover for John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho in West London. United confirmed to me today that they have made an offer to Ben Haim, but I believe it falls short of what Chelsea have offered. Bolton are also keen to have the 25-year-old defender back at the Reebok Stadium but they cannot get anywhere near to matching what Chelsea have already offered and what I suspect the player hopes United will match. But United are keeping their options open, and it looks as though you can perm any two from the quartet of Ben Haim, PSG's David Rozehnal, Liverpool's Sami Hyypia and Marseille skipper Habib Beye as far as their central defensive signings are concerned. All four are aware of United's interest and it may be significant that Hyypia turned down a £30,000-a week two-year contract at Fulham over the weekend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ketsbaia 0 Posted June 11, 2007 Share Posted June 11, 2007 Oliver? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ewerk 30616 Posted June 11, 2007 Share Posted June 11, 2007 Hopefully the Allardyce factor and the fact that he knows he won't be one of the first choice CB's at Chelsea will clinch the deal for us. Though his agent Zavi is good mates with Chelsea so that could have an influence on his decision. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Fish 10857 Posted June 11, 2007 Share Posted June 11, 2007 Oliver? What gave it away? United confirmed to me today that they have made an offer to Ben Haim, but I believe it falls short of what Chelsea have offered. The man mocks himself without realising.. if it wasn't so sad it'd be fucking hilarious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheMoog 0 Posted June 11, 2007 Share Posted June 11, 2007 I'd love to know who it is at NUFC that Oliver speaks to, I'm sure anyone in management there would rather keep our transfer dealings a bit more under wraps than to feel compelled to tell Anal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom 14011 Posted June 11, 2007 Share Posted June 11, 2007 Its that tea lady man Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2bias 3 Posted June 11, 2007 Share Posted June 11, 2007 i really think we will sign haim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinofbeans 91 Posted June 11, 2007 Share Posted June 11, 2007 hope so, is a good player. we do not want hyppia, well past his best.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2bias 3 Posted June 11, 2007 Share Posted June 11, 2007 def Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Papa Lazaru 0 Posted June 11, 2007 Share Posted June 11, 2007 Oliver? What gave it away? United confirmed to me today that they have made an offer to Ben Haim, but I believe it falls short of what Chelsea have offered. The man mocks himself without realising.. if it wasn't so sad it'd be fucking hilarious. Yes, you know its old Anal as soon as words like me, mine, my, or I appear! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig 6682 Posted June 11, 2007 Share Posted June 11, 2007 def Defender?? Yes he is actually Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Albuquerque Posted June 11, 2007 Share Posted June 11, 2007 I'd love to know who it is at NUFC that Oliver speaks to, I'm sure anyone in management there would rather keep our transfer dealings a bit more under wraps than to feel compelled to tell Anal. His patter is unbelievable and his ITK scoops are even worse. In the run up to Allardyce's appointment his articles stating that he was receiving calls from all over Europe on a daily basis regarding the managerial position was damn impressive - especially as Oliver's contact details don't even appear on the icNewcastle site. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kid Dynamite 7030 Posted June 11, 2007 Share Posted June 11, 2007 Id stand firm. Hes not worth anywhere near £60k a week Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig 6682 Posted June 11, 2007 Share Posted June 11, 2007 Id stand firm. Hes not worth anywhere near £60k a week Sadly it's more a case of how much we need a player of his ability. Going by our current defensive legions, I'd say we might have to push the boat out in order to secure him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manc-mag 1 Posted June 11, 2007 Share Posted June 11, 2007 Id stand firm. Hes not worth anywhere near £60k a week Sadly it's more a case of how much we need a player of his ability. Going by our current defensive legions, I'd say we might have to push the boat out in order to secure him. QFT. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sima 0 Posted June 11, 2007 Share Posted June 11, 2007 i really think we will sign haim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scottish Mag 3 Posted June 11, 2007 Author Share Posted June 11, 2007 Id stand firm. Hes not worth anywhere near £60k a week Sadly it's more a case of how much we need a player of his ability. Going by our current defensive legions, I'd say we might have to push the boat out in order to secure him. Its an Anal O story, the figure of £60k is probably bullshit... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manc-mag 1 Posted June 11, 2007 Share Posted June 11, 2007 i really think we will sign haim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Papa Lazaru 0 Posted June 11, 2007 Share Posted June 11, 2007 Id stand firm. Hes not worth anywhere near £60k a week Sadly it's more a case of how much we need a player of his ability. Going by our current defensive legions, I'd say we might have to push the boat out in order to secure him. Its an Anal O story, the figure of £60k is probably bullshit... Its an Anal O story, the word "probably" doesn't need to precede bullshit... Though in this case i reckon if Chelsea want him, they will offer some serious wages, and we will probably have to match them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manc-mag 1 Posted June 11, 2007 Share Posted June 11, 2007 Id stand firm. Hes not worth anywhere near £60k a week Sadly it's more a case of how much we need a player of his ability. Going by our current defensive legions, I'd say we might have to push the boat out in order to secure him. Its an Anal O story, the figure of £60k is probably bullshit... Its an Anal O story, the word "probably" doesn't need to precede bullshit... Though in this case i reckon if Chelsea want him, they will offer some serious wages, and we will probably have to match them. Agreed. Plus he'll be well aware that Barton has just come here and named his price. No if we get him in the prevailing circumstances I think we can expect to fork out a canny wedge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Albuquerque Posted June 11, 2007 Share Posted June 11, 2007 Though in this case i reckon if Chelsea want him, they will offer some serious wages, and we will probably have to match them. Chelsea have Terry, Carvalho and almost have the deal for Alex wrapped up. It would be suicidal of NUFC to allow a player of Haim's caliber to head to Chelsea only to get very few opportunities. If this is the case, then so be it - there's plenty of decent defenders out there but the downside would be shelling money out on them. I'm rather skeptical of this Rozehnal fella, though. £2.7m on a player that played in a PSG defence that conceded as many as they scored is a big gamble, especially if you're asking him to step up from the French to English league. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snakehips 0 Posted June 11, 2007 Share Posted June 11, 2007 This Ben Haim is a free agent, aint he? That means the signing on fee will have to be taken into account as well. Could we match Chewsee's offer? I doubt it. Tell him £50k per week max. If he doesn't like it he can fuck off to London. I haven't seen much of him but he can't be worth more than that amount of money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ewerk 30616 Posted June 11, 2007 Share Posted June 11, 2007 Tell him £50k per week max. If he doesn't like it he can fuck off to London. I haven't seen much of him but he can't be worth more than that amount of money. Agreed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scottish Mag 3 Posted June 11, 2007 Author Share Posted June 11, 2007 I'm rather skeptical of this Rozehnal fella, though. £2.7m on a player that played in a PSG defence that conceded as many as they scored is a big gamble, especially if you're asking him to step up from the French to English league. Bolton Goals For - 47 Bolton Goals Against - 52 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manc-mag 1 Posted June 11, 2007 Share Posted June 11, 2007 Though in this case i reckon if Chelsea want him, they will offer some serious wages, and we will probably have to match them. Chelsea have Terry, Carvalho and almost have the deal for Alex wrapped up. It would be suicidal of NUFC to allow a player of Haim's caliber to head to Chelsea only to get very few opportunities. If this is the case, then so be it - there's plenty of decent defenders out there but the downside would be shelling money out on them. I'm rather skeptical of this Rozehnal fella, though. £2.7m on a player that played in a PSG defence that conceded as many as they scored is a big gamble, especially if you're asking him to step up from the French to English league. Is this Kirkey re-registered btw? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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