Sam’s delight as he signs a ‘winner’

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Sam’s delight as he signs a ‘winner’

Jul 7 2007

 

 

 

 

by Luke Edwards, The Journal

 

 

SAM Allardyce is no stranger to pulling off major coups in the transfer market but Newcastle United’s manager suspects the free transfer signing of Cameroon international Geremi could be one of his best yet.

 

Geremi completed his move from Chelsea yesterday when he was granted a work permit by the Home Office and the right-sided midfielder, who can also play at right-back, will link up with his new team-mates when they return from their pre-season training camp in Austria next week.

 

The 28-year-old, who is Allardyce’s fourth signing as Newcastle manager after the capture of Joey Barton, Mark Viduka and David Rozehnal, has signed a three-year deal and will add some stiff competition to James Milner and Nolberto Solano for a starting place.

 

Allardyce, who is expected to secure the services of at least three more defenders and possibly a striker before the close of the transfer window next month, is thrilled to have signed a player he believes has the sort of proven international and European experience which will leave a lasting impression on Tyneside.

 

“We’ve signed a player who is a real winner and who has played on the biggest stages for club and country,” said Allardyce, speaking from the club’s training camp base in Stegersbach.

 

 

He’s been at Real Madrid and he has been at Chelsea, two of the top clubs in Europe and that tells you he must be a quality player. It’s a great bit of business.

 

 

“Being able to add Geremi to Mark Viduka, Joey Barton, and David Rozehnal has pleased me. In all cases we’ve had competition for these players, but all the hard work we’ve put into bringing them to Newcastle and selling the club has paid off.”

 

 

Geremi was forced to become a fringe player at Chelsea because of the millions invested by Russian owner Roman Abramovich, but he was a big success at Middlesbrough during a season-long loan deal for the 2002/3 campaign and impressed whenever he got a chance in the first team at Stamford Bridge.

 

 

United’s transfer activity has slowed this week because of Allardyce’s absence in Austria, but The Journal understands work has still been going on in the attempt to secure further new signings.

 

 

Allardyce has insisted the defence is his main priority since the arrival of Barton and Viduka and breakthroughs in that area are expected next week.

 

 

The Magpies have been deterred by Brazilian defender Edmilson’s £100,000-a-week wage demands, as well as the injured knee which will keep him out of action until October, but the Barcelona centre-back is still a possible arrival.

 

Great to hear about the defence being strenghtened, the new striker seems to me like a contingency plan in case one of the 2 shorties leave.

 

Anyone a bit concerned about us lacking in midfield?

 

Butt is our only holding player and has had 1 crap season here, and 1 pretty good season, sandwiched between a poor spell at Brum. He's not getting any younger either.

[Offshore Toon 0]

I think that is just a guess on his part.

[Guest alex]

I think that is just a guess on his part.

I think it's just a figure of speech.

[Papa Lazaru 0]

I think we'd all be happy with 3 more defenders, but would probably like another class midfielder to be signed as well, somebody with a bit of skill and creativity about them perhaps.