Back in for Beye?

[Scottish Mag 3]

HAVING lost Stephen Carr and Peter Ramage to long-term injuries at the weekend, Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce is hoping to sign both Abdoulaye Faye and Habib Beye before the transfer window closes on Friday.

 

But with French side Marseille reluctant to release Beye so close to the end of the month, the Magpies manager has also expressed an interest in Chelsea full-back Glen Johnson as he attempts to patch-up his injury-hit squad in the next 48 hours.

 

Allardyce has been monitoring Beye's situation for the majority of the summer, but Sunday's double setback at the Riverside has persuaded him to make a £2m offer for the Senegal international.

 

Marseille are reluctant to sell their skipper this month, but 28-year-old Beye has previously spoken of his desire to play in the Premier League.

 

Should they fail to do so, Allardyce is ready to switch his attention to Johnson after Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho revealed he was willing to listen to offers for the England international.

 

Mourinho signed a full-back of his own last week in the shape of Brazilian Juliano Belletti, and while Allardyce was disappointed to miss out on the former Barcelona defender having expressed an interest himself, his disappointment has been tempered by Johnson's subsequent availability.

 

The 23-year-old is now surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge, but Villa and Portsmouth have confirmed their intention to bid for his services this week.

 

Johnson spent last season on loan at Fratton Park, and Pompey boss Harry Redknapp is hoping to persuade him to return to the south coast.

 

Faye's future is equally complex, although Newcastle officials are confident that a £2m deal can be thrashed out with Bolton chairman Phil Gartside.

 

"I've no definites yet, but I'm working very hard and I'm hoping to secure one or possibly two players before the window closes," said Allardyce, who confirmed Ramage suffered a cruciate ligament injury on Sunday that could rule him out for the majority of the season.

 

"We're pursuing two targets at this particular moment, and outside of that, if they don't work there's another couple we can move to very quickly.

 

"Getting them in is the problem though because managers are reluctant to sell players when they've not got enough time to buy replacements.

 

"Then, there's the issue of getting things done quickly enough to complete a medical. Things will have to move quickly if we're going to give ourselves enough time before the closing of the window."

[Besty 4]

Top post, hope it never gets deleted.

[Dr Gloom 22190]

weird. seems this thread is some kind of portal to the past

[Deano 0]

Id have him back as a squad player.

[Kevin 1]

Id have him back as a squad player.

 

Same. Don't think he'd make a good coach.