trophyshy 7094 Posted January 27, 2009 Share Posted January 27, 2009 (edited) http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/foo...icle5594311.ece Stephen McManus linked to Newcastle United Scotland defender could be about to depart for the Barclays Premier League following a reported offer of £4 million Phil Gordon Stephen McManus could be ready to move to the Barclays Premier League after Newcastle United appeared to heighten their interest by making a bid for the Celtic centre back and captain. Reports yesterday claimed that the Scottish champions have been offered £4 million for McManus. Celtic are believed to have no desire to get the 25-year-old Scotland defender off their wage bill but with Joe Kinnear urgently trying to enrol new back-four men at St James’ Park, McManus has captured the Newcastle manager’s attention. However, reports that Celtic would use the money to fund the recruitment of Radoslav Kovac, the Czech Republic defender, from Spartak Moscow, are incorrect. McManus has blossomed under Gordon Strachan, who has turned him from a fringe player under Martin O’Neill into the captain and half of a central defensive pairing with with Gary Caldwell. The Celtic manager gave McManus the captaincy when Neil Lennon switched to Nottingham Forest in 2007. Kinnear is keen to offload José Enrique, the left back who has failed to flourish since his £6.3 million acquisition from Villarreal in 2007, but Celtic would not be able to afford the 23-year-old Spaniard’s wages even if he was included as part of the deal. Celtic are negotiating with representatives of Willo Flood to secure the Ireland midfield player from Cardiff City, but the player, who is on loan at Dundee United, has been told by Craig Levein that his career would profit far more from remaining at Tannadice as a central figure, rather than becoming a fringe contributor at Celtic Park. Flood has been with Dundee United, who play Celtic tomorrow night at Hampden Park in a Co-operative Insurance Cup semi-final, for a year and he acknowledges that Levein rescued him after being marginalised at Cardiff. The Coca-Cola Championship side will demand only a £150,000 fee for Flood. Dundee United can do nothing prevent Cardiff selling Flood to Celtic and are still fighting to keep the player, having offered him a permanent contract. “I am speaking about something that might not happen and we have not heard from Cardiff that anything has, but this is not something that is going to distract us from a very important game,” Levein said. “We are working hard to keep Willo here, but if he wants to go to Celtic, I will shake his hand and wish him all the best because he is a great lad who typifies the kind I want here. I’ve already told him that I think he should be staying here, because it is only since he came to Dundee United that he has held down a first-team place consistently and shown how good he is on a regular basis. Right now, he would be better doing that for another season or two with us rather than risk moving on and ending up being back in a situation where he is spending a lot of time on the bench. “What we should remember is that we got him from Cardiff on the basis that it was a chance for them — and him — to be in the shop window and there was always a chance something like this would happen. “If he left tomorrow, we would still be winners from this deal because he has been a very good player for us. I do think that last Saturday, all the talk had an effect on Willo, but I feel he will have learnt from that and cope at Hampden. He is in my plans.” Another of Celtic’s potential recruits, Sacha Kljestan, the United States midfield player, may have priced himself out of a move after scoring a hat-trick for his country against Sweden on Saturday. Clubs in Holland and Germany were already on the trail of the 23-year-old, who warmed up for the international in Los Angeles by spending six days on trial at Celtic’s Lennoxtown training complex. Major League Soccer owns the contract of the Chivas USA player and wants a £2 million fee to agree to any move. Ched Evans also remains on Celtic’s list, even though the Manchester City striker is now being linked with a move to Cardiff. Edited January 27, 2009 by trophyshy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peasepud 59 Posted January 27, 2009 Share Posted January 27, 2009 Claire McManus more likely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scottish Mag 3 Posted January 27, 2009 Share Posted January 27, 2009 Claire McManus more likely. Who the f*ck is Claire McManus... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrBass 2811 Posted January 27, 2009 Share Posted January 27, 2009 Claire McManus more likely. Who the f*ck is Claire McManus... Michelle McManus surely? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Gloom 22500 Posted January 27, 2009 Share Posted January 27, 2009 centre half is one of the few positions i think we're reasonably well covered for. midfield, strikers and full backs seem to be a far bigger concern Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest alex Posted January 27, 2009 Share Posted January 27, 2009 centre half is one of the few positions i think we're reasonably well covered for. midfield, strikers and full backs seem to be a far bigger concern I would say it's the same as strikers i.e. plenty bodies but only three of them any good. In fact we've only got two CBs who are any good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donaldstott 0 Posted January 27, 2009 Share Posted January 27, 2009 centre half is one of the few positions i think we're reasonably well covered for. midfield, strikers and full backs seem to be a far bigger concern I would say it's the same as strikers i.e. plenty bodies but only three of them any good. In fact we've only got two CBs who are any good. the question is.. Is Stephen McManus any good? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy Whitehurst 958 Posted January 27, 2009 Share Posted January 27, 2009 centre half is one of the few positions i think we're reasonably well covered for. midfield, strikers and full backs seem to be a far bigger concern True, but why let common sense get in the way of our transfer plans? It certainly didn't in the last transfer window. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest alex Posted January 27, 2009 Share Posted January 27, 2009 centre half is one of the few positions i think we're reasonably well covered for. midfield, strikers and full backs seem to be a far bigger concern I would say it's the same as strikers i.e. plenty bodies but only three of them any good. In fact we've only got two CBs who are any good. the question is.. Is Stephen McManus any good? No idea, I wasn't advocating buying him (it's probably more bollocks anyway). Just we aren't well off for centre-halves. Ones that aren't shit anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isegrim 10008 Posted January 27, 2009 Share Posted January 27, 2009 centre half is one of the few positions i think we're reasonably well covered for. midfield, strikers and full backs seem to be a far bigger concern I would say it's the same as strikers i.e. plenty bodies but only three of them any good. In fact we've only got two CBs who are any good. the question is.. Is Stephen McManus any good? No idea, I wasn't advocating buying him (it's probably more bollocks anyway). Just we aren't well off for centre-halves. Ones that aren't shit anyway. Though, with money being tight I'd expect us use it on positions where we are even worse off in terms of quantity and quality. Another centre half would be luxurey at the moment imho - especially one where you can't be sure that you are really add quality to the squad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest alex Posted January 27, 2009 Share Posted January 27, 2009 Agreed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spongebob toonpants 4183 Posted January 27, 2009 Share Posted January 27, 2009 centre half is one of the few positions i think we're reasonably well covered for. midfield, strikers and full backs seem to be a far bigger concern I would say it's the same as strikers i.e. plenty bodies but only three of them any good. In fact we've only got two CBs who are any good. the question is.. Is Stephen McManus any good? No idea, I wasn't advocating buying him (it's probably more bollocks anyway). Just we aren't well off for centre-halves. Ones that aren't shit anyway. Though, with money being tight I'd expect us use it on positions where we are even worse off in terms of quantity and quality. Another centre half would be luxurey at the moment imho - especially one where you can't be sure that you are really add quality to the squad. Not when we sell Bassong and Taylor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spongebob toonpants 4183 Posted January 27, 2009 Share Posted January 27, 2009 Claire McManus more likely. Who the f*ck is Claire McManus... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1892 0 Posted January 27, 2009 Share Posted January 27, 2009 Only if we're planning on letting Cacapa go then i could see why, but it doesn't make sense getting a new CB in, if not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinofbeans 91 Posted January 27, 2009 Share Posted January 27, 2009 mcmanus is a bit blood and thunder for our league. not quite good enough. trouble with us though is we've (since woodgate was playing) never had a brilliant centre back here. collocini tries but isn't big enough and certainly isn't fast enough. Bassong is still too raw, but a far better prospect than that awful plastic geordie taylor who needs to take a look at himself. prize mug, that one.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest stormrider Posted January 27, 2009 Share Posted January 27, 2009 I'd rather have another Stevie McMan.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kid Dynamite 7308 Posted January 27, 2009 Share Posted January 27, 2009 Woodgate was awesome like. i dont think hes reached the sort of level he did for us at any of the clubs hes been at since. I reckon ive seen 3 of the best players in the history of the club in their respective positions. Shearer, Given and Woodgate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest alex Posted January 27, 2009 Share Posted January 27, 2009 Woodgate was awesome like. i dont think hes reached the sort of level he did for us at any of the clubs hes been at since. I reckon ive seen 3 of the best players in the history of the club in their respective positions. Shearer, Given and Woodgate And Pedro. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Park Life 71 Posted January 27, 2009 Share Posted January 27, 2009 Only if we're planning on letting Cacapa go then i could see why, but it doesn't make sense getting a new CB in, if not. Put him on the next space shuttle the cunt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peasepud 59 Posted January 27, 2009 Share Posted January 27, 2009 Claire McManus more likely. Who the f*ck is Claire McManus... The lass that works the office down from me, gammy leg, face like a bulldog sucking piss off a thistle, you know her maaan, nice personality. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khay 10 Posted January 28, 2009 Share Posted January 28, 2009 No Magpies bid for Celtic captain Celtic manager Gordon Strachan says no bid has been tabled for his club captain Stephen McManus. Newcastle United made an enquiry about the defender, but his manager said it would take an extraordinary offer to consider selling. "If Kaka's for sale, so is anybody, and if I was offered £30m I would say there's the door," laughed Strachan. "But there's nothing been put to me to even make me think about selling any of our players at the moment." The Magpies contacted the Scottish champions after Celtic enquired about Newcastle full-back Jose Enrique. Newcastle manager Joe Kinnear is keen on McManus and was interested in including him as part of any deal for the Spaniard. Celtic have said that they are not looking to off-load the centre-back, but Newcastle could make an offer before the end of the transfer window. McManus, 25, made his debut for Celtic in 2003 and was made club captain after the departure of Neil Lennon in May 2007. He has made 17 appearances for Scotland and has captained the national team during the absence through injury of midfielder Barry Ferguson. Celtic have been exploring options to fill their left-back berth, although Strachan has stated that he would be happy to see out the remainder of the current campaign without adding further to his squad. Former Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce brought Jose Enrique to Tyneside on a five-year deal from Villarreal in August 2007 for a fee of £6.3m. The 23-year-old has represented Spain once, against Georgia, when he scored the only goal and was also sent-off in his country's 1-0 European Championship qualifier win. From BBC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimbo 175 Posted January 28, 2009 Share Posted January 28, 2009 A die hard Celtic supporting collegue of mine said he would gladly drive McManus to St James' Park if it would help progress the transfer "shite defender who constantly gives the ball away" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Gloom 22500 Posted January 28, 2009 Share Posted January 28, 2009 (edited) A die hard Celtic supporting collegue of mine said he would gladly drive McManus to St James' Park if it would help progress the transfer "shite defender who constantly gives the ball away" he'd have no trouble making an easy transition into our back four then Edited January 28, 2009 by Dr Gloom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig 6700 Posted January 28, 2009 Share Posted January 28, 2009 Rumour this morning is that we've approached them to take him on loan for the rest of the season. Do they honestly think Celtic are going to let their captain go out on loan? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest alex Posted January 28, 2009 Share Posted January 28, 2009 Ah, the Arsenal model at work again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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