The proposed Butt/Viduka swap

[Dr Kenneth Noisewater 0]

Is it a straight swap or will money change hands?

[Tooj 17]

i heard they want 2 million as well

[Baggio 0]

How much did Boro pay for Viduka?

Edited August 1, 2005 by Baggio

[Tooj 17]

4.5 i think

[Jackies the Lad 0]

However, a recurring hamstring problem kept plaguing him, leaving him on the sidelines for long stretches of the season. He made only 21 appearances and scored 7 goals.

 

Is he fully fit, or is it like the Parker transfer where a little more recovery time is needed?

[Dr Kenneth Noisewater 0]

If he has hamstring troubles he'll fit right in here.

[khay 10]

Newcastle are preparing to switch their search for a striker from Nicolas Anelka to Mark Viduka. (Daily Mail)

 

The Magpies will have to stump up £5m if they are to prise Mark Viduka away from Middlesbrough. (The Sun, Daily Mirror)

 

 

I would not pay £5m for Viduka no way.

[sweetleftpeg 0]

Butt's on his way to the mackems it seems..

[Shearergol 0]

However, a recurring hamstring problem kept plaguing him, leaving him on the sidelines for long stretches of the season. He made only 21 appearances and scored 7 goals.

 

Is he fully fit, or is it like the Parker transfer where a little more recovery time is needed?

6123[/snapback]

 

He's apparently fully fit. Won't last though, he'll break down in training in the first week.

[Scottish Mag 3]

Mark Viduka is in danger of being priced out of a move to Newcastle after it emerged Middlesbrough will only sanction his sale should they recoup the £4.5m they paid Leeds 12 months ago.

 

Although Steve McClaren is understood to be receptive to the idea of using Nicky Butt as a makeweight in a prospective deal, the Teessiders will also demand £2.5m.

 

Graeme Souness, determined to improve his limited striking options, has stepped up his efforts to land the Australian who represents a cut-price alternative to Nicolas Anelka.

 

Yet Boro's high valuation of the 29-year-old could still prove prohibitive to a manager who will again approach tomorrow's Intertoto Cup semi-final second-leg against Deportivo La Coruña with Alan Shearer and Michael Chopra as his only available attackers.

 

Viduka has been on United's list of potential signings all summer, yet it is only now the Magpies have launched their move for a player who endured a mixed first season on Teesside.

 

The former Elland Road favourite started 15 league fixtures last term as a result of a succession of fitness problems.

 

And following the £7.5m acquisition of Yakubu - a one-time Souness target - the chance to cut their losses on Viduka would appeal to Boro, who are trying to offload one of their growing band of strikers.

 

But while there is much negotiating to be done, it is clear that the Teessiders hold all the aces.

 

While keen on Butt, McClaren is not desperate to recruit the 30-year-old and, with the Magpies known to be in dire need of strikers, Boro are in a strong position.

 

The deal is likely to hinge on the respective sides' valuation of Butt.

 

The Riversiders believe that he is worth no more than £2m and, given the manner of his debut campaign in the North-East following a £2.5m switch from Manchester United, it would be hard to see how United could expect to receive any more for the former England international.

 

The bottom line is that the Magpies are more keen to part company with Butt than Boro are to offload Viduka. It is a situation which will have severely reduced Freddie Shepherd's bargaining powers.

 

United officials could feel that a package worth £4.5m is too high for a player who managed just 12 minutes of domestic football this year.

 

And although Newcastle will attempt to reduce the size of the payment the Teessiders will be willing to accept, it will not be a simple task.

 

Despite Shepherd's assertion last week that United will not increase their respective bids for Anelka and Luis Boa Morte, Souness has not yet given up hope that he will have both players on board in time to face Arsenal on August 14 and discussions are ongoing.

 

But, although he remains a huge admirer of Michael Owen, the Magpies boss knows he has little chance of signing the striker should Manchester United firm up their interest.

 

Newcastle could still benefit even if the England star does opt for a move to Old Trafford. For Owen's arrival would push Louis Saha yet further down the pecking order and could pave the way for Souness to strike a deal for the Frenchman, who has already come under consideration this summer. Saha's agent confirmed last month that Newcastle had made an approach for the striker.

 

And although he insisted Saha was keen to remain at Old Trafford, he admitted the arrival of a new attacker could change the situation considerably.

[Jackies the Lad 0]

Mark Viduka is in danger of being priced out of a move to Newcastle after it emerged Middlesbrough will only sanction his sale should they recoup the £4.5m they paid Leeds 12 months ago.

 

Although Steve McClaren is understood to be receptive to the idea of using Nicky Butt as a makeweight in a prospective deal, the Teessiders will also demand £2.5m.

 

Graeme Souness, determined to improve his limited striking options, has stepped up his efforts to land the Australian who represents a cut-price alternative to Nicolas Anelka.

 

Yet Boro's high valuation of the 29-year-old could still prove prohibitive to a manager who will again approach tomorrow's Intertoto Cup semi-final second-leg against Deportivo La Coruña with Alan Shearer and Michael Chopra as his only available attackers.

 

Viduka has been on United's list of potential signings all summer, yet it is only now the Magpies have launched their move for a player who endured a mixed first season on Teesside.

 

The former Elland Road favourite started 15 league fixtures last term as a result of a succession of fitness problems.

 

And following the £7.5m acquisition of Yakubu - a one-time Souness target - the chance to cut their losses on Viduka would appeal to Boro, who are trying to offload one of their growing band of strikers.

 

But while there is much negotiating to be done, it is clear that the Teessiders hold all the aces.

 

While keen on Butt, McClaren is not desperate to recruit the 30-year-old and, with the Magpies known to be in dire need of strikers, Boro are in a strong position.

 

The deal is likely to hinge on the respective sides' valuation of Butt.

 

The Riversiders believe that he is worth no more than £2m and, given the manner of his debut campaign in the North-East following a £2.5m switch from Manchester United, it would be hard to see how United could expect to receive any more for the former England international.

 

The bottom line is that the Magpies are more keen to part company with Butt than Boro are to offload Viduka. It is a situation which will have severely reduced Freddie Shepherd's bargaining powers.

 

United officials could feel that a package worth £4.5m is too high for a player who managed just 12 minutes of domestic football this year.

 

And although Newcastle will attempt to reduce the size of the payment the Teessiders will be willing to accept, it will not be a simple task.

 

Despite Shepherd's assertion last week that United will not increase their respective bids for Anelka and Luis Boa Morte, Souness has not yet given up hope that he will have both players on board in time to face Arsenal on August 14 and discussions are ongoing.

 

But, although he remains a huge admirer of Michael Owen, the Magpies boss knows he has little chance of signing the striker should Manchester United firm up their interest.

 

Newcastle could still benefit even if the England star does opt for a move to Old Trafford. For Owen's arrival would push Louis Saha yet further down the pecking order and could pave the way for Souness to strike a deal for the Frenchman, who has already come under consideration this summer. Saha's agent confirmed last month that Newcastle had made an approach for the striker.

 

And although he insisted Saha was keen to remain at Old Trafford, he admitted the arrival of a new attacker could change the situation considerably.

6419[/snapback]

Just read all this at icnewcastle and the Journal.

[Renton 21624]

Basically we have completely ballsed up and are going to be held to ransom by every other club, even over a fat, unfit, past it, no hoper like Viduka. Nice going Freddie.

[Barney 0]

Awesome user-name Dr. Noisewater! Are you really Brian Fantana's teticle?

 

 

To keep this on topic......Viduka is so fat, he has to wear really big trousers.

 

Also, Butt is a spineless cnut.

[Shearergol 0]

Graeme Souness, determined to improve his limited striking options, has stepped up his efforts to land the Australian who represents a cut-price alternative to Nicolas Anelka.

 

So Viduka and Shearer up front together then.

 

Saha's agent confirmed last month that Newcastle had made an approach for the striker.

 

 

Despite Shepherd's assertion last week that United will not increase their respective bids for Anelka and Luis Boa Morte, Souness has not yet given up hope that he will have both players on board in time to face Arsenal on August 14 and discussions are ongoing.

 

Manager asks for more money, chairman says no.

[Renton 21624]

Viduka = Flo

 

Oh shit.

[Mark 0]

If this goes through I'm selling my season ticket.

[geordieshandy 0]

http://www.football365.com/news/story_158514.shtml

 

Says Souness hasn't contacted McClaren about Viduka