Boro bid for Malbranque

[Scottish Mag 3]

Middlesbrough are reportedly waiting to see if a £5 million bid for Fulham’s Steed Malbranque has been accepted. Middlesbrough are believed to have made their offer on Monday. Malbranque had been tipped to join Newcastle in a £3.5million move with the opportunity to play UEFA Cup football on Tyneside - providing the Magpies negotiate a path through the Intertoto Cup. However if Middlesbrough are willing to pay £5 million for the midfielder then Newcastle United’s chances appear limited.

 

Meanwhile Newcastle United boss Glenn Roeder has ruled out a swoop for Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink. Newcastle United need more forwards after the injury to Michael Owen and the retirement of Alan Shearer. Hasselbaink is out of contract at Middlesbrough and reports have linked him to Newcastle. Roeder insisted however there was no foundation in the reports.

 

“Contrary to the newspaper report about Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink signing for Newcastle United as a done deal, there is no truth in it whatsoever,” he said. “It disappoints me when stories like this come out with not even one per cent of truth and the people who write them don't take the trouble to ask the people at the club first. It is the time of year for speculation and Newcastle United being the club it is, it will often be used as a vehicle. But we have our own targets and a list of players that hopefully we will be able to move for shortly.”

[Brock Manson 0]

Another 2 players ruled out it looks like.

 

The season ahead doesn't look particularly promising...

[Optimistic Nut 202]

Why? If Milner was going I think we'd have signed him, but there's no need for Milner, Solano & Malbranque (and Dyer) in squad when there's more important areas need improving.