Bordeaux join chase to land Boumsong

[Scottish Mag 3]

Bordeaux have now thrown their hat into the ring for Newcastle United centre-half Jean Alain Boumsong, (writes Alan Oliver).

 

But their chances of prising the 26-year-old defender away from St James' Park are not good, especially as they want to take Boumsong on loan at first.

 

Bordeaux now find themselves in the same boat as fellow French league clubs Marseille, Monaco and Lens, who all want the central defender.

 

But they all want United to pay half his wages during a loan period which, not surprisingly, has left both chairman Freddy Shepherd and manager Glenn Roeder non-plussed to say the least.

 

The top wages in France are around £15,000-£20,000 per week which does not even begin to compare with the £35,000 Boumsong picks up at St James' Park.

 

And he is not going to go back to France in a move that would see his wages cut by more than half.

 

But Boumsong must realise he is now fourth-choice centre-half at United, behind Titus Bramble, Craig Moore and Steven Taylor.

 

He is not in tonight's starting line-up against FK Ventspils, and unless he goes on as substitute he will not be cup-tied for European competition.

 

Meanwhile, United are edging closer to getting their own new men in. Roeder is in constant touch with Thomas Gravesen's agent John Sivebaek.

 

And while they know that other clubs are now sniffing for the Real Madrid player, including Sivebaek's former club Manchester United, Newcastle are still confident they can get the 30-year-old midfielder to St James' Park next week.

 

But strikers remain the priority and Roeder has been talking to Emre about his former Inter Milan colleague Obefemi Martins.

 

The pair of them were not particularly close in their time at the San Siro, but Roeder still wants to glean as much information as he can about Martins.

 

Martins is a Nigerian international - just like Celestine Babayaro - and Roeder has also checked with his left-back about the £9m-rated Inter Milan striker.

[MattM4 0]

Bordeaux have no money though Would be funny if Boum joined them though.