Well Beye was in that 5% last season and hopefully we can get two more like him in. Lets be honest, we are owed some luck when it comes to defenders.

I sort of have a good feeling about this transfer though. I know the chances are he will only be used as a squad player but he could turn into an important player for us. I like how he has already played in the league, i like how he is young and english and i also like how he rejected the chance to go to Bolton (a place he already knew) to come to Newcastle. Gary Speed thinks he is a great signing, he worked with him at Bolton.

The Daily Mail believe Newcastle will hold talks with Aimar in the next 24hours. They are wanting 7million for the midfielder. This story better be true!!!!!

would be a very good siging ive always rated aimar he has just went of the boil the last couple of years but a fresh challenge could do him good

Well said. Owen gets insane stick when he doesn't score but how many forwards can go on a 4 goals in 2-3 games and so on(except Ronaldo)...sure its difficult when he's not fit but this guy is absolutely magic and if he get's firing on all cylinders, its difficult to stop him. I think Cappello will regret not playing him in coming games...its my understanding from past readings that Cappello is not a big fan of Owen...but I guess we will wait and see.

The papers are saying that Owen has been asked to take a £30k a week salary cut to £80k a week. If he declines........apparently.......Man Utd are monitoring the situation and he could be up for sale at £5m.

Metz defender Sebastien Bassong has revealed he is to have a trial at Newcastle.

Bassong is looking to leave Metz and he is hoping to secure a move to England.

Everton have been credited with an interest in the 22-year-old, but Newcastle have stolen a march on their Premier League rivals by offering him a trial on Tyneside.

Bassong is determined to do everything he can to impress Magpies boss Kevin Keegan and win a move to St James' Park.

"It's a very good thing for me," Bassong told French TV.

"Newcastle are not nothing.

"I will give everything and we will see how my situation is later."

I'd hate to see him play for Man United(i'm obviously not a utd fan)...I wish somebody would slap benetiz upside the head to pick him up instead.

The problem with Owen is his pace is gone. What he does still have in him, i believe, is his outstanding finishing - problem being a lack of pace means the opportunity to use said finishing becomes more infrequent. If he can accept that Newcastle is as high as he'll go at this point in his career and find the want to play for them and try his hardest i think he'll have a fine season next year, barring too much of an injury lay-off.

United wouldn't sign him though. Rooney, Tevez, Saha and not forgetting Manucho are all on their books. Saha may go, but they're looking for a big signing like Berbatov or Huntelaar, which Owen isn't anymore. And they won't have 5 strikers, unless Owen is happy to just sit rotting away on the bench (or worse).

Nail on the head there. Owens not going to get any better now that he's had long term injuries which have had effects on his pace. Now he's not good enough to move to a bigger club imo. Staying around teams such as Newcastle suit him fine.

The Daily Mirror....

although past his best i still feel aimar will offer Newcastle what they lack a quality playmaker , still if he does sign i cant help feel a pang of envy


But thats me being biased ive always rated him highly

I'm a bit excited about this now if it does go through. When it was just speculation i kind of dismissed it. But well done to Keegy if he can wrap this one up. Aimar at his best a few years ago was a top player, i've rated him highly aswell. Bit of a shame he's past his peak now, but i hope we can get something good out of him, and he should be a very useful playmaker in the centre. With him pushing up and creating play and attacks, and Butt playing the holding and covering the defencem we should see a stronger centre mid next season.

I'm quite excited. I hope that the story is true but i know who wrote it. So if he is just making up crap i'm gonna hunt the f*cker down!

Nah i reckon its legit. It's on the nufc website aswell.

Very exciting prospect having Pablo Aimar at Newcastle next season. The obvious downside is his lack of form compared to previous years and injury issues, but it's worth the risk for £7m.

Now, i wonder, are you planning on playing 4-4-2 next season or what? What about the 4-3-3?

I was thinking the same thing Ben, about formations. I'm guessing it will be the 4-4-2. The reasons for this are because we have bought a winger, we will have milner back fit and we look like we are gonna buy Aimar. At least we will have the option of 4-3-3 if we need it. But we all know that will never work against the better teams. It was still great work from keegan to come up with it last season though.

Though, what would that mean for Owen?

It did seem to suit him better playing in behind the strikers. I suppose he could play "deep" as part of a two man attack (although i still think he's good enough to be more 'out-and-out').

i find it hillarious how happy Big Kev Keegan was at landing Danny Guthrie. Classic!

Liverpool should have bought him, although he's been poor this past year or so we can't really judge if he's past his peak until he's about 30, for all we know if could have been a blip and he will reporduce his Valencia days at Newcastle, but then again he could well be past it....

yea, reeeeeeeeally funny