Toon open talks with Croatian star...

The quote is from the local newspaper.
We need a left sided midfielder and it looks like we have a good chance of getting Modric. For him to be at the training ground shows that we could be close to a deal. I dont know that much about the player, what do the rest of ya's think??

Now that's a good rumor for you guys if it's to be true. But Modric wants to play in the CL. I wouldn't get my hopes up till Barca comes out and say they are not interested in him (anymore).

Modric is a great player, he's been rumored all over the place in the past year. Arsenal, Chelsea, Barca being the main clubs. He has come out and stated he would rather play in Spain over England, and preferably Barca. But then again that was a few months ago and his feelings might have changed.

The Sun say it's almost a done deal, and he has had a farewell party or something... But, it's The Sun...

Would be a cracking signing, what i think Newcastle have been lacking apart from the defensive part of course was a creative midfielder.

mmmm i not too sure Newcastle will get him we Arsenal nearly got him last season when we raided them for eduardo and he still said no to us so i can't really see him coming to england but if u do get him great job what a quality player he will be for you

This move seems illogical.

Why would he go to Newcastle and agree a transfer at what is only April, when he knows other huge clubs could be inclined to move in for him at some point this summer? Why would anyone agree a deal this early with, and no offence because i'm speaking more in relation to Modric's probable ambition, a second-rate club? As i said, it makes little sense. If it was Barcelona, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool etc. you could understand him agreeing this early but i couldn't see it for Newcastle.

it does seem early but talks must be at a far stage for him to visit our training ground, i thought he was goin to spain but looks like hes coming here. (sorry for the spelling im a lil drunk )!!!!!

Did anyone actually see him and maybe even interview or photograph him or maybe the paper is telling porkies to sell papers?

its our local paper, it is definitely a true story. doent mean he is coming here though.

Here's the script from the Sporting Life......

Modric Visits Tyneside
Thu 24 Apr, 04:09 PM


Newcastle have fired the first shot in the battle to land Croatia star Luka Modric after he visited the club's training ground. It is understood the 22-year-old midfielder, accompanied by Dinamo Zagreb vice-chairman Zdravko Mamic, was on Tyneside on Tuesday to discuss a prospective move to St James' Park. Modric visited the club's Darsley Park training headquarters after holding talks with executive director (football) Dennis Wise and vice-president (player recruitment) Tony Jimenez at the stadium. Reports from Croatia have suggested the left-sided player is on the verge of completing a £20million move to Newcastle, although Dinamo value him at some £5million in excess of that. Either fee would smash the club record £17million they paid for England striker Michael Owen almost three years ago, and it remains to be seen to what extent owner Mike Ashley is prepared to fund manager Kevin Keegan's rebuilding programme. The club's negotiators would hope for some movement on the asking price, although the player's wage demands too are likely to be significant.

Barcelona and Chelsea are among the clubs also being credited with an interest in Modric, and there will be some disquiet on Tyneside that their own interest has been made public, perhaps in an attempt to smoke out the big boys. There is little doubting the midfielder's quality - he was one of the stars of Croatia's Euro 2008 qualifying campaign, which culminated in a 3-2 win over England at Wembley to effectively end Steve McClaren's reign as manager. He is just the type of player Keegan wants to target as he attempts to build for future success after his rescue mission during the second half of this season. Newcastle came perilously close to being dragged into the fight for Premier League survival in the wake of Sam Allardyce's departure in January. However, a six-game unbeaten run has seen them collect 14 points from a possible 18, and last weekend's 2-0 derby over Sunderland sends them to West Ham on Saturday with a top-half finish a possibility. Keegan has been impressed with the quality of the players he inherited from Allardyce if not the quantity, and has predicted summer moves for four or five top-class performers. However, the market in which he will conduct his spending mission will depend upon the funds he is allocated by Ashley, who allowed his predecessor to spend a net figure of only around £10million last summer as he carried out a thorough review of the club.

Any move for Modric could signal the end of Frenchman Charles N'Zogbia's spell at Newcastle with the talented 21-year-old having found himself marginalised in recent weeks. The former Le Havre midfielder has been unsettled all season after being linked with Arsenal, and Keegan has promised to review his situation at the end of the campaign. He has not been involved in Newcastle's squad for their last four games, and while the manager is reluctant to lose one of the most naturally talented players in his squad, it appears that matters may be coming to a head. N'Zogbia joined the club as a teenager under Sir Bobby Robson in September 2004, and the Magpies were forced to fight a lengthy compensation battle with Le Havre.

With all that pace upfront, Modric is an ideal signing to provide the supply.

Now think about not conceeding any goals.

we have been trying to fix that problem for years!

Slaven Bilic:






Was that an insult to Newcastle?
I know what he means, we will be back!!!!

Good stadium, money to spend and a large fanbase. Absolute certainty to play every match as opposed to 75% starts or so for one of the big clubs.

That made my day.

Newcastle may be more likely to be English champions than Tottenham*, but they still haven't a hope in hell of being English champions.

Modric would be an idiot to move there when the likes of Liverpool (!), Arsenal, Chelsea and other top clubs in Europe would be happy to move for him.

(Sorry if i sound offensive to Newcastle, i'm just a little p*ssed that we (Liverpool) are talking about the likes of Bentley when Newcastle can stroll in and lure someone like Modric to their training camp, then talking about signing the Croat. What - the - [beep!].)


* Not actually true.

its all good ben, but what chance have Liverpool got of winning the league? more then Newcastle i know, but i dont see them winning it for a few years. they are always out of it by xmas.

We won't win it next season, but we're getting closer. Gradually. Our side is improving so much compared to what was inherited by Rafa, and our league finishes are deceptive to what he's building. The reserves are amazing, we have more world class players in the first team and young senior guys with so much potential. We're attracting such better quality of players thanks to our unbelievable European feats. If we get some competent owners the club as a status will grow immeasurably too, compared to pre-Benitez.

The problem is the standard is so high now. Anyway, Liverpool have way more chance than Newcaslte, Everton, Tottenham or anyone else outside of Chelsea, United and Arsenal.

In my opinion him moving to Newcastle will just end up with a Berbatov situation, where he's in a pond that's too small for him. I know Newcastle will hope such signings will move them on to bigger and better things, but you have to be realistic - competing with the likes of Spurs, Everton, Aston Villa, Portsmouth etc. over the course of the season will be tough, let alone making the step up to the big four.

well i hope you win the league, just like you hope Newcastle will finish 5th next season
Liverpool ar much better an closer then before but for me they need to change manager, he thinks about europe so much when its the league you fans want....

I don't think he does. He thinks about them both - the problem is a league is over 38 games, whereas the Champions League can be based on two games each round, so you can't really take your focus off for a second else you're out. With the league you have a hell of a lot more scope to rest players because you can comfortably recover.

Bad luck Newcastle, missing out to Spurs again, same as Woodgate.

I said it wouldn't happen. Still a bit shocked he's gone to Spurs though.