Luque zu Newcastle

[themanwho]

Luque set for Newcastle medical

Newcastle have agreed a £9.5m fee with Deportivo La Coruna for striker Albert Luque, who will undergo a medical at St James' Park on Friday. The 27-year-old is expected to then sign a five-year deal. Magpies boss Graeme Souness said: "He is here having a medical and we are trying to push it through to make him available for Sunday's game.

"With medicals, you never know, but there has not been any indication of any problems."

Luque, who joined Deportivo from Real Mallorca in 2002 for £10m, has made it clear he cannot wait to complete the move

He said: "I am delighted a deal has been done. The Premiership is an excellent league. To be in the team next to Alan Shearer would be huge for me."

Newcastle have failed to score in their opening three games of the Premiership season but Souness believes Luque can solve the problem.

"He will bring a number of goals and he will bring us a bit of width if we choose to play him on the left side," Souness added.

"He is naturally left-footed and he is a wonderful striker of the ball. He will give us the little bit of class we have been missing in that area."

Newcastle looked to have missed out on the player earlier in the week after a "final" offer was rejected. But Deportivo president Augusto Cesar Lendoiro said: "The financial conditions are very different to those that had originally been offered."

The Spain international grew up in Barcelona and was taken on by his home-town club as a youngster, before then-coach Louis van Gaal rejected him as a 19-year-old. He joined Mallorca, but after a handful of games they loaned him to Malaga, where a better showing in 1999-2000 persuaded Mallorca to take him back.

The following season Luque scored nine goals as Mallorca finished third, giving them a place in the Champions League qualifiers for the first time ever. It was his extra-time goal against Hajduk Split in the 2001 qualifier that put Mallorca into the group stages. The following season 14 La Liga goals earned him a place in Spain's squad for the 2002 World Cup - where he made two substitute's appearances.

At the start of 2002-2003 Depor decided he was worth splashing out £10m on, but he spent his first season there mainly on the bench. The following campaign, however, playing mainly on the left-wing, he scored the goals which put Depor in the Champions League and also earned him a spot in Spain's Euro 2004 party.

His imminent signing could now end Newcastle's £17m chase for Real Madrid's England striker Michael Owen.

Van der Meyde set to join Everton

Inter Milan's Dutch international winger Andy van der Meyde will undergo a medical at Everton on Friday. Everton officials flew to Milan after the Champions League clash with Villarreal to thrash out a £2m deal. If the move goes through, it completes a 12-month pursuit from Everton boss David Moyes after Van der Meyde rejected an approach last summer. Van der Meyde wants regular action to ensure he stays in Holland's squad ahead of the World Cup. Everton boss David Moyes said: "Van der Meyde is coming in for a medical and we will see how it goes. Hopefully the clubs can agree a fee."

quellen: bbc

[Patzi]

Owen Offer Still On Table

By Ian Willis

GRAEME Souness says the impending arrival of Spanish star Albert Luque does not mean United have scrapped their move for Michael Owen.

United tabled a club record bid for England striker Owen on Wednesday, and Souness says that offer remains on the table as the Real Madrid striker weighs up his options.

"The deal for Luque does not affect our position with Michael Owen," said Souness.

"We made a bid to Real Madrid, and that offer is still on the table.

"We have been talking to Michael's advisers and we're waiting for a response."

Souness, who hopes Luque will complete his move in time to make his debut against Manchester United on Sunday, makes no secret of his admiration for Owen.

"It has been a problem for this club for a while now, not just in my time here, that we knew the day would come when Alan Shearer needed to be replaced," Souness added.

"Alan Shearer is a quality, world class striker whose record speaks for itself.

"There aren't many people in world football who could replace Alan Shearer - but in my opinion Michael Owen is one of the handful who could."

www.nufc.co.uk

wäre natürlich optimal wenn jetzt auch noch owen kommen würde, dann hätte man drei absolute top-stürmer.

[Bretwalda]

Newcastle ist nicht arm, das weiß man, aber wo kommt jetzt aufeinmal soviel her ?

Luque ~ 15 Mio €

Owen ~ 22 Mio €

+ Handgeld

+ laufender Gehalt

Owen ~ 5 Mio €

Luque ~ 3 Mio €

Ist wohl noch die Woodgate-Kohle....

ad Woodgate ist der eigentlich einmal nicht verletzt, der Real-Drechsel