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English duo to plug Newcastle’s two gaping holes?

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Newcastle boss Alan Pardew is poised for a double swoop for Manchester City’s Wayne Bridge and Tottenham’s Jermain Defoe. Bridge is surplus to requirements at Eastlands and will be available for around £2.5m. Harry Redknapp however will demand a fee of at least £9m for Defoe.

Newcastle are badly in need of a striker, and Pardew was quoted in The Sun this week saying it was a number one priority for the club.

The Magpies have made several inquiries into the availability of Paris St Germain’s Turkish striker, Mevlut Erdinc, but find themselves having to overcome problems with the player’s representatives.

Though many Spurs fans would be in favour of Defoe remaining at White Hart Lane and attempting to regain his best form, many in turn would not object to a major reshuffle of strikers.

Newcastle had been linked with a move for fellow Spurs striker Peter Crouch but felt the £9m price tag does not justify a player now aged 30. Defoe however, aged two years younger, and I would suggest more naturally fit than Crouch, presents a better proposition.

If Newcastle were to secure a deal for Defoe, it would go some way to satisfying fans who are crying out for a goalscorer, having lost talismanic Andy Carroll to Liverpool last term. Ideally, they would like two or three but Defoe would certainly be a decent buy.

From the player’s perspective, Defoe can go to St. James’ fully expecting to command a starting position and have an excellent year in the run up to the European Championships, so I think it would be a great move.

Similarly with Bridge, he must now face the prospect of rebuilding his career, seemingly unable to force his way into Roberto Mancini’s thoughts let alone squad.

If there were a bigger club than Newcastle going in for his signature, I would be surprised so it seems like a no-brainer as far as he is concerned.

Were Bridge to sign, speculation will intensify surrounding the expected exit of Jose Enrique. With Liverpool and Arsenal both appearing to require left-backs before the start of the season, it has been suggested that the Spaniard is holding out for a move to one of these.

Whether or not this is true, it is best for Newcastle if they do sign a left-back as cover more than anything. The bitter taste left in the mouth after the Carroll transfer was the timing of it and the fact that the club were not able to go out and replenish the squad immediately.

Surely wanting to avoid any repeat of this, Pardew must consider a move for Bridge a worthwhile investment.

Written by Chris Smith

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