Former Middlesbrough manager Steve McClaren is standing between Newcastle United and a successful transfer window right now. With Alan Pardew still on the lookout for a new centre back, Newcastle will attempt to raid Dutch side FC Twente, the club the Magpies signed Cheik Tiote from 18 months ago. The Ivorian has been a huge success at St James’ Park and Newcastle are looking to repeat that by signing Brazilian Douglas, but McClaren has other ideas.
According to the Newcastle Chronicle Steve McClaren is trying his hardest to prevent 24-year-old Douglas from leaving the club before the January transfer window slams shut and is thus ruining Newcastle’s best laid transfer plans. With Douglas’ contract set to end in the summer, the Newcastle scouting system thought that they had uncovered another bargain, but McClaren, who only recently re-took charge of Twente after leading them to the title in 2010, is prepared to risk losing the 6ft 4in defender on a free in 6 months’ time.
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McClaren is obviously a big fan of Douglas, as the former England manager reportedly tried to sign the Dutch passport holder when in charge of Bundesliga club Wolfsburg, and Pardew clearly shares similar thoughts. While the Twente manager is desperate to keep hold of Douglas, chairman Joop Munsterman may be tempted to cash in on his defender and according to sources would serious consider a significant bid.
As well as having an Eredivisie title under his belt, Douglas (full name Douglas Franco Teixeira) has played more than a 100 times for Twente. The fact that he has a Dutch passport, which he recently received in November after applying for Dutch citizenship, would mean there would be no work permit issues if an agreement was reached. One word of warning is that Douglas was suspended for 6 matches last season for punching an opponent, but this is unlikely to deter Newcastle.
Newcastle have 5 days to persuade FC Twente and Steve McClaren to part with Douglas and if they can then it will be a fantastic way to wrap up the January transfer window for the Magpies.
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