According to this morning’s newspapers, Newcastle United and Everton are battling it out on three transfer fronts over the next couple of weeks.
The Chronicle claims that both the Magpies and the Toffees are interested in Loic Remy and James McCarthy, while the Mirror is reporting that Tom Ince is on Alan Pardew’s and Roberto Martinez’s radars as well.
Remy is possibly the transfer that Newcastle have the best hope of tying up, although the Frenchman’s reluctance to move to Tyneside in January could also be repeated this month.
With Everton, Tottenham Hotspur and Napoli all sniffing around, a move to the north-east is far from certain and Joe Kinnear will have to start using those infamous persuasive techniques of his, if they actually exist.
James McCarthy is one of the most highly rated young players in English football at the moment and with Wigan now in the Championship, a move for the Scottish-born Republic of Ireland international looks likely.
You’d have to say that Everton are in the box seat here given that McCarthy played under Martinez at the DW Stadium last season, but his £15 million price tag will separate the men from the boys.
Finally there’s Tom Ince, who was once again on the scoresheet for Blackpool yesterday and is still looking for a move to the Premier League despite turning down Cardiff City last month.
Newcastle are understood to have lined up an £8m bid for the England U21 star, but with Everton also in the mix, would Ince favour a move back to Merseyside or would he rather not play for Liverpool’s rivals?
Remy, McCarthy and Ince – can Newcastle capture at least one of this trio?
Newcastle are welcome to all three of these overpriced average players.
We’ll take Ince and Remy on loan. McCarthy’s a waste of 15m, wouldn’t matter to me if Everton signed him.
what’s the bet that neither team sign any of the players?