We're after Bellamy & interested in Bent and Defoe

[CarraLegend]

They've even gone to special lengths and quoted a "source close to Bellamy"

 

http://icnewcastle.icnetwork.co.uk/newcast...-name_page.html

 

The chances of Michael Owen remaining at Newcastle United next season have received a massive boost with the news that Liverpool are trying to sign Craig Bellamy rather than the England striker.

Rumours that Owen will leave the North-East after just one season have been rife ever since he stunned the football world by signing from Real Madrid last August. Owen's decision to snub a return to Liverpool on that occasion came as a massive shock to their manager Rafael Benitez and was perceived as an insult by the supporters who once worshiped him.

Nevertheless, that was not expected to prevent Liverpool from swooping for their former player again in the summer, hoping to exploit a rumoured £12m release clause in his Newcastle contract with the carrot of Champions League football and an emotional reunion with close friend and Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard.

However, The Journal understands that Owen is not at the top of Benitez's wanted list with the Spaniard instead determined to lure Bellamy to Anfield, along with Charlton Athletic's Darren Bent and Tottenham Hotspur's Jermain Defoe.

A source close to Bellamy said: "Craig is wanted by Liverpool as they are going to rebuild their strikeforce next season. They are also very interested in Jermain Defoe and they are very interested indeed in Darren Bent. With Peter Crouch and possibly Robbie Fowler, that would hopefully give them the firepower to compete with Chelsea."

Reports at the weekend suggested Bellamy - controversially sold by former Newcastle manager Graeme Souness last summer after an embarrassingly public row - has a clause in his contract which enables him to leave Blackburn for just £6m if it is offered by a Champions League club.

The Welsh international, who has scored 17 goals in 29 appearances for Rovers, has also been contacted by Martin O'Neill about the possibility of returning to Newcastle in the summer if the Northern Irishman becomes manager.

But the volatile forward is believed to prefer a move to Anfield - despite his close relationship with O'Neill - as he is still hurt by the fact Newcastle's fans booed him when United played at Ewood Park this season.

Bellamy's £6m price tag is just half of what would be needed to prise Owen away from St James's Park and would, along with the sale of Liverpool strikers Fernando Morientes and Djibril Cisse, allow Benitez greater room to bring in his other transfer targets.

Liverpool are the only club, realistically, that Owen would consider leaving Newcastle for, as Arsenal and Chelsea have never shown an interest in him, while Manchester United already have Wayne Rooney, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Louis Saha and have so far also not expressed an interest.

Owen's future is likely to be the football story of the summer, with Newcastle determined to hold on to a player who has not provided value for money because of injury.

The 27-year-old, who cost £16.5m and earns £115,000 a week, has only played 10 games all season, his seven goals in those game only highlighting what might have been for the Magpies.

The lethal predator is expected to return to the first team squad for the trip to Birmingham City on April 29 and could start against Chelsea.

[Guest YKI]

Is that the first Geordie admission of the get-oot clause?

 

"Bellamy's £6m price tag is just half of what would be needed to prise Owen away from St James's Park and would, along with the sale of Liverpool strikers Fernando Morientes and Djibril Cisse, allow Benitez greater room to bring in his other transfer targets."

[crisps]

Bent please...

 

I think Bellamys a very good player but his injury record isn't great

[Red_Rob]

Is that the first Geordie admission of the get-oot clause?

 

b****x to that, keep OOT'ers at Anfield. What else would RAWK have to bicker about otherwise?

[Andy-oh-six]

A source close to Bellamy said: "Craig is wanted by Liverpool as they are going to rebuild their strikeforce next season. They are also very interested in Jermain Defoe and they are very interested indeed in Darren Bent. With Peter Crouch and possibly Robbie Fowler, that would hopefully give them the firepower to compete with Chelsea."

 

So if we sign Bent and Defoe would Bellamy's source still be as happy for us to challenge Chelsea?

[galés rojo]

The article just seems to have rounded up a couple of stories that have done the rounds lately and then added the usual "A source close to... " .

 

Would love to sign Bellamy and Bent though.

 

Those two plus Crouch and Fowler would give us a fairly balanced strikeforce all of whom know the premier league well.

[Guest YKI]

Yeah, I'd love us to sign a racist. I'm pretty sure Bellamy was fined for hurling racial abuse. He also once threw a chair at his coach.

[Benitez]

Can't see Bellamy being top of the striker priority list for Rafa. Although he is a good player!

 

But, I'm sure he's got a long list of strikers he's looking at!

 

Reckon it's gonna be Kuyt at the top of that list.

[Bailo]

I was never an ABC, but I definitely will be an ABB.

[Tetti]

I was never an ABC, but I definitely will be an ABB.

 

 

I once was an ABB ( a few summers ago) and this calls for the same approach.

[Guest Sabre]

I don't think Bellamy, Bent or Defoe are right for us.

[Guest YKI]

I once was an ABB ( a few summers ago) and this calls for the same approach.

 

ABBA = Anybody But Bellamy Again.

[DazzlaJ]

ABBA = Anybody But Bellamy Again.

 

Here we go again

[cymrococh]

Here we go again

How could I forget you?

[Barnes' left foot]

I don't think Bellamy, Bent or Defoe are right for us.

 

Who do you think would be right for us (that we could realistically get)?

[Boca]

Yeah, I'd love us to sign a racist. I'm pretty sure Bellamy was fined for hurling racial abuse. He also once threw a chair at his coach.

 

That's a serious allegation you're throwing out there. Don't recall hearing anything about a racist incident with Bellamy. An arrogant little s***, yes, but never anything like that.

My apologies. Just googled it and he was accused of making a racist remark in a nightclub, which he denied.

 

Link

Edited April 20, 2006 by Boca

[anny road]

Bellamy is a toally different proposition to Bowyer

[Guest Sabre]

Who do you think would be right for us (that we could realistically get)?

 

No idea but I would trust Rafa if he signed any of those three.

 

From what I've seen of Defoe, I think he can be a bit one-dimensional. He's nowhere near the same standard as Owen.

 

Bellamy is an exciting player to watch - very dynamic, skilful and aggressive in his play. Sort of like Baros but less of the head down stuff. Could be good but I worry about his attitude.

 

Bent is possibly the best of the three. A little bit raw still and I wonder if he could make the step up. Excellent in the air, great attitude. Just wonder if he has the quality to be a success at Liverpool.

[anny road]

No idea but I would trust Rafa if he signed any of those three.

 

From what I've seen of Defoe, I think he can be a bit one-dimensional. He's nowhere near the same standard as Owen.

 

Bellamy is an exciting player to watch - very dynamic, skilful and aggressive in his play. Sort of like Baros but less of the head down stuff. Could be good but I worry about his attitude.

 

Bent is possibly the best of the three. A little bit raw still and I wonder if he could make the step up. Excellent in the air, great attitude. Just wonder if he has the quality to be a success at Liverpool.

 

 

So Bent could be tha answer then

 

make your mind up eh trev ffs

[Walrus]

This might sound funny/pathetic, but I actually thought on Sunday it looked as if Bellamy was trying to keep the g*******ry to a minimum. Sure he moaned at his team-mates passes once or twice, but I don't think he was complaining about one challenge on him for instance.

[johngibo YPC]

Funny, I'd put Bent bottom of that list of 3.

 

Tron between the other 2 as they both have very good qualities and obvious drawbacks.

 

Jeysus, £115k a week for Owen. Thats more than i get in a month!

 

So, how much has that cost them per minute on the pitch? Frightening.

 

Good job Newcastle are such a financially stable and well run club as to afford it.....

 

It takes me seven years to earn what Owen does in a week. And i turn up for work every day!!!

[galés rojo]

Funny, I'd put Bent bottom of that list of 3.

 

 

I'd have Bent over Defoe, in fact i would take a lot of strikers before Defoe he really isn't very good.

[Knox_Harrington]

Coming round to the idea of Bellamy especially for six million.

[Guest Anders Honoré]

Jeysus, £115k a week for Owen. Thats more than i get in a month!

 

How much do you earn a month?

[JAYJAYryan]

Me too. It seems that Bellamy is sorting himself out at long last and at 6million could be a tremendous steal. To bring in Bellamy at £6m, Kuyt at £8m and Nihat on a bosman to add to Crouch and Fowler, that would be alot of possibilities