Liverpool to Make Shock Move to Sign £8m Newcastle United Midfielder Joey Barton

Anfield boss Kenny Dalglish plans another St James’ Park raid.

Liverpool are keeping tabs on Joey Barton’s contract situation at Newcastle, skysports.com understands.

Barton’s future at Newcastle has been the subject of speculation with the midfielder yet to agree a new deal at St James’ Park.

The news has alerted a number of clubs to Barton’s possible availability with both Aston Villa and West Ham credited with an interest in the former Manchester City man in the January transfer window.

Now Liverpool are believed to be tracking Barton following his superb season for Newcastle this term.

With Barton entering the final 12 months of his contract at Newcastle this summer, the midfielder would be an attractive proposition for Liverpool as he could be available for a cut-price fee.

The 28-year-old has been Newcastle’s standout performer this season on their return to the Premier League and he is widely expected to scoop the club’s Player of the Season award.

Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish is thought to be drawing up his list of transfer targets and Barton could figure on it due to his success in linking up with Reds striker Andy Carroll while the pair were together at Newcastle.

Barton was the provider of eight of Carroll’s goals at Newcastle this season prior to his move to Anfield in January and Dalglish could look to reunite the pair as he tries to get the best out of his £35million signing next season.

SOURCE: Sky Sports

Alan Pardew is trying his hardest to keep Newcastle United’s top talent from following Andy Carroll out the door with the likes of Jose Enrique, Jonas Gutierrez and even Kevin Nolan being linked with moves away from St James’ Park so news that Joey Barton is now a Liverpool target will be treated with concern.

The troubled midfielder has been in excellent form this season and has helped to correct a reputation that was in danger of leading the former Man City man to remembered chiefly for his off field antics. The 28 year old is apparently an £8m target of Kenny Dalglish who appears to be wanting to add more creativity to his midfield.

The vast improvement shown by the likes of Lucas, Dirk Kuyt and Raul Meireles in recent months have helped to push the Merseyside club back up the table and the good form shown by Luis Suarez has helped to deliver an end product up front but now Dalglish wants to add playmaker Barton into the mix.

There appears to be a concern among Newcastle United players and supporters that owner Mike Ashley will not be putting his hands in his pockets this summer to help boost a fairly small squad. Alan Pardew is hoping that he will be handed a decent chunk of the £35m made from the sale of Andy Carroll to Liverpool.

The sale of the England international left the North-East club having to cope with the fairly limited abilities of Peter Lovenkrands, Shola Ameobi, Shefki Kuqi and Leon Best up front and to be fair to that hard working quartet, none of these strikers are prolific.

Merseyside born Barton would be something of a controversial signing, not least because he is still well remembered for his horror tackle on Liverpool hero Xabi Alonso a couple of seasons ago.

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Manchester United Plan Shock Move to Sign Barcelona Midfielder Javier Mascherano

Nou Camp star linked with Old Trafford move.

Manchester United are reportedly interested in signing Barcelona midfielder Javier Mascherano. The former Liverpool man has failed to secure a regular spot in the Nou Camp starting eleven and was even used as a makeshift centre back in the Copa Del Rey Final and could be interested in a Premier League return.

Mascherano has barely featured in Pep Guardiola’s first eleven as young Spanish international Sergio Busquets continues to impress at the heart of the Barcelona midfield, this has led to the battler feeling frustrated on the bench, a situation the San Lorenzo born star has not experienced in his career.

The tigerish midfielder has started just 14 games for Barcelona this season, six of those in the Copa Del Rey, and may well be tempted by the chance of a move to the Premier League table toppers, regardless of the fact they are the arch rivals of his former side.

Ferguson has been linked with moves to bring a new defensive force into the centre of his midfield, not least because Owen Hargreaves seems no nearer to ending his injury woes. A move for Mascherano may appear at first surprising given his previous stint at Anfield, but his proven record at Premier League level will greatly interest the Old Trafford boss.

Barcelona paid £22m to sign Mascherano last summer and Pep Guardiola may be willing to offload the 26 year old to help balance the books. The Catalan giants are reportedly experiencing some financial problems and if a suitable offer was made then perhaps the La Liga champions would consider selling the Argentine international.

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West Ham Linked With Shock Move to Sign Newcastle United Captain Kevin Nolan

St James’ Park skipper linked with highly unlikely move to Upton Park.

NEWCASTLE skipper Kevin Nolan could be a shock summer target for West Ham United.

The Toon midfielder has been watched by the Hammers and will be in their sights if they can escape relegation.

Scouser Nolan – club top scorer this season with 12 goals – has two years left on his contract and is in talks with the Magpies over a new deal.

SOURCE: Daily Star

Really can’t see this happening. Why would Newcastle United skipper Kevin Nolan, who has been in fine form for the Magpies ever since he arrived at the club two and a bit years ago, leave St James’ Park for West Ham? It is fairly likely that the Hammers will be in the Championship next term but even if they do escape the drop it would still make little or no sense for the former Bolton man to leave for the East London strugglers.

Of course Nolan will hope that owner Mike Ashley puts his hands in his pockets to bring in some much needed additions to Alan Pardew’s side and he will also hope that the likes of Jose Enrique, Jonas Gutierrez and Joey Barton all stick with the Toon Army this summer, but even if the England hopeful did have plans to leave Newcastle United, and I severely doubt he would, why would he join the club that is currently bottom of the table?

Avram Grant has his work cut out over the next month or so, the Israeli has four games to keep his side up or face the sack if he fails to avoid the drop. West Ham have suffered in recent weeks after a decent run of form looked like it would see the Hammers avoid the drop, that slump coincided with the loss of mercurial skipper Scott Parker and any hope of beating relegation to the Championship will depend very much on whether the England international can recover from injury to help his side find their feet.

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Arsenal Insider Confirms Shock £10m Bid for Everton Full Back Leighton Baines

Emirates outfit plan move for Toffees defender.

Arsenal are preparing a £10million move for Leighton Baines as fears grow over the future of left back Gael Clichy.
Sportsmail revealed last month that manager Arsene Wenger is worried Clichy will not sign a new deal at the Emirates. The French defender, who is out of contract at the end of next season, later admitted he would not recommence discussions over a new deal until the end of this campaign.
Now Everton’s Baines has been identified as the man Arsenal want should Clichy be sold.

The Gunners have looked at Celtic’s Emilio Izaguirre but Baines has been a shining light in a mediocre season for Everton and his performances have alerted Wenger.
An Arsenal source told Sportsmail: ‘Baines is a good defender first and foremost but Wenger likes how comfortable he is on the ball, particularly his delivery and set pieces. Wenger thinks Baines would slot straight into the team with little fuss. Also Baines knows the Premier League inside and out so he would not have to get used to English football like a foreign signing would.’

SOURCE: Daily Mail

How much should we believe about this Daily Mail report? Could it be true? Who is the Arsenal ‘source’? Perhaps however the biggest question would be, how can a reputable article about prospective left back targets that Arsene Wenger may make a move for, not make one single mention of a certain Kieran Gibbs? Yes, that’s right the ready made England international replacement for Gael Clichy, if indeed the Frenchman does leave the Emirates.

Clearly Leighton Baines is a quality player, a very effective wide option both on the attack and in defence. He is also a damn good set piece taker but surely Wenger would not look further than Gibbs, a player he has taken time to help build into the very talented youngster that he is now, surely it is not the Gunners manager’s style to ignore young talent he has at the club?

It seems a fair few of Arsenal’s squad are linked with exits that depend very much on whether the North London club fails to clinch the Premier League title, at least that is what the tabloids will have you believe. Cesc Fabregas, Robin Van Persie, Samir Nasri and Andrei Arshavin have all been linked with high profile exits but just how likely is it that they will leave this summer?

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Newcastle United to Make Shock Move to Sign £7m Manchester City Striker

Eastlands man set for St James’ Park return?

Newcastle United are reportedly considering a move to re-sign former striker Craig Bellamy this summer. Alan Pardew is open to the idea of bringing the Welsh international back to St James’ Park and will make a move for the 31 year old at the end of the season.

Currently on loan at Cardiff City Bellamy has had a terrific season with the Bluebirds and has helped them to remain in or around the promotion picture all season and Pardew is interested in purchasing the attacker in order to boost the Magpies attacking options.

Roberto Mancini is said to be more than willing to offload Bellamy who had a solid season at Eastlands last term but then found his starting options compromised by the signing of Mario Balotelli and the further addition of Edin Dzeko would appear to effectively end Bellamy’s Man City career.

Man City are said to be looking to secure a fee in the region of £7m for the much travelled striker who arrived at the City of Manchester stadium for a fee of £14m in January 2009. That is a fee that Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley may well be willing to pay because even though Bellamy is clearly at the latter stages of his career he still clearly has a lot to offer.

Currently Alan Pardew has to make do with the rather limited attacking abilities of a current strike force that includes the likes of Leon Best, Peter Lovenkrands, Shola Ameobi and Shefki Kuqi as well as up and coming youngster Nile Ranger.

Though his previous spell with Newcastle United ended somewhat acrimoniously, and resulted in abusive text messages being sent to Alan Shearer, Craig Bellamy had a very successful stint at Newcastle United netting 43 goals in 119 starts.

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Arsenal to Make Shock Move for Juventus Keeper Gianluigi Buffon

The Stadio Delle Alpi goalkeeper could be on his way to the Emirates or to the Stadio Olimpico following a contract dispute.

Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon could make a surprise move to Arsenal this summer after contract negotiations broke down. La Republica reports the 33-year-old’s contract expires in 2013 but negotiations over a new deal stalled as the Old Lady wants to half his €6million a year salary.

Buffon has repeatedly said he wants to stay at Juventus but is unhappy about the terms being offered. “Future? I do not feel I need to address this issue now,” Buffon said. “Juve are experiencing a situation so delicate, contrasting with the club’s history that the last thing interesting to the fans are the individual situations.”

The club also wants the Italy international to sign but if he refuses they will cash in on him to remove his hefty salary. Arsenal will hope to take advantage of any problems at the Stadio Delle Alpi and will want Buffon to solve their goalkeeper crisis. Buffon rejected a bid from Manchester United last summer but he and his family are tempted more by a move to North London.

Juventus will consider the idea if striker Robin Van Persie was included in the deal. The new Roma owner Thomas DiBenedetto, and a partner in the New England Sports Ventures, is also an admirer of the goalkeeper and would love to make Buffon his first signing.

But ‘Gigi’ does not want to move to a direct rival of Juventus and his agent, Silvano Martina, has recently denied a move would ever materialise. “Gigi to Rome? Nothing is true,” Martina said. “Buffon will remain at Juve, but he has still two and half year contract.”

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