Magpies cut Luque losses
25 Aug 2007 - 13:21:01
Newcastle United have finally cut their losses on Albert Luque after sanctioning the sale of the misfit striker to Ajax.
Luque, who failed to settle on Tyneside after joining the Magpies for £9.5million in 2005, has joined the Dutch giants on a three-year contract for an undisclosed fee.
The former Spain international scored just two goals in 30 appearances and had previously been linked with moves to PSV Eindhoven, Real Betis and former club Deportivo La Coruna.
"The striker will sign his contract at Ajax, which runs until June 30, 2010," confirmed an Ajax statement.
Luque was a regular feature in new manager Sam Allardyce's pre-season line-ups, but fell behind the likes of Mark Viduka, Obafemi Martins, Michael Owen and Alan Smith in the pecking order at the start of the new Premier League season.
The 29-year-old's last Newcastle appearance came as a second-half substitute during a 2-1 defeat at Portsmouth in April.