Source: Northern_Echo
Gameiro to give an answer to Newcastle soon
LEADING target Kevin Gameiro has told Newcastle United he will respond to their transfer offer in the "next one or two weeks".[LNB] However, in a potential blow to Alan Pardew's hopes of landing the £10m-rated striker, Gameiro has also reiterated his preference for a move to Spain and confirmed interest from French club Paris St Germain.[LNB] Newcastle officials met Gameiro and his representatives last week after Lorient gave them permission to talk terms with the forward.[LNB] Pardew had been hoping to conclude another swift deal after already pushing through the £4.3m capture of midfielder Yohan Cabaye, but Gameiro refused to be rushed into a snap decision.[LNB] Sources close to the striker have constantly spoken of his desire to move to La Liga, and Gameiro last night confirmed he was still to decide on his preferred choice of new employer.[LNB] "I will decide on my future in one or two weeks," said the 24-year-old Frenchman. "I already have an idea. I very much like Spain, but other clubs are following me.[LNB] "It is up to me to make a good choice, I will not go to a team where I'll be on the bench all year. I want to play and it will be up to me to seize my chance."Paris Saint Germain It is a club I like very much. My choice isn't made yet, but they're one of the clubs I appreciate."[LNB] As well as pursuing Gameiro, Pardew has also been closing in on Lille winger Gervinho, but Newcastle's pursuit of the Ivory Coast international is being hampered by his likely involvement in two Africa Cup of Nations tournaments in the next two years.[LNB] Gervinho has hinted he will agree to move to Tyneside if there is no formal approach from his preferred club, Arsenal, in the next few days.[LNB] However, Pardew is concerned by Gervinho's international commitments in the next two seasons and is likely to seek assurances about the attacker's availability for club duty.[LNB] The 2012 Africa Cup of Nations is due to take place in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea between January 21 and February 12 and, as an established international with 19 senior caps under his belt, Gervinho will be involved if, as expected, Ivory Coast qualify.[LNB] To make matters worse, a change to the Cup of Nations slot in the international schedule means another tournament will be staged in spring 2013.[LNB] At the moment, the tournament is due to take place in Libya, but if the current upheaval in the north African state continues, Nigeria have agreed to act as a standby.[LNB] Either way, Gervinho could well be involved again, meaning Newcastle could be deprived of his services for more than a month of each of the next two seasons if they agree a deal with Lille this summer.[LNB] They already face being without Cheik Tiote for the same two periods, and Pardew is concerned at the prospect of losing two key midfielders at a pivotal period of the next two campaigns.[LNB] The Magpies manager has been offered a number of other African players already this summer, but the Cup of Nations schedule is making him understandably reluctant to sign too many players with international commitments on the continent.[LNB] One player who is due to return to Tyneside for the start of pre-season training in July is Xisco, but the Spaniard, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Deportivo La Coruna, does not appear to have a future with the Magpies.[LNB] Newcastle will look to move him on permanently before the transfer window closes, but if that proves impossible, the Magpies will consider another loan deal, with a couple of Spanish clubs having expressed a tentative interest in temporarily acquiring the 24-year-old.[LNB]
