Source: Northern_Echo
Hughton eyes up signings
PETER LOVENKRANDS has been lined up to rejoin Newcastle United today and caretaker manager Chris Hughton hopes there will be “one or two” more signings before the transfer deadline.
Newcastle went top of the Championship last night with a 1-0 win over Leicester City at St James’ Park, and now have a break before travelling to Cardiff on Sunday, September 13.
By that time Hughton expects to have been given the go-ahead to strengthen a squad that could be without Shola Ameobi and Jonas Gutierrez for up to a month though injury.
Lovenkrands, whose shortterm contract expired at the end of last season, has been in discussions over a return, while Manchester United pair Craig Cathcart and Darron Gibson are also targets.
“I am hopeful that we will bring in one or two tomorrow,”
said Hughton, after witnessing Danny Guthrie’s strike claim the points last night. “I’m even more confident that none of the present squad will be leaving us.
Peter is one we are interested in. I can’t say any others.
“We need by 5pm tomorrow a squad to be strong enough to compete for the whole season.
The club are aware of that.”
Hughton, who faces competition from Birmingham for Lovenkrands, yesterday saw his striking options further reduced when Xisco went on a season-long loan to Racing Santander.
If Hughton fails to bring in the players he wants, he then has seven days before Football League clubs are free to bring in loan signings until March.
The caretaker boss, though, feels Newcastle have a number of talented youngsters, having named an entire bench shy of regular first team experience against the Foxes.
While discussions will take place for new players, owner Mike Ashley is expected to hold talks with members of a New Yorkbased group that have flown over to discuss buying the club.
But sources close to Newcastle claim that the group have not shown evidence of proof of funds, just as Barry Moat, another prospective suitor, is yet to do.
Former Tottenham defender Graham Roberts claimed he had a “big meeting”
yesterday to try to make sure his consortium takeover plan works, whereby the fans buy into the club.
On the pitch, though, Newcastle are trying to focus on the task in hand.
Goal hero Guthrie said: “We are not concentrating on what is going on around us and everyone is just pulling together and it shows on the pitch.
“We are top now and there is no reason why we can’t be there at the end of the season.
That’s the aim.
“We are the best team in the division and if we keep working hard, keep winning our games at home and keep clean sheets we will be fine.”
■ Stoke have signed Uruguay midfielder Diego Arismendi for an initial £2.9million fee.
The 21-year-old has moved to the Britannia Stadium from Club Nacional in a deal which could rise to £4.84m.
