Source: Northern_Echo
Keane target as Magpies tie up deals
WITH the signing of Hatem Ben Arfa and Cheik Tiote having finally been completed, Newcastle United boss Chris Hughton is hoping to pull off a transfer treble with the capture of Tottenham striker Robbie Keane.[LNB] Tiote was formally confirmed as a Newcastle player yesterday morning, while Ben Arfa spent the day undergoing a medical and discussing personal terms at the Magpies' Darsley Park training ground after an agreement was reached with his former employers Marseille.[LNB] The pair will not be involved in this afternoon's game at Wolves, but will be available when the league reconvenes after the forthcoming international break.[LNB] They could yet be joined by Keane after Newcastle officials received a positive response to their initial inquiries about taking the Tottenham striker on loan.[LNB] With Spurs boss Harry Redknapp hoping to engineer a deal for Sevilla striker Luis Fabiano before the transfer window closes on Tuesday, Keane will almost certainly leave White Hart Lane this month.[LNB] Newcastle are one of half-adozen clubs to have held tentative talks with the Tottenham hierarchy, and there is a chance of a deal being struck at the start of next week.[LNB] However, financial issues will complicate the situation, with Keane's wages falling outside the loose budgetary ceiling that Mike Ashley has been keen to impose this summer.[LNB] Spurs chairman Daniel Levy is also demanding a considerable loan fee before he will allow the Republic of Ireland international to leave, and Ashley will be reluctant to commit too much money to the short-term acquisition of a 30-year-old. Nevertheless, while Hughton ruled out a move for Portsmouth midfielder John Utaka yesterday, it was telling that he was much more ambivalent when it came to Keane.[LNB] He's somebody I know very well from my time at Spurs and of course my time associated with the Irish team, said the Newcastle boss, who has been extremely reticent in all his transfer briefings this summer. But there's nothing more to add on that at the moment. It's very much speculation, as has been the case with other names.[LNB] Interestingly, Hughton was saying exactly the same thing about Ben Arfa a week or so ago, and the France international's transfer will finally be confirmed this weekend.[LNB] Marseille have agreed to Newcastle's proposal of a season- long loan deal, with the option of a permanent transfer at the end of the campaign.[LNB] If Ben Arfa makes a specific number of first-team appearances this season the figure is understood to be about 25 the loan will automatically turn into a permanent deal.[LNB] Ben Arfa flew into Tyneside yesterday morning, and while he has a reputation for being a feisty individual, Hughton is confident the versatile 23- year-old will be a valuable addition to the Magpies squad.[LNB] He's an offensive player who can play in any one of three positions, either of the wide positions or off the front, said the Newcastle boss. He's a young player, a wonderful talent and a wonderful prospect.[LNB] He will be a player coming in to quite a healthy environment with a squad showing a fair amount of confidence, and we'd expect anyone coming in to be very much a part of that. He's a player of a good development age, and that's why there's interest.[LNB] Newcastle's interest in Tiote hardened earlier this month, and the midfielder will join up with his new team-mates for the first time after he has turned out for Ivory Coast in an African Cup of Nations qualifier against Rwanda in seven days time.[LNB] The 24-year-old won the Dutch title with Steve McClaren's FC Twente last season, and has turned down a chance to play in the Champions League so as to join the Magpies. He featured in all three of his nation's games in this summer's World Cup finals.[LNB] It's a great thrill for me to be joining such a famous club, said Tiote.[LNB] I'm really looking forward to testing myself against the best that the Premier League has to offer and delighted also that I will be up against friends and colleagues from my home country who are already playing in England.[LNB] While Tiote will be absent today, the rest of the Newcastle squad will be determined to follow up last weekend's rout of Aston Villa with another strong showing at Molineux.[LNB] Wolves finished last season in 15th position, and Hughton feels Mick McCarthy's side are an ideal template for Newcastle to follow.[LNB] They're a good example in terms of what they've done in the last couple of years, he said.[LNB] In particular, I was impressed with the way they went about things in the second half of last season.[LNB] They've been able to continue that going into this season and, in the first two games, you can see where they've strengthened. They've gained confidence from last season, and them and Birmingham are great examples to follow.[LNB]
