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Big Sam pressing for good decision


Scottish Mag
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NEWCASTLE United were today stepping up their bid to persuade Eidur Gudjohnsen to rejoin his former boss Sam Allardyce.

 

United sent a delegation to Barcelona last week to discuss their move for Brazilian World Cup winner Edmilson – but the Chronicle understands Kenneth Shepherd will remain in Spain to continue the Magpies’ work in the transfer market this summer by speaking to the La Liga giants about Gudjohnsen.

 

The signing of the former Chelsea and Bolton star will cost United around the £7m mark with Barca keen to recoup as much as possible from the £8m fee they paid the London club 12 months ago, when Gudjohnsen signed a three-year deal and replaced Henrik Larsson.

 

Gudjohnsen, though, has struggled to break into the Catalan side with Barca boasting such attacking luxuries as Ronaldinho, Samuel Eto'o and Lionel Messi.

 

With former Arsenal ace Thierry Henry also on board at the Nou Camp, Gudjohnsen is facing an almighty battle to win a place in Frank Rijkaard’s side, who are under pressure to wrestle the title back from Real Madrid next term.

 

Should 28-year-old Gudjohnsen decide to team up with Allardyce again, however, he will still find himself with huge competition to win a first-team shirt.

 

With Michael Owen looking like staying at United next season and Mark Viduka, Shola Ameobi, Oba Martins and Andy Carroll all in the shake-up for attacking places, Gudjohnsen could be taking a sideways step in his career at such a vital time after failing to establish himself at Barca.

 

Yet it is thought that, because Gudjohnsen has a great understanding with Big Sam, he could still opt to return to the Premiership where he netted more than 50 times for Chelsea in a six-year stint.

 

Meanwhile, Allardyce took charge of his first training session as United coach today, but the Toon squad only took part in a light workout at their Benton HQ.

 

Newcastle will head for the western countryside area of Austria this week to shut themselves off from the world as they look to get their focus for the new campaign exactly right.

 

Indeed, players will be instructed to switch off mobile phones during the week-long "boot camp" with Allardyce keen for his squad to get savvy with his approach, fitness programmes and general scientific outlook on the modern game.

 

New coach Steve Round is expected to make the journey to Austria too, and he will work alongside Nigel Pearson with Allarydce confirming all of his coaches will work as a unit with no specified No 2 to be announced.

 

Today’s session was certainly more of a get- together for the bulk of the squad with the fitness aspect of the summer programme expected to be stepped up throughout the week before their friendly programme begins at Hartlepool on July 17.

 

And apart from injured winger Damien Duff, England Under-21 stars James Milner and Steven Taylor, who are both resting after the European Championships, and Mark Viduka, who is with Australia, the United party will jet out to Austria tomorrow.

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Owen, Viduka, Gudjohnsen, Martins and Ameobi would be a very good squad of attackers to be able to draw on over the course of a season. NUFC finally getting to grips with "squad" football?! Even if we were to lose Martins, it's still looking pretty decent.

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Eidur Gudjohnsen is determined to fight for his place at Barcelona despite reports linking him with a £4.5m move to Newcastle, according to his father.

 

Arnor Gudjohnsen, who also acts as his agent, said the striker would be keen to form a partnership with new £16.1m signing Thierry Henry next season.

 

"A lot of clubs are interested in Eidur," Gudjohnsen told BBC Sport.

 

"But he is determined to prove himself at Barca. He would complement Henry because they play differently."

 

He added: "I don't think the forward partnership of Samuel Eto'o and Henry would work as well.

 

"Eidur can drop deep and play off Henry, which I think would work much better."

 

Earlier, reports suggested that representatives from Newcastle were in Barcelona to negotiate a deal with the club's Brazilian midfielder Edmilson and the 28-year-old Iceland international.

 

Gudjohnsen played under Magpies boss Sam Allardyce when they were both at Bolton, before the forward moved to Chelsea in 2000 where he spent six years.

 

He moved to the Nou Camp in June 2006 for £8m, but failed to cement a regular place in the starting XI last season.

 

Last month, the forward suggested he was keen on a return to Britain, in particular Manchester United, if Barca were to sell him.

 

The player's father said there had not been negotiations with any clubs, although he added he was unsure as to whether his son featured in Barcelona's plans for next season.

 

"Eidur is away on holiday now and he has not been in contact with any clubs. He is planning to meet up with his Barcelona team-mates for pre-season later in July," he said.

 

"Although he wants to stay, I don't know what Barcelona's intentions are."

 

BBC.

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Owen, Viduka, Gudjohnsen, Martins and Ameobi would be a very good squad of attackers to be able to draw on over the course of a season. NUFC finally getting to grips with "squad" football?! Even if we were to lose Martins, it's still looking pretty decent.

 

Spot on

 

Feeling excited now ;)

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I've faith that Big Sam is looking to fill those positions as well, but there's nothing wrong with making the best use of his time in Barcelona by talking to two potential signings.

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Interesting to see that none of Newcastle's alleged interests has made it into Elmundodeportivo so far...

the edmilson link was in Sport and Marca over the weekend, and i seem to remember reading the gudjohnsen one in marca on sunday. And they're both mentioned in AS today.

elmundodeportivo are more concerned with shifting motta at the moment.

Edited by mrkikiet
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Owen, Viduka, Gudjohnsen, Martins and Ameobi would be a very good squad of attackers to be able to draw on over the course of a season. NUFC finally getting to grips with "squad" football?! Even if we were to lose Martins, it's still looking pretty decent.

 

Spot on

 

Feeling excited now ;)

 

Me too, and it's only June ;)

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Owen, Viduka, Gudjohnsen, Martins and Ameobi would be a very good squad of attackers to be able to draw on over the course of a season. NUFC finally getting to grips with "squad" football?! Even if we were to lose Martins, it's still looking pretty decent.

 

Spot on

 

Feeling excited now ;)

 

Me too, and it's only June ;)

 

 

2nd of July mate :icon_lol:

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Owen, Viduka, Gudjohnsen, Martins and Ameobi would be a very good squad of attackers to be able to draw on over the course of a season. NUFC finally getting to grips with "squad" football?! Even if we were to lose Martins, it's still looking pretty decent.

 

Spot on

 

Feeling excited now ;)

 

Me too, and it's only June ;)

 

 

2nd of July mate :icon_lol:

 

Damn brumation... :icon_lol:

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