This is part three (well, part of it) of a four part series about the upcoming transfer window, perhaps the most anticipated summer in Newcastle's recent history. Part 1 (investigating the team's needs) can be found here, while Part 2 (examining possible purchasing strategies) can be found here. Make sure that you check out Part 3.1, which focuses on strikers.
Part of delving into the world of player acquisition is listening to rumors passed on (often generated) by the football media. As unsavory as that can be, it's also kind of fun - each player linked to the club offers the fan an opportunity to imagine a new future. In this case, the Toon Army can envision a future that includes midfielders who can provide depth and width and who are capable of providing our theoretical new strikers with quality crosses.
Below, I have included a short profile on each midfielder mentioned by a major publication to have ties to Newcastle since February 1. The list is intended to be comprehensive but there is little doubt that I have missed some rumors and have incomplete information on the ones I happened to catch. Any help you can give me in the comments is more than appreciated. I plan to update this and the other lists scheduled to be posted every 1-2 weeks or as needed.
It should be stated repeatedly and strongly that these are only rumors and the information contained here may or may not be accurate. Though I do strive for accuracy, mistakes and misinformation are an unavoidable side effect of undertaking this endeavor.
Follow the jump for a brief profile on each of the 14 midfielders currently rumored to be transfer targets of Newcastle United.
Adel Taarabt (Queens Park Rangers)
Attacking Midfielder, 21 yo, 5’11"
Emerging playmaker, transfer became less likely when QPR was promoted
Rumored price: Unknown
Also interested: Manchester United, Real Madrid, Lazio, Dortmund, Chelsea, Liverpool, others
Sebastian Larsson (Birmingham)
Winger, 25 yo, 5’10"
Good vision, creativity
Rumored price: Free transfer
Also interested: Sunderland, Bolton, Birmingham, Aston Villa, Blackburn, Everton, Atletico Madrid, Deportivo la Coruna
Diego Perotti (Sevilla)
Winger/Attacking Midfielder, 22 yo, 5’10"
Tons of pace, adept at dribbling through traffic, capable of shooting from distance. A right-footed Argentine that plays the left wing (sound familiar?)
Rumored price: £6 million
Also interested: Liverpool
Charles N’Zogbia (Wigan)
Winger, 24 yo
Needs no introduction, said to prefer a return to Tyneside
Rumored price: £6-10 million
Also interested: Birmingham, Sunderland, Liverpool, Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur, Fulham, Juventus, Blackburn, Stoke
Jason Puncheon (Southampton)
Winger, 24 yo, 5’8"
Played for Pardew at Southampton
Rumored price: £1 million
Also interested: Blackpool, Rangers, Bolton, Everton, West Brom
Zoltan Gera (Fulham)
Attacking Midfielder, 32 yo, 6’
Prefers to leave England, considered a complete player by many
Rumored price: Free transfer
Also interested: Birmingham, Stoke, Manchester City, QPR
Jay Spearing (Liverpool)
Midfielder, 22 yo, 5’6"
Great work rate
Rumored price: Jose Enrique
Also interested: Nobody?
Nigel Reo-Coker (Aston Villa)
Midfielder, 27 yo, 5’9"
Strong in possession, sometimes reckless
Rumored price: Free transfer
Also interested: Aston Villa, Galatasaray, Valencia, Sevilla, Roma, Juventus, Napoli
Scott Parker (West Ham)
Midfielder, 30 yo, 5’9"
2011 Football Writers’ Association Player of the Year, Intelligent, Great vision
Rumored price: £10 million
Also interested: Spurs, Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City
Franck Tabanou (Toulouse)
Winger/Wing Back, 22 yo, 5’10"
Very skilled, prone to mental mistakes
Rumored price: £5 million
Also interested: Dortmund, Inter Milan, West Ham
Wilson Palacios (Spurs)
Midfielder, 26 yo, 5’10"
Harry Redknapp thinks Newcastle is dumb enough to trade their treasure for his trash. They probably are, but maybe don’t be so arrogant about it?
Rumored price: Cheik Tiote
Also interested: Nobody?
Max Gradel (Leeds)
Winger, 23 yo, 5’9"
Scored 18 goals in the Championship this year
Rumored price: £2 million
Also interested: Hamburg
Victor Wanyama (Germinal Beerschot Antwerpen)
Defensive Midfielder, 19 yo, 6’2"
Favorable comparisons to brother McDonald; GBA reportedly having money problems
Rumored price: £1 million
Also interested: AV, Birmingham, Sunderland
Jamie O’Hara (Tottenham Hotspur)
Midfielder, 24 yo, 5’11"
Value is tied to his intangibles
Rumored price: Unknown
Also interested: Wolves