If you remember, in the summer I touted the possibility of a swap deal between Newcastle United and Chelsea, with the Magpies getting Daniel Sturridge and a big chunk of cash in return for having to part withCheik Tiote. Fast forward a few months and Sturridge is a pretty important part of Chelsea’s set up, but with Michael Essien still on the treatment table, their interest in Tiote hasn’t waned. So, now I’d like to propose a different swap deal, an Ivorian for an Ivorian, Cheik Tiote for Salomon Kalou.
Cue howls of disbelief and Newcastle fans saying “do you mean Salomon Kalou? That Chelsea flop who can’t find the back of the net to save his life? The man who spends more time warming the bench than he does on the pitch?” Yep, he’s the man I’m talking about, but before you write off the 26-year-old, let me tell you why I think it could be a good move and then you can make up your own minds about whether he could resurrect his career at Newcastle.
Rewind five years and Kalou was one of the hottest prospects in the Dutch league, resulting in Chelsea splashing out just shy of £10 million on him. However, it’s never really quite worked for Salomon at Stamford Bridge. He’s shown flashes of brilliance yes, but those have been few and far between and for an attacking player, his goal record of 1 in 4 isn’t anything to write home about. He has stagnated at Chelsea and wants more first team football, something he could get at Newcastle.
He fits the bill in terms of Newcastle’s transfer policy, being a player who has gone off the boil a bit, but is still young enough to recapture previous form and play at the top for plenty more years. Given Chelsea’s wealth of attacking talent, the Magpies may be able to get him on the cheap, something that can’t be said of Tiote. Due to Newcastle’s position in the table and Tiote’s long-term contract, the Magpies are right where they want to be in any future negotiations and will be able to demand big bucks.
In an ideal world Newcastle would keep hold of Cheik Tiote, but we all know that money talks for Mike Ashley and if he was presented with an offer that was too good to turn down then he’d probably take it. A deal of around £15m and Kalou would probably represent that and with Chelsea in a little bit of disarray, then they’ll be desperate to get their man. That’s a position that Newcastle can take advantage of and if Tiote was to leave at least then there’d be a positive to it as well.
Written by The Gallowgate Gob for NothingButNewcastle.com
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A deal of around £15m and Kalou would most certainly not do. Tiote is a world class holding midfielder and Kalou has proven he can’t cut it when surrounded by better players, why would he all of a sudden for Newcastle.
Tiote has 6 years left on his contract, his price should be about £40m based on that. If Chelsea want to throw £30m at us plus Daniel Sturridge I’m sure Ashley will sit up and take notice. Otherwise, I hope he tells them where to go.
This story is just the same as http://nothingbutnewcastle.com/2011/11/blogs/only-one-winner-in-newcastle-and-chelsea-ivorian-swap?
You serious??
Let me give you an idea of what you have said there.
Patrik Kluivert anyone? He was world class 5 years before the Toon signed him. Pure world class!! And we all saw what happened there.
Now you’re saying that because a player (who will never be world class) used to be a prospect 5 years ago he might be worth a punt??! And as part of a swap deal with 1 of our best?! Is your name Mike Ashley??
Tiote plus $20m for Sturridge, don’t want Kalou. Chelseas value for DS will be around $20m making our valuation for Tiote $40M. This is the business that MA wants to do at NUFC, buy low sell high, just means we’ve uncovered a good player. To the fans, don’t get emotionally connected to any of our players they are all just commodities that will be sold when the price point is reached.
The Toon are nothing without Tiote and the Southern press know it, all they are doing is trying to unsettle the gem we have unearthed, and attempt to get him to move on. I hope Ashley realises the true value of Mr T and builds around him. In the meanwhile Southern press, go and get fuffed.
Are you SERIOUS?
A dud who has not performed… on massive wages and no motivation to come to Newcastle…
This article is utterly absurd – you clearly have been playing fantasy manager on the play station for too long.
Oh come on!, we dont want him, i agree with JBL here, its the gutter southern press and there grubby natures that are trying to unsettle our lad, strange, could have swore hes already turned em down twice?…..
This article must have been written by a Chelsea fan or just a complete cock!
You just cant stand the fact the Toon are forcing their way into the top 6.
The TOON! are coming to get you!!!
i wonder if you realise that this deal would be the equivalent of swapping a rolex for a chinese gold plated knock off… surely you must be taking the piss or i have to wonder how you are able to function on a daily basis