Keegan keen to recruit Giles Barnes

Apr 15 2008 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal

NEWCASTLE United will again target Giles Barnes as a key figure in the second half of Kevin Keegan’s two-pronged transfer policy.

The Magpies’ recent revival has been based around an experienced nucleus of Habib Beye, Abdoulaye Faye, Nicky Butt, Michael Owen and Mark Viduka. Conscious of the lack of depth in his squad, Keegan is keen to add proven players but the club is also wary of the need for youthful vibrancy, and hope Barnes can contribute to that.

Sam Allardyce signed nine players last summer, some of whom are just starting to bear fruit, and Keegan does not feel his squad needs major surgery to meet chairman Chris Mort’s demand that they compete for Uefa Cup qualification next term.

“I’ve said all along I would be looking for four or five players,” said Keegan. “That’s all we need, but those four or five will have to be top quality.

“That’s the priority in terms of strengthening, the very top end of the squad, but if we were able to do that, maybe we could also look at bringing a couple of youngsters in. It would be nice to balance our squad that way, and that’s the two different angles we’re going to be looking to address this summer.

“You’re not going to be looking at the massive turn-over the club saw last summer. It’s going to be a case of making a few quality signings and a couple of younger faces who are more for the future.” Keegan is pleased by the experience and leadership in the squad he inherited. “I’ve got about five leaders in my team – Nicky and Michael, Geremi’s fantastic, and Habib Beye and Faye,” he enthused.

“Viduka is quite experienced as well. So I’ve got a lot of good men who can lead the team.” Newcastle tried to sign 19-year-old Barnes in January but their valuation was way below Derby County’s. United will hope the Rams’ impending relegation allows them to negotiate a more realistic price for the attacking midfielder. Even when they turned down United’s offer, believed to be around £1.5m, Derby were planning to spend 2008-09 in the Championship.

They probably hoped Barnes would justify a reputation earned in the Football League, but he has failed to do so. In a season restricted to just 14 league starts by form and fitness, Barnes has not stood out, scoring just once in the league and once

in the FA Cup, against Championship side Sheffield Wednesday.

It has not deterred Newcastle, who stepped up their policy of bringing the best young talent to St James’s Park when Dennis Wise was appointed earlier this year.

Of Newcastle’s ambitions next season, Mort said: “There will be a lot of clubs, maybe 10, looking at the top six. The Champions League positions are more difficult but I would hope we’ll be at least aiming for a Uefa Cup slot.”

Meanwhile, two other clubs are hopeful of warding off Newcastle interest in their players with improved contracts.

Reports in Belgium suggest national team sponsors Kia are determined to keep Moroccan Mbark Boussoufa in the league. The 23-year-old ex-Chelsea striker is at Anderlecht, and the car manufacturers are eager to keep it that way.

“I know the size of contract Newcastle will offer Boussoufa,” claimed Kia’s managing director, Benoit Morenne. “The difference between it and what he earns at Anderlecht is not insurmountable. We want to make him one of our ambassadors.

“It is the only way to keep players of his quality in Belgium. We don’t want to get in their (Anderlecht’s) way if they can do a good deal for him. But Newcastle want an answer from Boussoufa by the end of the week, so there is no time to lose.”

Sven-Göran Eriksson is hopeful he can stop Keegan being reunited with former defender Richard Dunne by offering the Manchester City captain an extension to his contract, which expires next summer.

“I am quite sure it will be sorted out, when I don’t know,” said the Swede. “He has become a special, special player for the club.”