‘We must spend to get into top six’

Apr 28 2008 by Mark Douglas, The Journal

MIDFIELDER Geremi has warned Newcastle must splash out in the transfer market to qualify for Europe next season – after Kevin Keegan revealed the club has already missed out on three targets.

United are hoping to make waves in the summer transfer window as they aim for a top-six Premier League place next season, but their initial attempts to land some of the players pin-pointed by manager Keegan and director of football Dennis Wise have met with a degree of frustration.

Croatia midfielder Luka Modric – a confirmed Keegan target – has decided to opt for a move to Spurs over United and the manager revealed in the aftermath of Saturday’s thrilling 2-2 draw with West Ham that he was one of three targets who Newcastle have launched failed moves for. With the crucial months of the summer transfer market still weeks away, that hit rate won’t cause too much concern on Tyneside just yet but Cameroon midfielder Geremi (pictured below), who knows what it takes to sustain a challenge at the top after his spell under Jose Mourinho at Chelsea, believes the club need to sign players to have any hope of competing with his former club.

“It’s very important that we spend money in the transfer market this summer,” he said. “We all know the intention of the club next year – we want to be in the top six next season, that is the aim of everyone.

“I’m not the chairman, I don’t know how much he will spend. But if you want to challenge in the top six you need a big squad because it’s not easy to challenge in this league – you need a lot of good players.

“The manager has already said to us that next year we go for it with the top six. The Chelsea game is a test – let’s see what happens.”

Geremi has stayed in touch with former colleagues at Stamford Bridge and says that Newcastle’s improved form has been noticed by the title chasers, who are anticipating a fierce challenge when they visit St James’s Park next Monday.

Geremi is sure to be in the spotlight in the run-up to the final home game of the season against the Blues, who kept alive their title dream with a 2-1 victory over Manchester United on Saturday. And in that full-blooded atmosphere Geremi is looking at the game as a litmus test of how far Newcastle have progressed since Keegan took over.

“I have spoken to people at Chelsea and they have noticed how well we are doing. They said to me, ‘Oh, you’re playing well’ and they don’t expect an easy game,” he said. “They know I will be competing hard. I’m a Newcastle player now and there are big demands from your manager, the fans and your other players, so you’re not just going to roll over and give them the title.

“If you want to win a league title, you have to fight. I am still friends with people from Chelsea, they know the position I am in.”

To compete with the likes of Chelsea, Newcastle must spend wisely over the summer but their efforts have not got off to the best of starts. But Keegan remains philosophical about their fortunes in the transfer market.

The Newcastle boss believes owner Mike Ashley shares his view the squad is not currently well-stocked enough to compete for a top-six spot, something that is sure to increase their sense of urgency in the market.

“We’ve only got a small squad and I think that’s one of the reasons we struggled because I have to use the same players. It’s been the same for the past seven games,” he said. “We’ve only got the league as we’re not in Europe, but we’ve got two kids at the back so we’ve got to strengthen. If the owner thinks that just these players can go on next season – and I know he doesn’t – then he’d be misguided.

“I was supposed to have gone for lunch with Modric, but I can’t remember it. We’ve earmarked about 20 players, he’s one of the best midfielders in the world and the right age, but at the moment – and it’s a sad thing – we’ve gone for three players and lost all three.”