Sol Campbell hoping for more Newcastle United signings
Jul 29 2010 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal
Meanwhile, Nile Ranger’s agent says the 19-year-old’s pre-season form has delayed any decision over his short-term future. Hughton is considering loaning Ranger to a Championship club but a goalscoring performance at Carlisle has raised the striker’s hopes of first-team football on Tyneside.
“He’s doing well in pre-season so there’s no rush at the moment for him to go anywhere,” said agent Nick Rubery. “If after a few games he’s obviously not going to get a look-in we’ll review the situation but first and foremost he wants to play for Newcastle.”
Diego Maradona gave Fabricio Coloccini an opportunity to resurrect his international career in his last act as Argentina manager.
Maradona named the centre-back alongside Newcastle club-mate Jonás Gutiérrez in a 23-man squad for next month’s friendly against the Republic of Ireland shortly before the national association chose not to renew his contract.
Sergio Batista takes caretaker charge.
The 28-year-old has not represented his country since November 2009.
The friendly is on August 11 – the Wednesday before the new Premier League season starts – at Dublin’s rebuilt Lansdowne Road.
Newcastle have two extra days to prepare for their opening game, at home to Manchester United on August 16. Magpies striker Leon Best has not been named in Ireland’s 28-man squad.
WEST Ham accused Tottenham of trying to unsettle Scott Parker after forcefully rejecting their bid for the midfielder.
In a strongly-worded statement, West Ham reveal they had sent a hands-off warning to Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy before he tabled a bid for former Newcastle skipper Parker.
Upton Park chairman David Sullivan dismissed Spurs’ subsequent offer – reportedly valued at £7million – and insisted Parker was not for sale at any price. A Hammers statement read: “The club informed Daniel Levy prior to him making the offer that we would not welcome any approach to unsettle the player.”
Parker has been linked with Spurs and Aston Villa all summer after playing an integral role in West Ham’s top-flight survival last season.
The 29-year-old was the shining light in a struggling team and forced his way into England’s initial World Cup squad.
Sullivan sees Parker as the man to lead West Ham into a bright new era.
