Telegraph 1/1/10
Newcastle confident of signing Leeds United striker Jermaine Beckford in January
Newcastle manager Chris Hughton has expressed confidence that his club will secure the services of Leeds striker Jermaine Beckford during the January transfer window.
By Rob Stewart
The Championship leaders have had a £1.25 million bid for Beckford rejected but Telegraph Sport has learnt that he will be allowed to leave Elland Road in a £2 million deal but only once Leeds manager Simon Grayson has signed a replacement.
“I'm pretty confident that by the end of this window we'll have added to the quality of player we have here,” Hughton said. “Jermaine Beckford is one of several players that we certainly would have an interest in.
“We are certainly looking to bring in the two or three faces that we feel we will need to go through the rest of the season and hopefully that will be sooner rather than later.”
Newcastle owner Mike Ashley has promised to back Hughton's efforts to restore Premier League football to Tyneside.
“I've been told from above that I'll get the support that I need or want,” Hughton added. “At the moment, you have to have one eye on the future but it'd be fair to say the large majority of our thoughts are what we can do this season.
“The most important thing is addressing this season. We can talk about bringing in the right type of player for next season but at the moment we're in the Championship and we've got to make sure we get out of the Championship and I add the right type of player to the squad that's going to help in our quest to do that.”
Northern Echo 31/12/09
Newcastle’s offer for Beckford is rejected
Scott Wilson
NEWCASTLE have stepped up their interest in Jermaine Beckford by tabling a £1.25m offer for the striker, but Leeds officials have rejected their opening gambit and insisted their club’s leading scorer will not be allowed to leave on the cheap.
Magpies chiefs made a firm approach earlier this week in an attempt to tie up a deal before the transfer window officially reopens tomorrow morning.
Having tracked 26-year-old Beckford for the best part of two seasons, Newcastle officials finally made formal contact with their counterparts at Elland Road and offered £1.25m for the striker’s services.
While the London-born forward has scored 19 goals in 27 appearances this season, Magpies owner Mike Ashley is reluctant to pay much more than that for a player who is out of contract in the summer, and would therefore be available for nothing in June.
Ashley is also understood to feel that Beckford’s lack of Premier League experience should mitigate against a higher fee.
Leeds officials feel differently, however, and Newcastle’s initial offer was rejected out of hand for being too low.
With promotion to the Championship looking likely given the 11-point advantage Leeds currently hold over the play-off positions, manager Simon Grayson is aware of the possible detrimental impact that selling Beckford could have on his side.
Leeds owner Ken Bates is understood to share such concerns, and it is expected that the pair will hold out for a fee in excess of £2m.
Indeed, Newcastle could have to double their initial offer if they are to prise Beckford from Elland Road during the January transfer window. Newcastle boast alternative transfer targets in attack, including former loanee Marlon Harewood, but Beckford has topped their wanted list for quite a while and they are unlikely to end their interest without a fight.
Newcastle confident of signing Leeds United striker Jermaine Beckford in January
Newcastle manager Chris Hughton has expressed confidence that his club will secure the services of Leeds striker Jermaine Beckford during the January transfer window.
By Rob Stewart
The Championship leaders have had a £1.25 million bid for Beckford rejected but Telegraph Sport has learnt that he will be allowed to leave Elland Road in a £2 million deal but only once Leeds manager Simon Grayson has signed a replacement.
“I'm pretty confident that by the end of this window we'll have added to the quality of player we have here,” Hughton said. “Jermaine Beckford is one of several players that we certainly would have an interest in.
“We are certainly looking to bring in the two or three faces that we feel we will need to go through the rest of the season and hopefully that will be sooner rather than later.”
Newcastle owner Mike Ashley has promised to back Hughton's efforts to restore Premier League football to Tyneside.
“I've been told from above that I'll get the support that I need or want,” Hughton added. “At the moment, you have to have one eye on the future but it'd be fair to say the large majority of our thoughts are what we can do this season.
“The most important thing is addressing this season. We can talk about bringing in the right type of player for next season but at the moment we're in the Championship and we've got to make sure we get out of the Championship and I add the right type of player to the squad that's going to help in our quest to do that.”
Northern Echo 31/12/09
Newcastle’s offer for Beckford is rejected
Scott Wilson
NEWCASTLE have stepped up their interest in Jermaine Beckford by tabling a £1.25m offer for the striker, but Leeds officials have rejected their opening gambit and insisted their club’s leading scorer will not be allowed to leave on the cheap.
Magpies chiefs made a firm approach earlier this week in an attempt to tie up a deal before the transfer window officially reopens tomorrow morning.
Having tracked 26-year-old Beckford for the best part of two seasons, Newcastle officials finally made formal contact with their counterparts at Elland Road and offered £1.25m for the striker’s services.
While the London-born forward has scored 19 goals in 27 appearances this season, Magpies owner Mike Ashley is reluctant to pay much more than that for a player who is out of contract in the summer, and would therefore be available for nothing in June.
Ashley is also understood to feel that Beckford’s lack of Premier League experience should mitigate against a higher fee.
Leeds officials feel differently, however, and Newcastle’s initial offer was rejected out of hand for being too low.
With promotion to the Championship looking likely given the 11-point advantage Leeds currently hold over the play-off positions, manager Simon Grayson is aware of the possible detrimental impact that selling Beckford could have on his side.
Leeds owner Ken Bates is understood to share such concerns, and it is expected that the pair will hold out for a fee in excess of £2m.
Indeed, Newcastle could have to double their initial offer if they are to prise Beckford from Elland Road during the January transfer window. Newcastle boast alternative transfer targets in attack, including former loanee Marlon Harewood, but Beckford has topped their wanted list for quite a while and they are unlikely to end their interest without a fight.
