Nevertheless, Newcastle came back around, this time with a different target in mind – Malick Thiaw, and a deal has become seemingly more likely in recent days.
Today, though, Gazzetta dello Sport write that there ‘is a feeling that it will happen’ considering the Magpies are ‘ready’ for their ‘final assault’. It comes partnered with the news that the Diavolo are in the closing stages of a deal for Strahinja Pavlovic, so the German defender could be overshadowed with his arrival.
Whether this will open the door for another central defensive arrival remains to be seen, but given how much the Rossoneri struggled with depth last season, they may browse their options.
Mike Ashley launched his Newcastle United takeover at the end of May 2007.
Great excitement as this English self-made billionaire bought out the Halls and Shepherds, which then meant the thousands of fan shareholders were also forced to sell, once Mike Ashley had got to a certain percentage shareholding.
The mood was massively positive, where Newcastle United could potentially go now with an ambitious wealthy owner.
One of the final moves of the outgoing owners was to replace Glenn Roeder with Sam Allardyce, which certainly wasn’t greeted with excitement by the fanbase. However, as we all know, managers can quickly be replaced, but wealthy ambitious owners are not so easily found.
We all know what was then to transpire over the next decade and a half but at the time, an ambitious English billionaire who was also already involved in the sports industry via his retail empire, what was not to get excited about?
After a couple of away friendlies (3-1 win at Hartlepool, 1-1 draw at Carlisle), it was the first-ever match under Mike Ashley ownership at St James’ Park, exactly 17 years ago today.
Given, Carr, Huntington (N’Zogbia 46), Rozehnal (Edgar 70), Ramage (Taylor), Butt (Harper 80), Solano (Pattison 46), Geremi, Milner, Martins (Troisi 65), Luque (Carroll 46)
The goals came with an opener from Obafemi Martins, a rare right foot finish from him on 11 minutes after Solano squared it from the right.
After half an hour Milner crossed from the left and Albert Luque volleyed low and through the keeper.
Then on 42 minutes, Solano crossed from the right and Albert Luque again met on the volley for a cool finish past the keeper, his second goal and United’s third.
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