Analysing the Transfer Gossip – July 2: Part One

Newcastle director of football Joe Kinnear wants to make his first signing since taking on his new role at the club by Friday, with a second bid planned for Saint Etienne striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Full story: The Journal

What’s the story? I’ll believe this when I see it. Newcastle have been linked to him in the past, but we’d need evidence that Kinnear is willing to explore the overseas market first.Does it make sense? It certainly does football-wise. Aubameyang as a lone front man would be an excellent option for Newcastle. He has the talent to play in European competition, and with him getting service from the likes of Ben Arfa, Cabaye and Marveaux, he could get himself over the 20-goal mark.Is the price right? St. Etienne want £16m, which is fair value for him.Will it happen? 6/10 – I’m not convinced just yet, but then perhaps it’s too easy to buy in to the feeling propagated by the media that Kinnear is some kind of dinosaur and will want to sign only players he’d heard of previously.