O'Shea to Newcastle?

[eirebhoy]

http://www.sportinglife.com/football...al_092011.html

Newcastle have reportedly bid £4million for Manchester United's John O'Shea.

The Republic of Ireland star has struggled to hold down a regular starting berth at Old Trafford this season.

And Toon boss Graeme Souness sees the talented 23-year-old as the answer to his defensive problems.

According to The Daily Mirror Souness tried to sign O'Shea while he was in charge of Blackburn.

Souness has bid £4million and while Manchester are reportedly holding out for nearer £6million the Geordies are hopeful of thrashing out a deal.

O'Shea has hardly figured in the Old Trafford first team this season, apart from in the Carling Cup and as an emergency midfielder.

As well as his pursuit of O'Shea, Souness is continuing to monitor Rangers stopper Jean-Alain Boumsong.

He watched the former Auxerre star play for France against Poland on Wednesday night, and could check him out in Saturday's Old Firm clash.

Newcastle are hopeful of landing Boumsong for around £5million.

I'd love to see it as it means if either him or O'Brien are going to be warming the bench its at the expense of another Irish player which is better than a Frenchman keeping O'Brien out of the team.

[Bowsy]

Would be a superb move for O'Shea if it came off. Would like to think it won't be at the expense of Andy O. He's looked good apart from the last couple of games. Johnson is getting on and Bramble is a perpetual disaster waiting to happen. A nearly entirely Irish defence in the Premiership would be very nice.