Robbie Keane

**NeilMcD** · 18/05/2005, 2:59 PM

Aston Villa have agreed a combined fee with Newcastle to buy striker Craig Bellamy and defender Aaron Hughes.
Wales star Bellamy, 25, is currently on loan at Celtic after falling out publicly with boss Graeme Souness.

Now he will hold talks with Villa, as will Hughes, who is also 25 and a Northern Ireland international.

"I have spoken with (Magpies chairman) Freddy Shepherd and he accepted our cash offer for both players," said Villa chairman Doug Ellis.

Souness, the Newcastle manager, said Bellamy would never play for him again after the pair's relationship broke down earlier this season.

Fair enough for Hughes but why Bellamy? I thought we had got rid of all of our overpaid troublemakers

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The Welshman, who played for Norwich and Coventry before joining Newcastle for �6m in 2001, is believed to be available for �5m.

That - plus his reported �45,000 per week wages - probably rules out Celtic, for whom Bellamy has fired nine goals in 13 games during his loan arrangement.

But it remains to be seen whether Bellamy will choose to join Villa, who have already snapped up Patrick Berger from Portsmouth on a free transfer.

Berger set for Aston Villa move

Berger will complete his switch in June when his Fratton Park contract expires.

Hughes has played 43 times for Northern Ireland and captained his country, as well as making 279 appearances for Newcastle.

He can play anywhere across the backline and also in midfield

**Stuttgart88** · 18/05/2005, 3:07 PM

I think Shearer & Keane would be a great partnership but remember that Shearer only has one year left. I think Jol has Spurs going in the right direction whereas Newcastle under Souness look to have completely lost all direction. Going to Newcastle would be a big risk - Robbie needs stability and Newcastle is not the place to get it.

I also think it's too early for him to throw in the towel at Spurs. He's good enough to see off Kanoute & Mido.

Robbie should stay at Spurs until a clearly better opportunity comes up in my opinion.

**drummerboy** · 18/05/2005, 3:18 PM

Think Jol will force Keane either to sign new contract or go. As regards Souness, well he doesn't have a great record with Irish players. Can't believe he is allowing Aaran Hughes leave Newcastle.

**The Legend** · 18/05/2005, 3:48 PM

Its pretty evident that Souness is one of the worst managers in the premiership.... how clubs keep hiring him, i'll never know! there's always one isnt there!

**dr_peepee** · 18/05/2005, 7:16 PM

On one hand Newcastle are obviously going through a period of transition... But on the other I think Keane working with Shearer and Dean Saunders will bring his game on leaps and bounds.

**Tired&Emotional** · 20/05/2005, 10:40 AM

Not another thread on Robbie, I hear ye say!!

Haven't seen this on the boards yet but just wondered what peoples' thoughts were on the rumours that Robbie may sign for the Toon Army? Might be a good move for him with Shearer in his last season and Kluivert leaving as well, could be a good chance to make a position up front his own....??

**northerncelt** · 20/05/2005, 10:54 AM

seen this on rte 2day. cant find it anywhere else on net tho. good move if u ask me. but if he does go then this really has to be his last move. he needs to settle down once and for all. thinks he has been unlucky with his clubs so far.

**�anna** · 20/05/2005, 11:00 AM

But I thought Souness was a deranged bigot who ate irish babies for his dinner

Good thing I don't listen to Celtic "fans"

**Colm55** · 20/05/2005, 11:04 AM

I'll have disagree here cos i don't think a move to newcastle would improve him as a player, at spurs he has to fight for his place and prove his worth, which in my opinion is better for him. You have a valid point about shearer's last season and Kluivert heading for pastures new, if so walking into a newcastle team who performed below the norm this season will not do him any favours.

**TerryPhelan** · 20/05/2005, 11:05 AM

Originally Posted by Tired&Emotional

Not another thread on Robbie, I hear ye say!!

Haven't seen this on the boards yet

It's here, I started a thread on it a couple of days ago when I read about it on football365.

http://foot.ie/showthread.php?t=25234

Pilfering my frontline journalism!!!

Threads merged. We can't have your journalistic credit being usurped by someone else now, can we Terry? PP

**JimmyP** · 20/05/2005, 11:13 AM

I'm not saying this would happen, but hypothetically, "storming down the tunnel" after not being played is the kind of attitude that a manger like Souness will go to war over, with the player always losing.

If it's true that Everton are interested, I think it would be a better move than Newcastle. Moyes is a good manager, and Champions League football would be an attractive prospect for him.

**Hibs4Ever** · 20/05/2005, 11:14 AM

Originally Posted by JimmyP

I'm not saying this would happen, but hypothetically, "storming down the tunnel" after not being played is the kind of attitude that a manger like Souness will go to war over, with the player always losing.

If it's true that Everton are interested, I think it would be a better move than Newcastle. Moyes is a good manager, and Champions League football would be an attractive prospect for him.

Agree totally, Everton would be a much better option for him

**northerncelt** · 20/05/2005, 11:31 AM

at risk of annoying the everton fans, i feel that newcastle would offer robbie a more sustained European platform, although admitedly not next yr.
not a big souness at all fan, but can see everton slip back to mid table next season. Probably souness needs a top 4/5 finish next season or he will be out the door, robbie might be the man for him. plus i could see shearer and robbie forming a good a partnership.

**paul_oshea** · 20/05/2005, 11:33 AM

Agree totally, Everton would be a much better option for him

realistically though are everton going to be pushing for honours again next year??? and will they even make the champs league( group stages i mean)??

**Tired&Emotional** · 20/05/2005, 4:08 PM

Originally Posted by TerryPhelan

It's here, I started a thread on it a couple of days ago when I read about it on football365.

http://foot.ie/showthread.php?t=25234

Pilfering my frontline journalism!!!

Apologies....had a look for refs to it on the boards but didn't spend too long!

**dr_peepee** · 20/05/2005, 7:34 PM

Newcastel won't progress under Souness...

But I think Robbie will improve as a player working with Shearer and Dean Saunders...

If Robbie's not carefull he'll wind up like Dean Saunders though....

**SaucyJack** · 20/05/2005, 7:41 PM

He'd just have a falling out with Souness some time in his first season, go with Everton and Moyes. think Newcastle are getting skinned on the Hughes to Villa deal though.

**NeilMcD** · 27/05/2005, 1:02 PM

Tottenham have joined the race to sign Crystal Palace striker Andy Johnson.
The 24-year-old England international looks likely to leave Selhurst Park after Palace's relegation and Spurs boss Martin Jol has targeted him.

Johnson scored 22 times for the Eagles last season and is currently on tour with the England squad in the US.

Meanwhile, Spurs are closing in on a deal for Palace winger Wayne Routledge, but the 20-year-old's transfer looks set to be decided by a tribunal

**tetsujin1979** · 27/05/2005, 2:16 PM

So it looks like Martin Jol's trying to sign at least one more striker. Having Kanoute, Keane, Defoe and Mido obviously isn't enough!! Seriously though, if he is looking to recruit, maybe he's accepted at least one of them is moving on?