IN THE NEWS is the section on nufc.co.uk where we review the newspapers and look at stories involving former Newcastle players and managers over the summer ...

Monday, July 16

FORMER Newcastle United full-back Andy Griffin could be set for a move to Premiership newcomers Derby County.

The 28-year-old, who has one year left to run on his current contract at Portsmouth, had been expected to join former club Stoke City having spent the majority of last season on loan at the Britannia Stadium.

But The Derby Evening Telegraph reports that Rams boss Billy Davies is now leading the chase for Griffin's signature.

Saturday, July 14

FORMER Magpies midfielder Hugo Viana will spend next season on loan at Spanish La Liga side Osasuna.

Viana managed just seven league starts for Valencia last term having made his move to Spain a permanent one in 2005 after an unsuccessful spell on Tyneside.

Friday, July 13

MICHAEL Chopra has completed his £5m move to Newcastle United's North East rivals Sunderland.

The 23-year-old has penned a four-year deal at the Stadium of Light and becomes Roy Keane's third signing of the summer, following on from Aberdeen's Russell Anderson and Reading's Greg Halford.

Chopra, who joins from Championship side Cardiff City, scored the only Premiership goal of his career for the Magpies at Sunderland during the 4-1 win in April, 2006.

SUNDERLAND have agreed a fee of £5m to sign former Magpies striker Michael Chopra from Cardiff City.

The 23-year-old has been the subject of transfer speculation throughout the summer following his 22 goals for the Bluebirds in the Championship last season.

Chopra scored his only Premiership goal against the Black Cats during United's 4-1 win at the Stadium of Light in April, 2006.

And the forward also bagged both goals for Cardiff in their 2-1 victory at Sunderland last season.

If he does agree personal terms then Chopra will become Roy Keane's third signing of the summer, following on from Greg Halford and Russell Anderson.

***

GEORDIE utility player Steve Watson has signed for Championship side Sheffield Wednesday on a free transfer from West Brom.

The 33-year-old former Magpies star spent more than two months on loan at Hillsborough at the end of last season, a spell in which the Owls were unbeaten.

Baggies' boss Tony Mowbray said: "Steve did well on loan at Wednesday last season and we wish him well now he has made the move permanent."

The former Newcastle, Aston Villa and Everton player has made more than 600 appearances in his 16-year career.

***

GIUSEPPE Rossi is a target of Portuguese outfit FC Porto, according to the Daily Mirror.

The 2004 Champions League winners want to take the 20-year-old on a 12-month loan from Man Utd with an option of making the deal permanent next year.

Tuesday, July 10

JON Dahl Tomasson is ready to exchange life in Germany for Spain after Stuttgart agreed to sell the former Newcastle striker to Villarreal.

The Danish international had previously been with the La Liga outfit on a loan basis since January and is now set for a permanent switch.

***

FORMER Toon favourite David Kelly has been appointed as assistant manager at Derby County.

Kelly has long been a target of the Rams after manager Billy Davies left his then No.2 at Preston North End and headed to Pride Park last summer.

But the deal took longer to complete because of contractual disputes until Tuesday's announcement that Kelly would be joining up with the Premiership newcomers.

Kelly made 83 appearances for the Magpies and found the net 39 times after joining the club from Leicester City in 1991.

***

STOKE City manager Tony Pulis is hoping to complete the signing of ex-United star Andy Griffin.

Griffin spent an eighth-month loan spell at the Britannia Stadium last year and Pulis wants to add the Portsmouth full-back to his ranks ahead of next season.

The 28-year-old made 104 appearances at St.James' and scored three goals during seven years on Tyneside after signing from Stoke in 1997.

***

FORMER Magpies Reserve team captain Kris Gate is on trial at Bradford City after being released by United this summer.

***

FORMER Newcastle United striker Craig Bellamy has completed his switch to West Ham for a club record £7.5m.

The 27-year-old Wales captain has signed a five-year deal at Upton Park after scoring nine goals in 42 appearances during his one season at Liverpool.

Bellamy's move away from Anfield was accelerated following last week's arrival of strikers Fernando Torres and Andriy Voronin.

CARDIFF City chairman Peter Ridsdale says that the club have turned down a substantial offer for former Magpies striker Michael Chopra.

There was speculation that Cardiff's Championship rivals Watford had tabled a £3m offer, but Ridsdale said the unnamed bidders are not the Hornets.

The former Leeds United chief said: "We haven't had any bid from Watford although we have had a bid for Michael Chopra.

"But like the bids we've had for other players we've said 'no', we want to try and keep the team together.

"I've gone on record as saying that every player has his price, but so far no one has met the valuation for any of our players.

"But we're not going to sell any of our players on the cheap."

Chopra joined Cardiff from United last summer and struck 22 league goals in his maiden season at Ninian Park.

CRAIG Bellamy is reported to have agreed personal terms and passed a medical at West Ham before his expected signing on Monday.

The 27-year-old will join the Hammers in a £7.5m deal having become surplus to requirements at Liverpool following Fernando Torres' arrival last week.

Friday, July 6

ROBBIE Elliott has signed for Hartlepool United on a free transfer after being released by Leeds United at the end of last season.

Danny Wilson moved to capture the signature of the former Magpies favourite as he continues to build his squad following their promotion to League One last season.

And Elliott could face the Geordies when United travel to Hartlepool on July 17 for what will be Sam Allardyce's first game as Toon boss.

Pools boss Wilson, who made Elliott his fifth signing of the summer, said: "I think Robbie is a terrific signing for us - not just for the fact that he has played most of his career at the top level but also for the fact that his experience will be invaluable to some of the younger players in the squad.

"His experience with Premiership clubs will help us with our own quest to better our position.

"Robbie will help us in lots of areas but on the pitch will be most important.

"With the boys that we have brought in, the three outfield players plus Robbie will give us the option of changing formation."

***

CRAIG Bellamy is again the subject of transfer speculation in the papers - and today the Daily Star say the little Welshman is wanted by Roy Keane at Sunderland.

While other papers continue to link him with a move to West Ham, the Star says the Black Cats will join Aston Villa in pursuit of the former Toon frontman.

The Sun says West Ham have Craig Bellamy in their sights after Liverpool completed the signing of Fernando Torres.

The paper says the Hammers believe they can get the Welshman for £11m, having missed out to Spurs in the chase for Darren Bent.

FORMER Magpie favourite Steve Watson is set to return to Sheffield Wednesday after spending a spell on loan at Hillsborough last season, according to reports.

The Owls were unbeaten during Watson's 11-game stint at Wednesday last term, and boss Brian Laws is reportedly keen to make the 33-year-old utility player a permanent signing from West Brom.

***

NEWCASTLE United Academy graduate Martin Brittain has joined Luton Town on trial.

The 22-year-old was released by Ipswich Town at the end of last season having spent the majority of the campaign on loan at Yeovil.

FORMER Newcastle United forward John Robertson has been appointed manager of Irish Champions League side Derry City.

The ex-Hearts boss takes charge in time for Derry's first qualifying round tie with FC Pyunik of Armenia in two weeks time.

Robertson, who played 16 times for United without finding the target after joining in 1988, has signed an 18-month deal at the Irish Premier Division outfit.

CARDIFF City boss Dave Jones says the club have received no offers for former Newcastle striker Michael Chopra.

The 23-year-old was the top scorer at Ninian Park last term and has been subject of speculation regarding a return to the Premiership this summer.

And the Cardiff gaffer said: "If a Premiership club comes in for your players and you're in the Championship, how do you keep hold of them?

"If they match our price, likes clubs have done in the past, we will see whether it's a worthwhile offer to look at and make a decision.

"No one has been in for Chops. We want to keep him and he is looking forward to the start of the season.

"If they do, and match what we think he's worth, and we can move in other areas, but at the moment we're looking forward to working with him and getting the season up and running."

***

FORMER Magpie midfielder Amdy Faye is a reported target of Premiership new boys Birmingham City.

The Senegal international was relegated with Charlton last season, but it is thought Blues boss Steve Bruce is keen to take the 30-year-old to St.Anderew's.

Wednesday, June 27

KEITH Gillespie looks set to stay at Sheffield United next season, with the Daily Mirror reporting that the former Newcastle winger will sign a new two-year deal at Bramall Lane on Monday.

The same paper also reports that Blackburn Rovers boss Mark Hughes has not given up on the possibility of re-signing Craig Bellamy from Liverpool.

The Journal runs a story on former United keeper Tony Caig, saying Gretna would like to sign a player who has returned to England after a spell in Canada with Vancouver Whitecaps.

Afternoon update: Aaron Hughes has completed a move from Aston Villa to Fulham, signing a three-year deal at Craven Cottage.

The transfer see Hughes again link up with Lawrie Sanchez, his former international boss with Northern Ireland.

Former Newcastle duo Paul Brayson and Stuart Elliott have teamed up again with Conference club York City.

Prolific striker Brayson and midfielder Elliott, both 29, were youth team colleagues at Newcastle over a decade ago but while Geordie Brayson reached the first team, making two League Cup appearances in 1995-96, Londoner Elliott never made the breakthrough.

Elliott went on to play for a number of clubs, including Darlington and Carlisle, and Brayson had spells with Reading, Cardiff City and Cheltenham Town.

The pair joined forces again with Conference side Northwich Victoria three years ago, travelling to Cheshire together for training and games from their Tyneside homes, but were out of contract at Northwich this summer and have now been snapped up by York boss Billy McEwan.

Tuesday, June 26

PARMA have made a £6m bid for Giuseppe Rossi, according to their president Tommaso Ghirardi.

The Italian U21 star scored nine goals in 18 starts for the Serie A side during a loan spell from Manchester United last term. Earlier in the season, he netted once in a temporary spell at St. James' Park.

ANDY Cole could be heading for Nottingham Forest this summer, according to The People.

The paper says Colin Calderwood is prepared to pay up to £1m for the Portsmouth striker, who helped Birmingham City win promotion to the Premiership during a loan spell at the end of last season.

The Sun report Aaron Hughes could be on the move from Aston Villa this summer.

The paper says a switch to Fulham is close, and that would mean the versatile defender once again linking up with his former Northern Ireland boss Lawrie Sanchez at Craven Cottage. A fee in the region of £1m is being reported.

The Daily Express says Geordie midfielder Alan Thompson could make his move to Leeds permanent, despite their relegation to League One.

FORMER Newcastle United striker Mick Harford has a new job after being appointed First Team Coach at Queens Park Rangers.

The 48-year-old, who scored four times in 19 appearances for the Magpies in the early 80s, moves to Loftus Road after leaving a coaching post at Colchester United.

LES Ferdinand is wanted by MK Dons as first team coach - if Paul Ince is appointed manager, report the Daily Mail and the Daily Star. It's claimed MK Dons will attempt to take Ince from Macclesfield and the former England midfielder wants the ex-Toon number nine as his right-hand man.

NEWCASTLE United begin their 2007/08 Premiership campaign away to Bolton Wanderers - and will a familiar face be waiting for them at the Reebok?

The Daily Mirror claims Sammy Lee is lining up a swoop for Sheffield United winger Keith Gillespie, with the Northern Ireland international always famously remembered at Gallowgate for the night in 1997 when he helped destroy Barcelona in the Champions League.

Tuesday, June 19, 2007

HE wasn't offered the chance to turn his loan move into a permanent one at Newcastle United, but the Premiership may not have seen the last of Oguchi Onyewu.

Monday, June 18, 2007

FORMER Newcastle United striker Mark McGhee has been appointed as the new manager of Motherwell.

The Scot made 115 appearances for the Magpies in two spells 1977-79 and 1989-91, scoring 36 goals in the process.

He said: "I'm delighted to return to Scotland as manager of Motherwell. I am determined that from next season the team will give its absolute best to deliver the kind of results the supporters rightly expect."

***

CRAIG Bellamy could be set for a move from Liverpool to Serie A, according to various newspaper reports.

A host of titles claim new Juventus boss Claudio Ranieri is keen on taking the little Welshman to Turin, but it is also reported that Italian rivals Roma would like to take a player who scored 42 goals in 128 appearances for United between 2001-05.

***

ANOTHER former United striker linked with Juventus is Giuseppe Rossi, who enjoyed a fleeting loan spell with the Magpies during the 2006-07 season.

Rossi, who netted once for Newcastle while on loan from Manchester United, spent the end of last term at Parma but remains hopeful he has a future at Old Trafford.

He is quoted as saying: "Joining Juventus is just talk, I've read about it once or twice but it's not on my mind. My goal is going back to United and being able to cut it."

***

THE final day of the 2006-07 La Liga season in Spain brought mixed emotions for those clubs who have faced Newcastle United in past European competition.

Barcelona - twice our foes in Champions League combat - saw their hopes of claiming a third successive title dashed by David Beckham and Real Madrid, who came from behind to win 3-1 in the Bernebeu against Real Mallorca, themselves an old UEFA Cup rival of ours.

Elsewhere, there was joy and pain for two other former UEFA Cup opponents of ours. Celta Vigo ended the season with a 2-1 victory over Getafe, but it couldn't save them from the drop because Athletic Bilbao earned a reprieve from relegation by winning 2-0 against Levante to finish a point clear of Celta in fourth bottom.

Old Fairs Cup foes Real Zaragoza finished sixth and ended the season with a 1-1 draw at Recreativo, while previous Intertoto adversaries Deportivo La Coruna signed off with a 3-1 win at Espanyol to finish 13th.