Magpies ARE Chasing Boumsong

By Nick Raynor
November 25 2004

Souness has finally confirmed one of the rumours about January transfer targets, stating he would like to bring Rangers defender Jean-Alain Boumsong to the club.

 

The Magpies are desperate to strengthen a defence that has already conceded 26 Premiership goals this term and have the finances to bring in several top class centre-backs following the £13million sale of Jonathan Woodgate to Real Madrid.

 

Manchester United's John O'Shea, Birmingham City's Matthew Upson, Celtic's Bobo Balde and Chelsea's Robert Huth have all been linked with a move to St James' Park, but Boumsong has now emerged as Souness' first choice.

 

Souness said:

 

"I was in Paris last week and I think he's a very good player,"

"He's with a very good club, a very big club at the moment in Glasgow Rangers.”

"We're looking for defenders to strengthen our squad because we believe we're short at Newcastle in quality there, and he's one player we've been looking at.”

"He, in my opinion, is a quality central defender.”

The 24-year-old only moved to Ibrox from Auxerre last summer, but the chance to make a £5million profit on a Bosman free transfer signing could prove tempting for the cash-strapped Gers.

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