#11m deals at top of Robson agenda John Richardson Bobby Robson is lining up an #11million double transfer swoop which he believes will help transform Newcastle United into a true Premiership force.

The 67-year-old is already planning for next season and Soccernet can reveal that he is close to striking a #6m deal with one of his former clubs, Barcelona, for experienced Spanish international midfielder Josep Guardiola.

In addition, Robson is pursuing his interest in #5m-rated Lens star Olivier Dacourt.

Robson has been notified that 29-year-old Guardiola does not figure in Barcelona coach Louis Van Gaal's long-term plans and is determined to put an agreement in place for a summer deal.

Guardiola, who Robson sees as the streetwise player to add more invention and guile to his squad, has indicated he would be interested in moving to the Premiership.

On Thursday night, Robson watched former Everton midfielder Dacourt playing for Lens in their 4-2 UEFA Cup win over Atletico Madrid. Bought by the French club for #6.5m last summer, Dacourt is currently available for around the #5m mark.

Lens smashed their transfer record to buy him and agreed huge wages but now they are strapped for cash and ready to sacrifice Dacourt. Newcastle would like to wait until the close season when their own cash worries are due to ease but fear they will then face competition for the 25-year-old from Leeds and Arsenal.

Leeds continue to have injury worries over England's David Batty while the Gunners see the abrasive Dacourt as a perfect replacement for Emmanuel Petit, should the former Monaco player leave in the close season.

-- Anonymous, March 10, 2000

Answers

Teamtwaddle report that Bobby's been to Spain to check on these two. He must know the magic 6 numbers in this weeks lkottery, cos that's the only way we can afford them isn't it?

-- Anonymous, March 14, 2000

The Sun (don't laugh) reports that BR is touting a part exchange involving any or some of Goma, Domi, Charvet and Perez.

Any thoughts?

-- Anonymous, March 14, 2000

I read somewhere that BR is working on tying up at least one continental player on a pre-contract agreement - presumably Bosman-type singing(s) - to be consummated in the close season when some dosh will be made available, in addition to whatever Bobby can generate by off-loading the dross.

-- Anonymous, March 14, 2000

I to have read (teamtwaddle) that Bobby is supposedly talking about a swap deal with Lens involving any of Perez, Charvet, Goma and Domi for Dacourt.

When I read that, I wanted to hit the screen. I'd happilly throw in Charvet and Perez. I'd reluctantly include Goma as that then makes the deal even. But no-way in hell would I include Domi in the deal. I don't care if we keep Goma, but include Domi as the principle player in the deal. We should not under any circumstances be looking to offload Domi unless we are getting a st*r player in return, which lets face it, Dacourt is not. Oh, he is a very, very good player, but not in the top echelon of European talent. And lets face it, NUFC is not yet at the stage where we are an actractive proposition to these players, so we get the best we can and hope they develop into top players.

What I do understand is the speculation surrounding Josep Guardiola and the reported transfer fee. Yes I understand that we need two midfield players, a left winger and a central midfielder. I thought Dacourt was Bobby's number 1 target for the central berth. However Guardiola is also a central midfield player. And while he might be a good player, he is on the fringes of the Barcelona squad, and he will be 30 next season. I think most people will agree that 5 million pounds is a lot to pay for a 30 year old.

And if these two players are Bobby's target then that raises the question of next seasons midfield formation. It would look like that Bobby intend sticking with a 4-3-1-2 formation.

-- Anonymous, March 14, 2000

Woke up this morning and turned the TV on to SBS (local ethnic station) and the spanish news was on. Sports time comes and the next half hour is spent listening in spanish which I don't speak/watching football. Do they play any other sports? Anyway, who's head pops up on the screen? but none other than grandpa Robson. Anyway they show Robson, Barcelona and some spanish looking player who I assume is Guardiola, and some game footage. Not that i could tell anything from it.

But of the 30 minutes, Barcelona got 20 minutes with Rivaldo popping up every second shot. The next ten minutes was devoted to, in order; Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid, D. Coruna and Celta Vigo.

Tre

-- Anonymous, March 15, 2000

Oliver Dacourt will join Leeds in the summer according to the yorkshire evening post...

-- Anonymous, March 24, 2000

If that's the case then the 5mil we got for Batty is looking better and better.

-- Anonymous, March 25, 2000