Taken from ZooFootball to wet your appetites on a boring Tuesday:

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Hence, today we have some juicy, exclusive speculation which has come direct from a ZOOfootball source up in Newcastle, and if youre a member of the Toon Army it should make quite nice reading.

With NTL investing in the Geordies, Bobby Robson has a little nest egg available to him and our man reckons that one of his primary targets could be Real Betis unhappy Brazilian star Denilson.

Since his mega-bucks move to the Primera Liga the winger has failed to live up to expectations and a parting of the ways could on the cards this summer with Betis allegedly willing to let him go for a cut-price fee of around #12million.

Don't worry mate, we'll miss you!

The big European clubs could well outdo the Mags on this one, and if they do then expect Robson to turn his attentions to Barcelona schemer Luis Enrique who wants away from the Nou Camp.

Enrique, who played under Robson at Barca, is not a big mate of coach Louis Van Gaal and apparently has no desire to play under his stewardship next season which could pave the way for a move to Tyneside.

It may seem ridiculous, but the Spanish international is a fan of ol Bobby and it would represent a major coup for the Geordies should he decide to continue his career in the north-east.

Other targets up on Tyneside are Bayern Munichs Bixente Lizarazu, whos also being tracked by Manchester United, and Atleticos Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink who seems to have more clubs chasing him than you can wave a stick at!

-- Anonymous, May 16, 2000

Answers

Why would it seem ridiculous that Enrique is a fan of Robson??? DIdn't they win some European silverware under his management? and haven't all players who have played under him had respect?

But I think I'll have the Denilson rumour with some vinegar on my chips tonight.

-- Anonymous, May 16, 2000

I did wonder about Denillson and Finidi George when I heard that Betis had been relegated....

Don't actually think I'd have either of them to be honest but it's not my decision is it ;)))

-- Anonymous, May 16, 2000

not too sure if there is any truth at all in those rumours but if we can get Denilson I will be over the moon. This guy has the potential to become the worlds greatest player, hes still young (20 - 22ish).

-- Anonymous, May 16, 2000

Denilson obviously has the quality but perhaps lacks the application and who better to get him focussed than Bobby, who understands the Brazilians i.e. Romario, Ronaldo and Rivaldo. Amazing rumour but it wouold be good to see it happen, doesn't Denilson play on the left?

I thought that Lizarazu had all but signed for Liverpool thus making a mockery of the 'Domi to Liverpool tale'. Lizarazu is a left back isn't he?

Hassle Hasslebank can stay where he is for all I care he made trouble for Leeds and we don't want him. I'd love to see Enrique play for the Toon, he knows about passionate fans and he always seems to put the effort in.

-- Anonymous, May 16, 2000

Yup Enrique for me as well.....helluva player....

-- Anonymous, May 16, 2000

Also from the Guardian Unlimited:

Pires to Arsenal for #6 million, why don't we enter this race, a left winger whom we could guarantee 1st team football unlike Arsenal who will still have Handlebars.

Horsfield on the transfer list at Fulham apparently, decent third striker, big and good finisher!

-- Anonymous, May 16, 2000

don't even think about it. Do you remember last year when we all spen best part of a day or so awaiting the announcement that TDO had bought Seedorf. We were (and still are) fools.

-- Anonymous, May 16, 2000

Ronnie Gill today reports YBR considering a #3M bid to bring Lee Clark back from Fulham. Any thoughts?

-- Anonymous, May 16, 2000

Nope I don't want jigsaw back....

Local lad an all that (and thanks for the mackem t-shirt) but just not good enough....

-- Anonymous, May 16, 2000

take him

-- Anonymous, May 16, 2000

Agree. He was never that good and we may as well blood the likes of McClen rather than buying not very good players. If we are going for a local lad, buy Hutchinson.

-- Anonymous, May 16, 2000

Well, the rumour mill is really picking up speed, isn't it?
Can't see much happening over the next week or so with BR and the Lads in the Caribbean - unless of course Bobby takes a detour to Argentina, or Brazil come to that!
Denilson cost Real Betis something like #22mm, so even if he has had a disappointing season he is surely out of our price range.
Luis Enrique is left sided, top class, versatile, fed up, and may be available - and apparently likes loveable Bobby. The fly in the proverbial ointment ('ointment' - what a lovely old fashioned word. I digress!) here is that Barca are in disarray, which could effect outgoing transfers. El Presidento, Nunez, has walked out, and the white hankies are waving for Van Gaal. I have a gut feeling about this one though, and a double signing of Enrique and Guardiola would be really tasty, solving two of our problem areas at one stroke.
Clarky?? Love him to pieces - real Geordie - but I'm afraid he isn't really good enough to improve on what we've already got.
Hutchinson? Decent PL player and Geordie: also versatile, with a bit of bite about him: however, bad disciplinary record which I think will stop BR taking him seriously. At the right price - say #2mm - I'd take him, but I don't think it will happen.
Horsfield? Canny player, work-horse with a big heart, knows where the goal is. Would be a good stand-in, or replacement, for DF. Therein lies the rub (presumably with the 'ointment'!). BR has to decide on his desired playing system - and I have no doubts that he already has. If he is to play with two CF's - AS & DF - then he MUST have a quality, reliable stand-in for DF, who you can only bank on playing 10-20 games per season. If this isn't on then he should get rid of DF, play a different system and get the forward players necessary to play that way.
Pires? Not sure about him. Looked good 2-3 years ago when he played against us, but seems to have under-achieved since. Despite under-achieving he will be expensive, and if the Arse are interested it seems unlikely he will come here.

-- Anonymous, May 16, 2000

Enrique, Guardiola and that Icelander from Bolton whose name I cannot spell I'm getting impatient and the season has only been over a couple of days

-- Anonymous, May 16, 2000

Gudjohnssen (sp?) got injured in the play off game on Sunday....he's also publicly stated that he wouldn't leave Bolton if they got promoted....

Forget about him.....

-- Anonymous, May 16, 2000

What about Kanu? He is in today's papers talking about how lonely London is and how he goes out on the tube etc just to see people. He'd have neee trouble meeting people in the Toon and he knows we're good supporters. In truth, I think we may find that it's a disappointing close-season and every man and his wife will be after any players who are good in Euro 2000.

-- Anonymous, May 16, 2000

So long as it's not another case of shelling out x million for someone with an unusual name (having an apostrophe in it for no reason for instance) and then cringing with embarrassment as the World points out how his country won the tournament despite him...

-- Anonymous, May 16, 2000

Well Softy, at least we could be certain that particular kind of embarrassment wouldn't apply to Kanu, post Euro 2000.

-- Anonymous, May 16, 2000

Clarky, I must stop you right there! We do this to ourselves all the time: Kanu says he's horribly lonely in the smerk, he looked genuinely touched by the standing ovation at SJP, Arsenal seem to be after another striker...qed Kanu for the Toon. Aaaaarrrghhh!!!

I've been fantasizing about the same thing [sob sob sob]

-- Anonymous, May 17, 2000

>>So long as it's not another case of shelling out x million for someone with an unusual name (having an apostrophe in it for no reason for instance) and then cringing with embarrassment as the World points out how his country won the tournament despite him... <<

Andy Cole or Munchkin?

-- Anonymous, May 17, 2000