Would this cheer some of you up a wee bit?

FOOTBALL: ROBSON'S A JAN FAN

"NEWCASTLE United are the new favourites to land the Czech Republic's giant striker Jan Koller.

United manager Bobby Robson sent scouts to watch the Anderlect player last season and he has been impressed with Koller's Euro 2000 form.

Koller believes his qualities are ideally suited to the Premiership and has spoken to international team-mate Pavel Srnicek about life at Newcastle.

Robson won't want to pay the pounds 7m asking price but could offer Temuri Ketsbaia or Silvio Maric in part-exchange."

-- Anonymous, June 29, 2000

Answers

OR BOTH with any luck

-- Anonymous, June 29, 2000

"but could offer...Silvio Maric in part-exchange." - 6,999,999.99 still appears too much!

;7)

-- Anonymous, June 29, 2000

Koller swap to be offered?

As reported earlier this week, the #6million price tag could prevent any deal being done with United with the forward more likely to join Udinese or Italian double winners Lazio. However, Robson now hopes to tempt Anderlecht by offering Temuri Ketsbaia and Silvio Maric as part of a player plus cash exchange deal. Both players wish to leave Tyneside as neither features in Robson's plans.

(Arrggghh - Just the type of deal that puts me in two minds. We can dump Maric's contract + Shift Ketsbaia from out payrole for a type of player I don't want to see at NUFC)

The deal could be tempting to Anderlecht who are looking to strengthen their squad for the challenge of the Champions League. However, if the Belgians decide that they would rather have #6million cash, Koller will not be arriving on Tyneside this summer.

(If they wan't to strengthen for the Champions League then our players are not what they should be looking at.)

A further problem could be the interest of the wealthy Lazio. Anderlecht can now afford to raise the asking price as money is seemingly no object to the Italian giants.

No deal will be done until Koller returns from holiday in ten days time. If Robson does miss out on the 6ft 7in striker he could turn his attention to Belgian hitman Emile Mpenza of German club Shalke. The 21-year-old is also a target of Premiership rivals Tottenham Hotspur. However, the fee could again prevent any bid from Robson as he is valued in the same bracket as Koller.

(One week ago Emile Mpenza was valued at only 4 million. 2 weeks ago he was valued at 6 million. 3 weeks ago he was valued at only 2 million.)

-- Anonymous, June 30, 2000