The Michael Bridges rumour surfaces again. Leeds will probably listen to offers once they have signed Keane permanently. They're going to pay £12 million for Keane so we could get Bridges for £9-10 million.

Would you buy him?

PERSISTENT rumours linking Leeds United's out-of-favour striker, Michael Bridges with a return to his native North East have been revived, as Newcastle United are reported to be lining up a £10 million bid for the player. Magpies boss, Bobby Robson - who has battled all season against a crippling injury list and lack of financial clout to be able to do anything about it, is set to make a move in the summer.

The Whitley Bay-born star has seen his first-team chances at Elland Road become limited due to the emergence of Alan Smith and his own injury problems.

Australian duo, Mark Viduka and Harry Kewell head Leeds' glittering array of striking power, along with Smith and Robbie Keane, it is difficult to see Bridges commanding a regular first-team place.

With Leeds having shelled out £60 million on their pursuit of European glory, it would appear that Bridges could be sacrificed.

Keane will seal his own £12 million transfer from Internazionale to Leeds in the summer, with the transfer of Bridges a possibility to part-fund the deal.

The arrival of the former Coventry starlet has seen Bridges' stock fall even further and the £5 million signing from Newcastle's North-Eastern neighbours, Sunderland could end up playing for his boyhood heroes.

-- Anonymous, February 09, 2001

Answers

Answers Page thingy.

-- Anonymous, February 09, 2001

10m is far too much for a player who has been out all season injured

how about £15 000 a game?

-- Anonymous, February 09, 2001

10 mill! you are joking....he's surely reduced in value because of his inability to get into the Leeds team....

3 mill max!

-- Anonymous, February 09, 2001

Bearing in mind we spent £7 million on Carl Cort?!

It's not a matter of how much he's worth it's a matter of the price that the clubs agree on. I would imagine that Robson is quite anxious to sign another top forward so the demand is there and Leeds will be looking to make a profit and get as near to the money they will be shelling out for Keane, so about £8 million is probably what he'll go for.

-- Anonymous, February 09, 2001

If we can't afford Bridges I'd go for Lee Hughes.

-- Anonymous, February 09, 2001

Cobblers to Hughes. Bridges, absoultely, for the right price. Terrific player, good foil for any front man, gets goals, Geordie. International quality.

-- Anonymous, February 09, 2001

Hughes has consistently scored in Div 1, with West Brom!! I see no reason why he can't do what Marcus Stewart and Munchkin have done. He may accpet more easily that Shearer will play if fit!!

-- Anonymous, February 09, 2001

Either would do, but Hughes could turn out to be as good as Keane or as erratic as Bellamy so there's more risk involved. He'd be a bit cheaper than Bridges but still not cheap. I'd like to see Bridges here personally, thought we should have signed him when he left Sunderland. He's the kind of small, mobile forward we haven't got - Shearer, Cort and Amoebi are different and Gallacher's knocking on a bit. Given that it's unlikely Cordone will be here next seaon we'll need at least one more forward and preferably two, so could we afford both?

-- Anonymous, February 09, 2001

Shearer, Cort,Bridges/Hughes, Lua-Lua, Ameobi.

That would do for me. Consolidate the centre of defence into a stable partnership = Hughes and AN Other and a left winger then go for it.

-- Anonymous, February 09, 2001

Hughes had a crackin' seasin (99-00?) but I thought he'd gone off the boil a bit this season. Just gut feel mind. How much did MB cost Leeds? £6? I'd offer them that, with perhaps a bit to follow dependent on appearances.

-- Anonymous, February 09, 2001

Oops - of course, I didn't mean £6 for Bridges. Make it 6 mil.

-- Anonymous, February 09, 2001

Nationwide Football League Division One

L FA LC E O T

1 Saha Fulham 18 0 5 0 0 23

2 Hughes West Brom 17 1 0 0 0 18

3 Morrison Crystal Palace 12 1 4 0 0 17

4 Ricketts Bolton 15 1 1 0 0 17

I just know the formatting is going to be crap on this but Hughes is one league goal behind Saha. He's doing it again.

-- Anonymous, February 09, 2001

Thanks DeB. I knew some smart @rse fellow would come up with the figures. What's his injury record like??? ;-)

-- Anonymous, February 09, 2001

Every time I've seen Bridges, he's been missing sitters....however, I'd take him. That Morrisson is an utter twocker of a striker. Nooooo!

-- Anonymous, February 09, 2001

On the 16th of February a final decision on football transfers is likey to be resolved. We'll probably be able to get Bridges for a couple of million in compensation money at the end of the season.

-- Anonymous, February 09, 2001

How old is Bridges? I thought he is 22? That would mean a compensatory fee being agreed.

-- Anonymous, February 09, 2001

My brother used to play in the same school team as Bridges and since he moved to Leeds they've become good friends again. Naturally I keep badgering him to make sure Bridges comes back to Newcastle. From what I've been told although he'd love to play for the toon, he's enjoying it at Leeds and is happy to fight for his place once he's fit again.

Saying that, considering how much he was putting away while home for Xmas, if he moved up here permanently we could have another John Hartson on our hands!

-- Anonymous, February 09, 2001

It all boils down to Leeds deciding if they can sell him then, if they do Bridges will not be too happy and would jump at a chance of playing for the Toon who may well finish above Leeds this year.

-- Anonymous, February 09, 2001

PAPER TALK 'O' PAPER TALK, where are you my taxi driver!!!!!!!!

Just say if Mr Bridges was at the toon and we had a surplus of strikers, would the daily mail link a 10million bid for him? Would they like shite. They would be telling their readers we just want our money back.

I think Mr Risdale(What ever his name is?) has been playing walkie talkies with reporters on his mobile phone.

I would like him at the toon, good player and he is a geordie etc., but wouldnt offer more than 7.5million. On the basis that if Sunderland valued him at 5million, then Leeds (where he hasnt had a real chance to prove himself) a slightly bigger club can expect a slightly bigger transfer fee.

But this sounds to me like Leeds are getting desperate, you know, they have played the transfer game to deep, for a club of their resources. And 'desperately' want funds to play a little more to buy a certain Mr Keane.

Why dont the toon wait in stealth, and hover around a certain Mr Keane.......HEY, It's a hard world, and it would teach Leeds a valuable lesson for trying to play with the big boys etc.

-- Anonymous, February 09, 2001