The hardest hurdle appears to be over in this deal. If Zenden wants to talk to Robson he must surely be aware we don't come with European football and it doesn't matter to him next season. £6million is an excellent price for this sort of player as well.

With Sol Campbell again stalling over where to play, Marcellino may yet come into this deal?

Come on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bobby Robson's transfer misery finally eased yesterday when Barcelona midfielder Boudewijn Zenden revealed that he was ready to open talks over a £6million move to St James' Park.

After drawing a series of blanks in his pursuit of strikers Francis Jeffers and Tomasz Radzinski and Manchester City wing back Danny Tiatto, the Newcastle boss was at last offered a ray of hope.

Zenden said: 'I know Newcastle have been asking for information about me and I would be happy to meet Mr Robson to see if we can reach an agreement.'

Zenden has conceded that he has no future at the Nou Camp since Carlos Rexach's appointment as first-team coach, and Robson sees the 24-year old Dutchman as the prime candidate to fill a vacancy on the left flank.

Midfielder Nolberto Solano has ended the uncertainty surrounding his Newcastle future by signing a new five-year contract worth £22,000 a week.

-- Anonymous, June 20, 2001

Answers

A possibility?

-- Anonymous, June 20, 2001

!!!!!!!!Hey Bobby has also asked about Dani, the striker. The paper here reckons a 12.5mil double deal is possibly on. F'ing class. Dani always does well when he comes on. That price for these two is not bad. I just hope it materialises. (The only downside to Dani is his frizzy affro haircut)

-- Anonymous, June 20, 2001

Chuck in Marcelino (from a height) and this is a fine, fine looking deal. Fingers crossed.

-- Anonymous, June 20, 2001

Reading another local sport paper it says Barca don't want to sell Dani, but are prepared to loan him (us?) for a year. This paper says Zenden is also talking to Parma and Deportivo. So don't get over excited.

-- Anonymous, June 20, 2001

Well what CAN we offer Zenden apart from enough money and a almost guaranteed starting spot?

-- Anonymous, June 20, 2001

Zenden is apparently a good lad, he gets stuck in. The feeling is he needs regular starring action to attract Van Gaal, would he get that at Parma?

-- Anonymous, June 20, 2001

£12.5mm + Marcy for Zenden + Dani would be excellent business.
Barca probably feel they can resurrect Marcy's value and sell him on in 6 months time for the equivalent of £4-5mm, so it could also be seen to be good business for them.

Now, how about trying for Sol Campbell now Freddie?

-- Anonymous, June 20, 2001

espanyol also want dani, but for him its a low profile step, i really hope he comes to us. As far as players go he's perfect for us, not a whinger, gets in the box and is an international. A great buy, IF we can pull it off.

-- Anonymous, June 20, 2001

With Shepherd having been in Barcelona over the past month, I wonder how far advanced the negotiations are. Zenden is saying that Newcastle requested information on the player but surely they must be at a more advanced stage than that.

Crucial transfer this one, even without the Dani part of it. I only hope Zenden is not using us to get himself in the spotlight, although he seems a genuine enough player.

-- Anonymous, June 20, 2001

Ahh I see that we're getting excited again today :)) how long will it take for us to get depressed when there's no movement on this rumour? don't you just love the close season......rumours rumours rumours and never any transfer action until the very last minute...

-- Anonymous, June 20, 2001

Probably about lunchtime when Zenden reveals he has signed for Deportivo La Coruna as the lure of Champions League football was too much to turn down!

-- Anonymous, June 20, 2001

;))

-- Anonymous, June 20, 2001

My thoughts exactly Gav. Finally, just as the relentless optimists have had every glimmer of hope bashed out of them by months of drudging inactivity and started salivating at the prospect of Lee Hughes, there's one casual comment (probably misreported) and they're off again. It's like winding up a clockwork mouse. Personally, I'd rather assume we're trying to sign Richard Prokas as the new lynchpin of our midfield and be pleasantly surprised if anyone better shows up. ;@)

-- Anonymous, June 20, 2001

Barca are buying up just about every expensive winger/striker in South America. These guys on the way out will want to prove themselves, there is a bit of a feeling of failure about them which they'll want to prove wrong.

-- Anonymous, June 20, 2001

I'd rather watch Gavin in midfield than Murray, at least it would be fun going to matches again. The first player to play carrying a pint since Billy Whitehurst...

-- Anonymous, June 20, 2001

BOUDEWIJN ZENDEN has responded to rumours linking him with a move to The Premiership by issuing a come-and-get-me plea to Newcastle United. The Barcelona and Holland star - who can play anywhere down the left side - was linked with a move to the North East, and has responded by admitting he would like to find an agreement.

Lazio and Fiorentina competed to sign the flanker last year, but a move from the Roman club fell through at the last minute for financial reasons.

However, the Dutchman insisted that he was keen to hold talks with Magpies boss Bobby Robson to discuss a move to England.

"I know Newcastle have been asking for information about me," said Zenden. "I would be happy to meet Mr Robson to see if we can reach an agreement."

United would face competition to sign the speedy 24-year-old, with Deportivo La Coruna also rumoured to be ready to launch a bid for the Barca player.

It also seems likely that Italian clubs will be alerted to the availability of Zenden - and may refresh their interest in the £6 million rated star.

-- Anonymous, June 20, 2001

6m for a dutch international schooled in the ways of barca, left wing, 24 years old, wants to play for us etc, is perfect.

-- Anonymous, June 20, 2001

So he's off to Deportivo this afternoon then? Wahaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-- Anonymous, June 20, 2001

I'm not entirely convinced that I would be happy to meet Mr Robson exactly constitutes a 'come-and-get-me plea'.

-- Anonymous, June 20, 2001

It's more than Francis Jeffers did!

-- Anonymous, June 20, 2001

Doesn't he know McClaren is in charge now ?

-- Anonymous, June 20, 2001

Ya, we will end up with Elliot, Hughes and Murray - as far as I have heard hes also injury prone, sounds like a GREAT signing if you ask me!

To get Zenden, Dani AND get rid of Marcelino in one day. That must be to good to be true.

-- Anonymous, June 20, 2001

Let's face it, getting rid of Martha will be a great day and will probably boost ticket sales. The close season is much longer than I remembered)c:

-- Anonymous, June 20, 2001

According to the Ronnie today, Zenden is signing for us after the Spanish cup games over the next 9 days. He has semis (2 legs) tonight and Sunday and if successful the final next Saturday. £7M.

-- Anonymous, June 21, 2001

class, to go with Kiko who wants to come...and is free

-- Anonymous, June 21, 2001

That leaves an awful lot of time left for other clubs to make thier offers and sort out deals.

When he's at St James Park I'll believe it.

-- Anonymous, June 21, 2001