Newcastle United: Babayaro joins Toon army!

Newcastle boss Graeme Souness is closing in on his first transfer window signing after identifying Chelsea full-back Celestine Babayaro as a target.

The Magpies are looking to bolster their defence when the market opens in January and the Nigeria international - a survivor of the Ruud Gullit era at Stamford Bridge - could make a move north within days.

It is understood negotiations have reached an advanced stage, with the full-back's Chelsea contract due to expire at the end of the season.

Middlesbrough and Liverpool are believed to have been trailing the 26-year-old, who arrived in England in a £2.25million switch from Anderlecht in June 1997.

Babayaro has won the FA Cup, the League Cup, the Charity Shield and the European Super Cup with the Londoners, but has found himself surplus to requirements since Roman Abramovich took control of the club.

In particular the arrival of England left-back Wayne Bridge meant Babayaro being left on the sidelines.

Sportinglife

[Edited on 30/12/04 by TRD]

i think babayaro is a good player, did he not have a problem with discpine though?

if he joins up, wonder if bernard will defo be going then? but i think it would be a good deal.

Babayaro is a decent player and it will be interesting ot see if Chelsea are willing to let him go. At the moment Newcastle are being linked with everyone so it might be a busy January for them...

yer, they are getting linked with a number of players, but then again, its no secret that the toon need defenders

at chelsea, hes behind gallas and bridge for left back, so he aint gonna feature much

this is from the bbc. souness was quoted as saying

Souness would not be drawn on specifics over individual players.

But he said: "All I can tell you is that the chairman has worked really hard in the last couple of months to try to do deals.

"We have said from day one we want to strengthen, and that is what we are hoping to do in the coming weeks."

it sounds like there will be arrivals

babayaro has signed for them now

Newcastle have confirmed that Chelsea full-back Celestine Babayaro will become Graeme Souness' first transfer window signing on New Year's Day.

The 26-year-old, who would have been out of contract at the end of the season, moves for an undisclosed fee.

Babayaro looks set to make his debut in the FA Cup third round against Yeading.

The left-back can also play in the Uefa Cup for the Magpies as he has not featured in Chelsea's Champions League campaign despite being on the bench.

A Newcastle spokesman confirmed: "The player will be transferred for an undisclosed fee on 1 January.

Good signing by Newcastle and it throws doubt on wether Bernard is going to stay now...

yer, there no doubt he will come in as left back i feel. bernard with all this contract saga,. souness growing tired of it will say, you can leave now.

wonder how much he cost, cos its saying its undisclosed

I'm sure i read it was 1.5 million....

so they got him at left back, stephen carr whe he comes back from injury on the right, perhaps boumsong if it happens, still maybe a defender short of a good back 4 lol

thats from another thread TRD did about chelsea looking to spend

But Mourinho admitted: "With (Celestine) Babayaro and (Scott) Parker both injured I have just 16 outfield players. That is not many.

i wonder how he passed the medical at newcaslte?