San Lorenzo eye quick Colo deal

Argentinian club San Lorenzo have set a deadline in their bid to sign Newcastle captain Fabricio Coloccini.

Last Updated: 11/01/13 at 17:24 Post Comment   

Fabricio Coloccini: No official request to leave

Fabricio Coloccini: No official request to leave

The 30-year-old Argentina international has not submitted a formal transfer request, but has indicated his desire to return to South America for personal reasons.

That has alerted the likes of San Lorenzo, who upped the stakes today when president Matias Lammens told ESPN Radio Rivadavia: "Time is running out for the signing.

"When you go for a class A defender, the timings are a bit different, but if in the next week we don't have a response then we will have to go for another option."

Lammens' comments will infuriate the Magpies as they attempt to persuade Coloccini,

who signed a four-year contract extension in March last year, that his future remains at St James' Park.

The club has not commented on rumours that Coloccini wants to leave after they resurfaced today.

His father Osvaldo revealed San Lorenzo's interest in the player several days ago, and they have made little secret of their intent to sign him despite admitting they cannot afford to buy him.

Lammens added: "Coloccini's arrival is very difficult. We can't go out and buy him; we have always said that we depended on the desire of the player to rescind [his deal].

"We can offer him a very good contract in the case of him rescinding, but San Lorenzo have nothing left to do with regards to the negotiating."

Coloccini cost Newcastle £10.3million when they signed him from Deportivo la Coruna during the summer of 2008.

He struggled initially to settle into English football and was part of the squad which was relegated at the end of his first season.

However, he has since rebuilt his reputation to the extent that he was handed the armband by manager Alan Pardew following Kevin Nolan's departure for West Ham and led the club to fifth place in last season's Barclays Premier League.

Coloccini's form has been patchy in recent weeks amid a run which has seen the Magpies lose 11 of their past 14 games in all competitions to slide towards the relegation zone and out of the FA Cup.

Speaking about the FA Cup loss to Brighton, Pardew said: "It was a difficult situation. It was a really horrible day for the players and fans and more importantly the staff, but we have to lick our wounds.

"We are much stronger this week and that is much better for us."

Despite more frustration in his search for a striker to replace the departed Demba Ba, Pardew has had some welcome good news with the arrival of French full-back Mathieu Debuchy and the return to fitness of Papiss Cisse and Yohan Cabaye.

Pardew knows his big names will be needed to end a dismal run of just four points from 10 away league games this season.

Ahead of tomorrow's trip to Norwich he added: "We are getting some senior bodies back around the team at a crucial time.

"We really need to get some momentum back for our fans, who we really let down last week. It is important that we give a really good account of ourselves at Norwich and start getting points on the board.

"We have been very competitive and we just need that break to give us the win and the good feeling in the group.

"I don't think we're a million miles away from that. Certainly the team that played last week was a shadow of the one that will line up at Norwich."

Pardew believes midfielder Cabaye will be key to his side's recovery, and although the Frenchman is likely to start on the bench at Carrow Road, his influence when injury free could significantly dictate his side's fortunes for the rest of the season.

"At the start of the season we were unaware Yohan was carrying an injury and so it didn't look like he was playing his best football for us, certainly not as well as he had been playing at the end of last year," Pardew added.

"But he looks much better now. His movement and passing is better and he is going to make a big, big difference for us because so much of our play goes through him. So he will make us a more attractive team and hopefully a more productive team."

Football365 Facebook Fan Page

The Football365 fan page is a great place to meet like minded people, have football related discussions and make new friends.

Related News

Sky Bet

    • Retrieving latest Sky Bet odds

Most Commented

Readers' Comments

I

ve heard his older brother might be joining as part of the deal too... Roland.

wezmond
West Ham sign defender Rat

I

think it's time anyway. That hat must smell awful by now. Time for a change and a rinse

levi
Pulis' Stoke exit confirmed

A

manager's job is to manage? or have I missed something here? PDC is in charge of our players, not Gordon Taylor. Move along here, nothing to see.

TheGuru
PFA: Cats players have complained

Footer 365

Boateng signs Fulham deal

Ghana international midfielder Derek Boateng has announced he has signed a two-year deal at Fulham.

Cardiff boss Malky Mackay insists he will not join Everton

Cardiff manager Malky Mackay has played down talk linking him with the vacancy at Everton.

Pardew set for crunch Toon talks

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew is due to sit down with owner Mike Ashley on Wednesday to discuss the way forward.

Mail Box

A Night In The Pub With Aston Villa...

Villa are the latest team to get the pub treatment, while the morning mailbox also includes missives on Tony Pulis leaving Stoke and Chelsea's future under Jose Mourinho...

Mourinho Isn't Short-Term, Football Is

There's more in the afternoon Mailbox about Jose Mourinho and his potential return to Chelsea, while there's also a link to some pictures of eagles that look like Arsene Wenger...

© 2013 British Sky Broadcasting Ltd. All Rights Reserved