Newcastle United target Bayer Leverkusen’s Tranquillo Barnetta – Bundesliga news
English Premier League side, Newcastle United, have decided to place an improved offer for Bayer Leverkusen midfielder, Tranquillo Barnetta, ahead of the new campaign. The German club had earlier rejected a bid from the English side as it was deemed too
low and criticised by the player’s club and the agent.
Newcastle manager, Alan Pardew, after several discussions recently, decided to launch an improved bid for the Switzerland international, who could fill in the boots of controversial midfielder Joey Barton.
Barton has been a controversial figure for the Toon ever since he landed at St. James Park and was recently involved in a war of words with the club’s higher authorities. The player was caught criticising the club’s management on a social networking website,
Twitter. The matter was not taken lightly by the club officials as they allowed Barton to leave on a free transfer, one year before his contract was to expire. The player seemed to have no problems with this decision and hasn’t apologised as yet.
The Toon are mentally prepared about Barton’s exit and have Leverkusen’s Barnetta in their sights. Pardew told that the Swiss could well fit in the English conditions and help his side achieve better results as compared to the last campaign, where the team
finished 12th on the league table.
While addressing a press conference, Pardew enthused, “I’ve never closed the door on anyone and I’m not closing the door on Joey. He trained with the development team today and, who knows, he may train with the first team soon”
Barnetta joined Leverkusen in 2004 but went to Hannover on a one-year loan during the same season. He managed only seven appearances and netted two goals in return. He returned to Werkself in 2005 and has 180 Bundesliga appearances under his belt so far,
bagging 23 goals during the process. The player made his Switzerland debut in 2004 and has eight goals to show from 59 games until now.