Sochaux Forward Modibo Maiga Newcastle's New Number 9?

Seven months after letting their prized asset Andy Carroll leave the club to join Liverpool in a £35 million deal in January, Newcastle United are making moves this week to sign a new star striker, who we are guessing could be the latest to wear one of the most coveted shirt numbers in football. The Associated Press (via nufc.com) reports that 24 year old Sochaux forward & Mali international Modibo Maiga could be making his way to the North East before the transfer window shuts for ‚8m on a five-year deal. The player is said to be pressuring his French club's President into allowing him to speak to the Premier League club over the transfer. In the latest in a long line of sulking Frenchman/French based players that end up at Newcastle (this has shades of Hatem Ben Arfa and French born Demba Ba's transfers... the latter not to us but from Hoffeinheim to West Ham), Maiga didn't bother to turn up for last Saturday's defeat against Caen and then went AWOL the following day to try and force through the move. We are not quite at the stage yet for the player to fly to the North East without permission of his club to try and broker the deal, but the week is still young. Maiba told Monday's edition of sports daily L'Equipe that "they (Newcastle) want me to come and it's not just any old club'' and that "the president has to discuss my transfer.'' Sochaux then released a statement on their website;

FC Sochaux-Montbéliard recorded in amazement the boycott by one of its players from the meeting with the Ligue 1 side Caen and absence without leave in the training session scheduled this Sunday, August 14 2011. The direction of the club condemns this unacceptable behaviour from a player who is contractually bound after engaging in summer 2010 for a period of four years (until June 2014). FCSM consider that this behaviour is totally disrespectful to the club, his teammates and his fans. It will not be without consequence or punishment.

Pacy Maiba was a goal machine for Sochaux last season netting 15 times and as Newcastle have lost both their scoring talisman this year (Carroll & Kevin Nolan) and looking light up front, manager Alan Pardew seemingly believes he is the ideal man for the Toon to play alongside target men Shola Ameobi and Demba Ba. No doubt too he is also impressed by Maiga's versatility as he has been known to play as a winger and out and out striker, not unlike new Arsenal signing Gervinho whom was one of Pardew's first summer targets and who caused Newcastle so much problems at the weekend before getting himself sent off. Coincidentally, Maiga used to play alongside Gervinho at Le Mans. Newcastle's last transfer deal with Sochaux was for the snip price purchase of Sebastian Bassong four years ago, which then led to the club making an incredible £9 million profit when he left for Spurs just one year later, following our relegation. Good bit of business as Spurs are now stuck with the inconsistent player and there has been talk of loaning him out or even selling him for half that fee before the summer is out! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=am_gWOrkj_8 Wikipedia's profile on Modibo Maiga who has played 16 times for his country Mali and scored 3 goals. Meanwhile, Newcastle are still pursuing PSV Eindhoven left back Erik Pieters as their replacement for the recently sold Jose Enrique. The player appeared for PSV in their 1-0 home win on Saturday evening somewhat surprisingly as reports earlier suggested he would sit the fixture out in the aftermath of his Grandmouth's death. The funeral service is today so the official word is his mind is focused on family matters but a decision is expected this week on whether he will join the club, in what is now thought to be a £7 million move.