N'Zogbia's Latest Transfer Link..... To Wigan???

By Tyne-Talk
May 28 2008

Newcastle United winger Charles N’Zogbia has this time caught the eye of Wigan Athletic in a move which could see him follow former Toon defender Titus Bramble to the JJB Stadium. Since Kevin Keegan took charge of the club in early 2008 N’Zogbia has been repeatedly linked with a move away from Newcastle, mostly with London clubs Arsenal and Tottenham.

However, the Daily Mirror is reporting that Wigan manager Steve Bruce is set to offer £3.5million for the French under 21 international.

N’Zogbia spoke out earlier this month emphasising he is happy at Newcastle, a statement which may have been aimed at squashing rumours he wanted a move to London as he was unsettled in the North East and “homesick”.

He said:

“I am happy at Newcastle United and, to tell the truth, I have always been.

At the moment, all I am concentrating on in playing for France Under-21s in Sweden at the end of this month and then, like the rest of the Newcastle squad, I will be looking at what players we are going to sign.”

Manager Kevin Keegan also backed the 21 year old to stay after it was revealed that Keegan refused to allow N’Zogbia to leave in January.

He said in April:

“Charles and his agent wanted to move him out during the transfer window and I wouldn’t allow that.

I said if he did his best until the end of the season and felt the same way, I’d let him go — if he still wanted to go. But it would be on our terms.

If he can learn to be a team player with his individual skill, he will be a hell of an asset for any club.”

He added:

“We have 16 or 17 players who are totally committed, as a pack, to taking this club forward and Charles has got to come into it a little bit more.

I think he has been told that by the other players. They know he can be a tremendous asset — but he has got to be fully, fully committed.”

In a separate interview in early May Keegan said:

“It’s well documented and it’s on record, so I’m not saying anything you don’t know, but he wanted to move just as I came in. I came in with eight days left of the transfer window and I told him what I think was common sense, that looking at my players, and the limited chances I had of getting anyone in, I’m not going to let you go now. But if you still feel the same way at the end of the season then you can go, but it will be on our terms. That’s exactly what I said then and that’s exactly how it is now.

I think that Charles has shown the desired reaction following our chat a few weeks ago, even though he had to wait to come in. To be fair to Charles N’Zogbia, he has trained fantastically well and he has had to wait for his opportunity to get back into the team because there’s no way I was going to put players in when the players who were in possession were doing so well.”

Steve Bruce may be offering £3.5million (allegedly) but is Wigan really a step forward for N'Zogbia?