Newcastle Hold Preliminary Talks With Kezman

By Karl Wilkinson
April 11 2004

Newcastle United have held preliminary talks with PSV striker Mateja Kezman.

Kezman who scored against us in the quarter final first leg last week is said to be interested in a move to the north east. Despite 2 weeks ago saying that we werent a big club.

Kezman's agent last night warned that Newcastle are just one of many top European clubs who have enquired about the 'prolific' 24-year-old.

"We have spoken to Newcastle about Mateja like we have many other clubs," Chiel Dekker told the Sunday Sun. "These kind of talks are normal when you are in the process of discovering who is interested in a player.

"It's clear that they like him and he would love to go there."

That is despite Kezman suggesting Newcastle were "not a really top club" ahead of the ongoing UEFA Cup tie.

PSV are ready to cash in on him at the end of the season, rather than risk losing him for nothing when his contract with them expires next summer.

As well as Newcastle, Liverpool, Manchester United, Barcelona and Birmingham City have been linked with a man who scored 35 goals in 33 games for PSV last season, and is the leading goalscorer in Holland again this term. Which isnt particularly hard in the dutch league. When i have seen him he has been poor and was anonymous against us last week apart from his goal. I haven't seen him play well against top class opposition, although i have only seen him a few times int he champions league.

Newcastle would hope that winning the race to finish in the Premiership's fourth and final Champions League qualifying position - as well as a run to the UEFA Cup final - could help finance any deal for Kezman.

But it still remains to be seen whether they would be able to beat off all other interested parties for one of European football's 'hottest' properties.

And the Magpies may yet decide that Leeds striker Alan Smith is a better-value option, in the event of the Elland Road club being relegated. Smith is proven in the premiership and gives 100% every game, a much better option in my opinion.

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