The Guardian is reporting that Scott Parker will sign a 3 or 4-year contract with Newcastle United later today. The Magpies will pay a bargain £6.5m for the much undervalued and underused midfielder.
Parker is apparently interrupting his holiday in Portugal to travel to Newcastle where he will sign a contract thought to match his current wages.
Newcastle’s manager Graeme Souness is also said to be interrupting a holiday to return this morning and later it is expected Parker will be unveiled at a press conference after his medical.
Parker moved to Chelsea from Charlton only 17 months ago — for £10m — but was not a regular even for the man who signed him, Claudio Ranieri.
When Jose Mourinho succeeded Ranieri, Parker remained behind Claude Makalele and Frank Lampard in the pecking order and last season Parker’s chances were further limited by injury.
Late last month Jose Mourinho said he wanted to keep Parker at the Bridge but would understand if he wants to leave.
I’m gutted that we’re set to lose a young English player of Scott Parker’s calibre. It’s a real shame.
Magpies confirm Parker deal · Update
Newcastle United have confirmed that they are set to announce the signing of Scott Parker on a 5-year deal. They have called a press conference for 5pm today when they will unveil Parker as their player.
Parker, meanwhile, has already spoken to the Newcastle Evening Chronicle: “This is the club for me. I know that other clubs were keen on me, but as soon as I heard Newcastle were interested, there was only one place I was going.
“I know some people say that Newcastle may have underachieved last year, but they got the semi-final of the FA Cup and the last eight of the UEFA Cup, and in my eyes — and a lot of people’s eyes — this is still a massive club.
“The stature of this club is massive and I really have a high regard for the manager, Graeme Souness.
“He is one of the reasons I have decided to come here. He has been unbelievable in all of this and so too has the chairman.”
Nothing to do with the fact that Newcastle were willing to match your current wages? Sorry, the cynic in me couldn’t resist that!
All the best for the future, Scott.
Not-so-great Scott · Update
Rio de Janeiro. Paris. Milan. Rome. Bondi Beach. Weird Uncle Fiver’s Bongo Shack. The Fiver can think of lots of places it would happily spend the next four years. Somewhat lower down our list sits Newcastle United FC, current home of The Graeme Souness Down Down Deeper and Down Experience. However, Scott Parker is much less fussy, telling reporters today that “as soon as I heard Newcastle were interested, there was only one place I was going”. And no, he didn’t mean the drinks cabinet.
Souness has paid GBP6.5m for Parker – some fee for a midfielder who has produced fewer barnstorming performances in a Chelsea shirt than David Mellor – so it represents quite a gamble on both sides. But Souness, who last week actually tried to convince Belgian man-mountain Daniel Van Buyten that Newcastle “could even win the Premiership” next season, has been busy working the snake-oil salesman magic again. How else to explain Parker’s view that he’s joining “a massive club”.
“I know some people say that Newcastle may have underachieved last year, but they got to the semi-final of the FA Cup and the last eight of Euro Vase and in my eyes – and a lot of people’s eyes – this is still a massive club,” Parker insisted, his face as straight as a five-bob note. “The stature of this club is massive and I really have a high regard for the manager. He is one of the reasons I have decided to come here. He has been unbelievable and so too has the chairman.” Cripes! What next? Lee Bowyer wouldn’t hurt a fly? Kieron Dyer is just misunderstood?
Related links:
- Parker deal could reignite feud
- Parker moves on
- Parker confirms Spurs snub
- Parker arrives at Newcastle with plenty to say and much to prove
- Newcastle start rebuilding with £6.5m Parker
- Another ‘trophy’ for Newcastle
- Parker and Chelsea disprove reality theory
- Parker blasts Jose
