The Race for Miguel Veloso: Newcastle, Manchester United, Everton, Tottenham & Arsenal in the Hunt
The next Portuguese superstar expected to take the Premier League by storm is Sporting Lisbon’s Miguel Veloso. The defensive midfielder can also play at centre-half and has been linked in recent weeks with the likes of Everton, Arsenal, Tottenham, Manchester United and Newcastle. With so many clubs looking for a strong midfield enforcer it is no surprise the long-haired 22-year-old is in such high demand.
The Red Devils have been long term admirers of the Portuguese international as rumours linking him with the club began back in early 2007. He would certainly be in good company if he did join the champions as compatriots Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani would surely make his transition into the Premier League a smooth process. However, with a array of central midfielders such as Anderson, Owen Hargreaves, Paul Scholes, Michael Carrick and Darren Fletcher it is difficult to see where he would fit in to the team.
The Gunners are in the hunt for Mathieu Flamini’s replacement so Veloso would be an excellent proposition for them. However, an inflated price tag may rule out the North London giants and allow the likes of Spurs, Newcastle and the Toffees to muscle in on the action. Each club has cash to spend and to sign a player of this quality would be a real statement of intent for the next season, particuarly for Newcastle who’ve lost out twice to Tottenham over Luka Modric and Jonathan Woodgate’s signatures.
Veloso is a full international and impressed in the European U21 Championships held in Holland last summer. He is expected to Veloso has himself stated that he unsure of his future following a Portuguese Cup final win over Porto though the Premier League is looking more and more his next destination.
So would you like to see Miguel Veloso strutting his stuff in the Premier League? Could he be the next in a long line of recent Portuguese imports who have prospered in the English top flight or do you expect him to flop? Let’s hear your views.
Tags: Arsenal, Everton, Manchester United, Miguel Veloso, Newcastle, Portugal, Premier League, Sporting Lisbon, Tottenham
May 20th, 2008 at 10:42
I would love to see this player at St James’ next season to ram all the negative comments down the critics throats who’ve been sniping about Keegan, Ashley, Wise etc…Veloso would be a massive coup and put us back on the footballing map. King Kev will reign again!
May 20th, 2008 at 10:44
Lol, if any of those lot can afford him, then I’m sure Arsenal can too. If anything, it could be at least partly facilitated by the sale of an existing player(s). I’m sure there are reserves who we don’t want and will get a couple million for.
May 20th, 2008 at 10:53
I saw him play when i was in Portugal this year and he would be perfect for Spurs alongside Modric. Get rid of Zokora and the rest of the deadwood and bring young class acts in! We would definitely be challenging for top 4 with him, Eto’o and Modric in the side. The future is bright, the future is TOTTENHAM
COYS!
May 20th, 2008 at 10:56
Seriously over rated player who has looked awful for Sporting in the UEFA Cup this past season.
Still, given his reputation and supposed potential, there is absolutely no way he will consider a switch to the likes of Newcastle.
Spurs and Everton may have a shout but I suspect he will end up in Spain.
May 20th, 2008 at 11:11
Why wouldn’t he join the Toon? We have the funds, the messiah in charge and the best fans and stadium in the country. We signed top players like Owen and Martins so don’t write us off yet. Typical stupid view that every top player has to join the big 4 or London clubs. We remain a massive pull to any player whether you like it or not!
May 20th, 2008 at 11:16
‘The future is bright, the future is TOTTENHAM’
I dont think there has ever been a record more stuck than that of a Spurs fan.
May 20th, 2008 at 11:35
I dont think theres ever been a bigger smuck than LOL… loser
May 20th, 2008 at 11:39
Why dont you just take off your black and white specs John B and have a think about why he wouldnt and why you may struggle to keep both Owen and Martins. Europe!
May 20th, 2008 at 11:40
John B!!! One Word!!! Europe!!!
May 20th, 2008 at 11:45
John B, Newcastle “remain a massive pull to any player” ha ha ha ha. Didnt spurs sign the last two players you tried too? Much like West Ham, Newcastle are a “massive pull” to older players looking for one last fat pay cheque whilst winding down there playing days. The last good player you signed (Owen) would not be there if any other club had wanted to take a gamble on a player who had been injured for two years! Now he’s shown he can still cut it other clubs are looking to take him off you!!!
May 20th, 2008 at 11:48
Every single close season its all “spurs will break into the top 4″ etc etc. It just strikes me as quite sad. You finised in the bottom half of the table!! (again!). The amount of catching up you need to do is simply phenominal. You finished 37 points behind Arsenal last season. Thats over 12 straight wins and you are going to lose your one decent player in the close season. Get a grip on yourselves please.
May 20th, 2008 at 11:56
Newcaslte remain a pull for no top player. Thats a fact.
Martins was not courted by anyone else and neither was Owen.
Maybe because one is supposed to be in his early thirties and the other is slightly injury prone!!!
Modric and Woodgate are the last two quality players the “messiah” tried to recruit…and where did they end up?
If given the choice, Newcastle features way down on any top players list
May 20th, 2008 at 12:04
I can’t say i know much about the player but theres no doubt Spurs need a top quality defensive midfielder. I would much rather have Tiago though to be honest. We need someone with that experience, and we already know he can hack it in the Premier League. Although, i expect him to end up in Spain, i think we should try for him again. Veloso looks to have similar potential to Huddlestone (who can also play centre back) so i’m not convinced he’d be the right choice for us. Everton or Newcastle could make good use of him but i think he’ll also end up in Spain.
May 20th, 2008 at 12:19
Martins is in his mid 30’s? Are you mad? why are we not as attractive as Tottenham who are a smaller club than us!
May 20th, 2008 at 12:25
Whoa check all of these spurs fans getting happy because of 1 mickymouse club. Speaking as a neutral I wud rather play my game in newcastle than with the spuds. And wats with the tottenham supporters thinking everybody is going to them now. Listen your not a big club, never will be and never finishing above the arsenal
May 20th, 2008 at 12:36
Listen Spurs best finish in the epl EVAH is 5th, they have NEVER been a top 4 side and NEVER will be, they play at a 2nd rate 36.000 stadium and have never seen modern day Champions League… Any footballer who puts ambition before london night life would take any of the other clubs before Spurs, with Arsenal the best option because of a good oportunity to play regularly in a champions league side… Im hoping for Newcastle tho, even tho Butt did good last year (1-4 at WHL anyone?)
May 20th, 2008 at 12:38
John B… Joseph just reveiled how much he knows about football, so lets count his opinion out.
“one is supposed to be in his early thirties”
lol, no wonder people dont like Spurs fans.
May 20th, 2008 at 12:51
What really makes me laugh is all the haters that Tottenham are now getting from other clubs. Were used to it from the likes of Chelsea and Arsenal (who we beat this season and may rob them of any silverware that they might get) but now that were are CLOSE to mixing it with the best everyone is getting on our back. Personally I welcome it because people only evny other people who have things that they dont. We have potential and with the RIGHT buys in the transfer window COULD mix it with the top four and put Liverpool and Arsenal on their toes for next season. Both Liverpool and Arsenal seem to be on a downer at the moment and not to say that next season they wont dig themsleves out of it but they are clearly not at the stage that Man U and Chelsea are with their squads. Sorry but Ive ignored the comments from Newcastle fans because at least us Tottenham fans have reason to be slightly deluded you lot just take it to a whole new level.
May 20th, 2008 at 13:27
“Tottenham fans have reason to be slightly deluded”
Exactly why is that?
Top Division titles ever of the clubs linked…
Manchester Uniteda 17
Arsenala 13
Everton 9
Newcastle United 4
Tottenham Hotspurs 2
The lowest amount of league titles ever won…
Finishes in the EPL since 93/94 when all linked teams where present in the league.
93/94
1 Manchester United 42 14 6 1 39 13 13 5 3 41 25 92
3 Newcastle United 42 14 4 3 51 14 9 4 8 31 27 77
4 Arsenal 42 10 8 3 25 15 8 9 4 28 13 71
15 Tottenham Hotspur 42 4 8 9 29 33 7 4 10 25 26 45
17 Everton 42 8 4 9 26 30 4 4 13 16 33 44
94/95
2 Manchester United 42 16 4 1 42 4 10 6 5 35 24 88
6 Newcastle United 42 14 6 1 46 20 6 6 9 21 27 72
7 Tottenham Hotspurs 42 10 5 6 32 25 6 9 6 34 33 62
12 Arsenal 42 6 9 6 27 21 7 3 11 25 28 51
15 Everton 42 8 9 4 31 23 3 8 10 13 28 50
95/96
1 Manchester United 38 15 4 0 36 9 10 3 6 37 26 82
2 Newcastle United 38 17 1 1 38 9 7 5 7 28 28 78
5 Arsenal 38 10 7 2 30 16 7 5 7 19 16 63
6 Everton 38 10 5 4 35 19 7 5 7 29 25 61
8 Tottenham Hotspur 38 9 5 5 26 19 7 8 4 24 19 61
96/97
1 Manchester United 38 12 5 2 38 17 9 7 3 38 27 75
2 Newcastle United 38 13 3 3 54 20 6 8 5 19 20 68
3 Arsenal 38 10 5 4 36 18 9 6 4 26 14 68
10 Tottenham Hotspur 38 8 4 7 19 17 5 3 11 25 34 46
15 Everton 38 7 4 8 24 22 3 8 8 20 35 42
97/98
1 Arsenal 38 15 2 2 43 10 8 7 4 25 23 78
2 Manchester United 38 13 4 2 42 9 10 4 5 31 17 77
13 Newcastle United 38 8 5 6 22 20 3 6 10 13 24 44
14 Tottenham Hotspur 38 7 8 4 23 22 4 3 12 21 34 44
17 Everton 38 7 5 7 25 27 2 8 9 16 29 40
98/99
1 Manchester United 38 14 4 1 45 18 8 9 2 35 19 79
2 Arsenal 38 14 5 0 34 5 8 7 4 25 12 78
11 Tottenham Hotspur 38 7 7 5 28 26 4 7 8 19 24 47
13 Newcastle United 38 7 6 6 26 25 4 7 8 22 29 46
14 Everton 38 6 8 5 22 12 5 2 12 20 35 43
99/00
1 Manchester United 38 15 4 0 59 16 13 3 3 38 29 91
2 Arsenal 38 14 3 2 42 17 8 4 7 31 26 73
10 Tottenham Hotspur 38 10 3 6 40 26 5 5 9 17 23 53
11 Newcastle United 38 10 5 4 42 20 4 5 10 21 34 52
13 Everton 38 7 9 3 36 21 5 5 9 23 28 50
00/01
1 Manchester United 38 15 2 2 49 12 9 6 4 30 19 80
2 Arsenal 38 15 3 1 45 13 5 7 7 18 25
11 Newcastle United 38 10 4 5 26 17 4 5 10 18 33 51
12 Tottenham Hotspur 38 11 6 2 31 16 2 4 13 16 38 49
16 Everton 38 6 8 5 29 27 5 1 13 16 32 42
01/02
1 Arsenal
3 Manchester United
4 Newcastle United
9 Tottenham Hotspurs
15 Everton
02/03
1 Manchester United (C) 38 16 2 1 42 12 9 6 4 32 22 83
2 Arsenal 38 15 2 2 47 20 8 7 4 38 22 78
3 Newcastle United 38 15 2 2 36 17 6 4 9 27 31 69
7 Everton 38 11 5 3 28 19 6 3 10 20 30 59 ‘
10 Tottenham Hotspur 38 9 4 6 30 29 5 4 10 21 33 50
03/04
1 Arsenal 38 15 4 0 40 14 11 8 0 33 12 47 90
3 Manchester United 38 12 4 3 37 15 11 2 6 27 20 29 75
5 Newcastle United 38 11 5 3 33 14 2 12 5 19 26 12 56
14 Tottenham Hotspur 38 9 4 6 33 27 4 2 13 14 30 -10 45
17 Everton 38 8 5 6 27 20 1 7 11 18 37 -12 39
04/05
2 Arsenal 38 13 5 1 54 19 12 3 4 33 17 51 83
3 Manchester United 38 12 6 1 31 12 10 5 4 27 14 32 77
4 Everton 38 12 2 5 24 15 6 5 8 21 31 -1 61
9 Tottenham Hotspur 38 9 5 5 36 22 5 5 9 11 19 6 52
14 Newcastle United 38 7 7 5 25 25 3 7 9 22 32 -10 44
05/06
2 Manchester United 38 13 5 1 37 8 12 3 4 35 26 38 83
4 Arsenal 38 14 3 2 48 13 6 4 9 20 18 37 67
5 Tottenham Hotspur 38 12 5 2 31 16 6 6 7 22 22 15 65
7 Newcastle United 38 11 5 3 28 15 6 2 11 19 27 5 58
11 Everton 38 8 4 7 22 22 6 4 9 12 27 -15 50
06/07
1 Manchester United 38 15 2 2 46 12 13 3 3 37 15 56 89
4 Arsenal 38 12 6 1 43 16 7 5 7 20 19 28 68
5 Tottenham Hotspur 38 12 3 4 34 22 5 6 8 23 32 3 60
6 Everton 38 11 4 4 33 17 4 9 6 19 19 16 58
13 Newcastle United 38 7 7 5 23 20 4 3 12 15 27 -9 43
07/08
1 Manchester United 38 17 1 1 47 7 10 5 4 33 15 58 87
3 Arsenal 38 14 5 0 37 11 10 6 3 38 20 44 83
5 Everton 38 11 4 4 34 17 8 4 7 21 16 22 65
11 Tottenham Hotspur 38 8 5 6 46 34 3 8 8 20 27 5 46
12 Newcastle United 38 8 5 6 25 26 3 5 11 20 39 -20 43
Average endings in the EPL…
Newcastle 7,9
Tottenham 10th
Tired of throwing all thi proof at ya, so lets just agree that Arsenal and Man Utd will both be above that and Everton below.
Newcastle Finishes above Spurs out of the last 15 seasons…
9 to Spurs 6… Sigh… rest my case
Oh, and di i mention that Spurs have NEVAH played modern day Champions League?
May 20th, 2008 at 14:01
God you have too much time on your hands mate, can you not see Spurs are the most ambitious club outside the boring top 4 by a mile and should be congratulated for it!…We could be a dull yoyo club like West Ham after all….and Newcastle have not won anything since 1969 so how do you compare those muppets with us??
May 20th, 2008 at 14:12
The hard facts speak for themeselves… You guys think you have reason to be deluded?… Well take a look at the facts again and tell me just why you feel that?
And btw, Leeds where ambititous too, what happens to spurs with a few more mid table positions after all those senseless money being used? (16 mill for Bent when u alrdy have Defoe, Keane and Berba)
May 20th, 2008 at 14:22
Spurs have always been one of the richest clubs in Europe, huge fanbase, history, funds and prestige…how can you compare us to Leeds…we are a well run club with ambition, if only there were more like us!
May 20th, 2008 at 14:32
blehhh
May 20th, 2008 at 14:35
lol, mate you have only in recent years entered the richest clubs list and suddenly you speak like your where always there… Huge fanbase?, i myself live in scandinavia and you are certainly nothing over here, and your stadium is a featherweight 36.000… History?, as already pointed out you are the team linked with the least titles… Funds?, certainly but you dont spend much more than any other club outside the top 4… Prestige?, surely you kid me?, otherwise look to the answer suplied for your history point… Compare you to Leeds?, my mistake, Leeds have actually won more titles than you guys so thats not fair to Leeds, i guess my point was that Levy will get bored when he never gets any return on the finances he puts into the club i guess.
May 20th, 2008 at 16:01
That’s probably why Woodgate & Modric signed for Tottenham & not Newcastle? A player who used to play for them & an up and coming superstar. It is quite laughable hearing Newcastle fans actually think & believe they are a big club?
I think a little bit of jealously is involved. Yeah Tottenham are always being linked with players that will never sign for them, but rather that than be linked with under achieving no hopers.
May 20th, 2008 at 16:24
London and Europe are the only reasons why Spurs got any of those players… The season after the next when you wont be in Europe, your back to square one.
May 20th, 2008 at 16:30
Of course we will be in Europe, Ramos will clear out the deadwood probably to the likes of Newcastle and West Ham then we will see. We are about to sign 1 of the best prospects in England in John Bostock so don’t worry about our future, it is lovely and rosey!
May 20th, 2008 at 17:05
Ramos isnt he the guy who got sacked at nearly every club he has been at?… That is where you put your trust?
May 20th, 2008 at 17:45
Valle! When did NUFC win lats a trophy other than the old second division a short while ago, The league you last won 1926/7 - The Cup 1954/5 and the Intercity Toto a couple of years ago!!!
With that history how have you got such a big mouth?
Any ideas anybody?
May 20th, 2008 at 18:19
Ramos was the guy that got sacked at nearly all the clubs he has been, your putting your faith in him?
May 21st, 2008 at 08:35
sacked? He was sacked at Sevilla was he after winning all those trophies? What has Keegan won then?? erm, well, zzzz, nowt, nothing, zilch! Talking about character how many times has King Kev resigned when the going got tough, Newcastle, England, City…the guy is a big baby who is ok when things are good and runs a mile when it goes wrong!
June 11th, 2008 at 16:36
He is signing for Everton, that is a fact.
By the way Tottenham fan, Everton did break into the top 4 three seasons ago, nearly did it again this season and will be the ones who eventually achieve it this season coming.
Newcastle well you cant take them seriously, deluded, never won anything and never will.
pay over the odds for most players in fees and wages to get players, stole two players from Everton at the last minute by increasing wages to Scott Parker and Emre by 15,000 a week above Everton to get them to sign.
Did us a favour as they both flopped.
June 11th, 2008 at 19:01
Here is Portugal they are saying he is VERY close to signing with Everton for a fee of £18,000,000.
A player of his class needs to play for a big club and in Europe.
But apparently it is a done deal and he is joining up with Everton and speaking to David Moyes in the Euro 2008 games.
June 11th, 2008 at 19:49
Everton will be a great club for him to go to.
June 11th, 2008 at 22:06
Good reading, two sets of deluded fans going up against each other just shaddup! Newcastle get decent players only by offering ridiculous wages, those players then either flop of leave for bigger clubs (and theres plenty of them) and then theres Spurs, fairdos I respect your board for building up a good business module but after that the only pull you have is London and Europe, now that City of Culture is going on in Liverpool and it is growing by the week I firmly believe that at this current moment Liverpool is as much of a pull as London so thats that out of the window, plus we’ve got Europe as well. After that what else is there? well theres his portuguese teammate Manny persuading him in and then theres our top class manager, top class fans, a history that’s a hell of alot better than either of yours. Move over because one of the three original big clubs is on it’s way back up (And we’ll get that CL trophy soon enough Villa, hopefully before the kopites find another way of mucking us up)
June 12th, 2008 at 00:21
tottenham and newcastle i laugh at you both man lol my team is the way forward to break into the top 4 lol everton ! i cant believe anyone still supports newcastle after last season lol newastle is joke we flippin banged ya n well do it again the only way they winning trophies is if they go religated n won championship so stop smokin tea bags n realise u need to support a new team sorry
June 12th, 2008 at 13:31
i don’t believe everton are in with a shout. But why is it all of a sudden we are rumoured to be interested in half of the portugease youths.
m.fernandes
j.moutinho
m.veloso
who next quaresma?
June 12th, 2008 at 14:46
LMAO!!! Newcastle fans im sorry but is true, u do buy players for overly amounts an pay them ridiculous wages because the simple fact of the matter is ur currently at best a mid table side. You need to build up your squad again around the likes of steven taylor, find good buys from the championship like the Joleon lescotts and the Tim cahills. By keepin on uyin over-rated players who dont give one about your club you will just continue to finish mid-table. As for spurs well there actually a very good team that are unlucky not to be higher up the table, just need to gel a bit, but thats what Juande Ramos is about so if u hold onto the likes of berbatov this summer then who knows! I dont think that Arsenal will sign him as Yaya Toure is class an apparently they want him, part of hleb deal, brother kolo, seems rather likely. And i dont think that Moyes would pay 18 mil for one player yet. Especially when we need a few new players and he probably only has a max of 25 mil.