Newcastle sign Georginio Wijnaldum

[Remember Colo]

Love George...but that's rather...frank from a journalist. Not that I love his work any less for saying it.

[ronson333]

nufc.com seem confident:

PSV Eindhoven's Dutch international midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum is nearing a move to Tyneside, where he'll become the first addition to Steve McClaren's senior squad and United's first signing of 2015.

It's understood that NUFC officials were in Holland this week to reach agreement over a claimed £12-£15m switch, with personal terms and a medical still to be concluded for the 24 year-old who has publicly spoken of his desire to play in the Premier League.

Coverage of the story in Holland has now switched from recycling claims from English newspapers to writing pieces about Wijnaldum's move - and sell-on clauses benefiting former clubs Feyenoord and Sparta Rotterdam.

The player has now returned from an extended break after featuring for the Dutch national side last month and is with the PSV squad at a training camp in the French Alps. They play FC Basel in a friendly on Saturday.

Rotterdam-born Wijnaldum debuted for Feyenoord aged 16 in April 2007. Joining PSV in 2011, a goalscoring debut for the Dutch national side came against San Marino soon after and he won the Dutch Cup in his first season.

152 competitive appearances in all competitions for PSV to date have brought him 56 goals and 14 strikes in 33 outings last season saw the Championship head to the Philips Stadion (Memphis Depay scored 22 and our old favourite Luuk De Jong somehow knocked in 20).

Moving for a claimed €5M in 2011, Wijnaldum is now valued at around €15M (£10.6m) and signed a four year contract extension in August 2014. Standing at five foot 10, the right footer plays in right and central midfield.

Also linked with a move to the mackems (having played for him at PSV), Newcastle were first credited with an interest in Wijnaldum in early 2013 although it was Moussa Sissoko that was subsequently acquired.

PS: Asked by Sky Sports on Thursday about the chances of Wijnaldum featuring in United's pre-season tour of the USA, Steve McClaren admitted:

"That would be nice....we're close on one or two."

Update:

[bodacious benny]

Mitrovic and Wijnaldum by the end of the week

[PFT]

Very exciting is this signing comes off.

[hoofball]

Why do we make signing players seem as difficult as putting a man on the moon?

[Mifune]

Why do we make signing players seem as difficult as putting a man on the moon?

More people have walked on the moon than have been signed for us by Charnley.

[The Deluded Pablo Diego Jose Francisco]

Why do we make signing players seem as difficult as putting a man on the moon?

More people have walked on the moon than have been signed for us by Charnley.

Remember the days under Shepard when we could do a deal within a week or two?

Now, it seems to take months to even make contact with the players club/representatives.

[Remember Colo]

More people have walked on the moon than have been signed for us by Charnley.

Remember the days under Shepard when we could do a deal within a week or two?

Now, it seems to take months to even make contact with the players club/representatives.

All things considered, this has seemingly moved pretty quick, we haven't been rumoured to be in for him very long. Plus, look at Man U and others who've been courting the same players for months now to no avail.

[The Deluded Pablo Diego Jose Francisco]

Remember the days under Shepard when we could do a deal within a week or two?

Now, it seems to take months to even make contact with the players club/representatives.

All things considered, this has seemingly moved pretty quick, we haven't been rumoured to be in for him very long. Plus, look at Man U and others who've been courting the same players for months now to no avail.

But they also have people that don't know what they are doing now.

If Fergie and Gill were still in charge, the deals would get done and they wouldn't be paying out as much as they are now.

[hoofball]

Remember the days under Shepard when we could do a deal within a week or two?

Now, it seems to take months to even make contact with the players club/representatives.

All things considered, this has seemingly moved pretty quick, we haven't been rumoured to be in for him very long. Plus, look at Man U and others who've been courting the same players for months now to no avail.

But nothing has happened! You're proclaiming the merits of a rumour.

Christ, is that how far we've fallen?...

[Mifune]

More people have walked on the moon than have been signed for us by Charnley.

Remember the days under Shepard when we could do a deal within a week or two?

Now, it seems to take months to even make contact with the players club/representatives.

Even Llambias had the abiltiy to at times wrap up a deal quickly.

[beatski]

Why do we make signing players seem as difficult as putting a man on the moon?

More people have walked on the moon than have been signed for us by Charnley.

[Remember Colo]

All things considered, this has seemingly moved pretty quick, we haven't been rumoured to be in for him very long. Plus, look at Man U and others who've been courting the same players for months now to no avail.

But nothing has happened! You're proclaiming the merits of a rumour.

Christ, is that how far we've fallen?...

No, I'm not saying it's done, or they should be commended for a rumour - but if it were done tomorrow, I'd objectively say the time between rumours and closing the deal was pretty fast.

Obviously I think we haven't bought enough players these past years, no doubt, but as for speed of deals, I suspect fans of most clubs would say they take too long closing deals, it's generally a slow process, and ours feel worse because we follow them start to finish with bated breath.

[overseasTOON]

Why do we make signing players seem as difficult as putting a man on the moon?

More people have walked on the moon than have been signed for us by Charnley.

Lies. We never went to the moon.

It was all staged in a warehouse in Crawley by NASA and I actually know someone who told me this.

[Mifune]

More people have walked on the moon than have been signed for us by Charnley.

Lies. We never went to the moon.

It was all staged in a warehouse in Crawley by NASA and I actually know someone who told me this.

Was it Stanley Kubrick?

[overseasTOON]

Lies. We never went to the moon.

It was all staged in a warehouse in Crawley by NASA and I actually know someone who told me this.

Was it Stanley Kubrick?

I dont think he's been chemically sober since the early 80s.

[Speedo]

nufc.com reporting it. That means it's almost certainly going to happen

[Mifune]

Surprised AG has not made an appearance in this thread.

[Alfie]

More people have walked on the moon than have been signed for us by Charnley.

Remember the days under Shepard when we could do a deal within a week or two?

Now, it seems to take months to even make contact with the players club/representatives.

That's because Charnley doesn't have Joe Kinnear's mobile, Joe had everyone's number, could make a call anytime.

[Speedo]

PSV just announced we've reached an agreement! Contract and medical to be competed. Please don't f*** this up Charnley!