Keegan determined not Toulouse out on Cameroon midfielder Emana
Newcastle are trailing Cameroon international midfielder Achille Emana as
manager Kevin Keegan prepares to start his summer recruitment drive.
The 25-year-old is contracted to French club Toulouse until 2011, but is said
to be looking for a new challenge after a disappointing league campaign which
saw his side finish 17th a year after qualifying for the Champions League.
It is understood the Magpies have opened initial talks with the player as they
consider a possible move and his advisor, Sebastien Thiery, has indicated that
St James' Park is a destination he would seriously consider.
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Wanted: Emana is admired by Magpies boss Kevin Keegan
Thiery said: "Achille is ready to play in the Premier League and Newcastle is
a team he would relish playing for.
"He is strong and is a box-to-box midfielder who also possesses a lot of
pace.
"He has the right number of caps and the right amount of experience at 25 not
to be overawed by the Premier League, which would be an exciting challenge."
Emana, a product of the Valencia youth system, is looking to either England or
Spain for the next step in his career, and Seville, Real Betis and West Ham are
understood to be potential competitors for his signature.
FA Cup winners Portsmouth have also been alerted to his possible availability.
He went to the 2006 and 2008 African Nations Cup tournaments with Cameroon, and
played alongside Magpies man Geremi in this year's final as their country went
down 1-0 to Egypt in Ghana.
Newcastle are still to take a decision on Joey Barton's future, while Emre has
been the subject of repeated speculation that he could head back to Turkey this
summer.
Keegan has been linked with a move for Chelsea winger Shaun Wright-Phillips,
and there is little doubt he will try to add creativity to a squad which
certainly lacked it in the midfield area for much of last season.
However, his transfer dealings could be complicated by chairman Chris Mort's
impending departure and the installation of his successor, with newly-appointed
deputy Derek Llambias the hot favourite to take over.
That said, the two men are currently working in tandem under the watchful eye
of owner Mike Ashley and it would be no surprise if the groundwork for what the
club hopes to do during the close-season is already under way.
Meanwhile, Geremi's season is yet to draw to a close as he and his
international colleagues prepare for four vital World Cup qualifiers.
However, the 29-year-old admits he is already looking forward to his return to
St James' and much bigger things next season.
He said: "Everything is set up to succeed, without a doubt.
"We have everything to do it with the facilities, not to mention the fans.
"Every week St James' Park is full. That's a big thing - it's exciting. When
you play you, want to fight for those people and try to win something.
"When you win matches, they are happy, so it inspires you to do well."
Geremi, who was signed last summer by Sam Allardyce, found himself on the
sidelines as the Magpies slipped to the brink of the relegation fight.
He returned during the closing weeks of the season to play a key role in
Keegan's revival, and was hugely impressed by the new manager.
He said: "Kevin will try to do it his own way and the way he knows. He doesn't
do things like anybody else.
"If you remember when we were struggling, he was telling us that the training
is good.
"He said: 'Don't worry about the results, they will come', and he was
right."
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