Magpies prepare Emana swoop

Keegan keen on African ace

By Chris Burton   Last updated: 27th May 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Magpies prepare Emana swoop

Emana: Wanted man

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Newcastle are weighing up a move for Cameroon international Achille Emana.

Kevin Keegan is keen to get new faces in as soon as possible and has set his sights on Toulouse's talented midfielder.

It is understood that talks between the Magpies and the Ligue 1 side have already begun, with Emana expressing an interest in moving to the Premier League.

The 25-year-old has a contract in France until 2011, but his agent Sebastien Thiery is confident that an agreement can be reached.

Exciting

"Achille is ready to play in the Premier League and Newcastle is a team he would relish playing for," said Thiery.

"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."

Interest

Emana rose through the academy ranks at Valencia before moving to France as a teenager in 2000.

He is believed to be open on a return to Spain, and Seville, Real Betis, Portsmouth and West Ham are expected to join Newcastle in the hunt for his signature.

He is an international team-mate of Magpies midfielder Geremi and has represented his country and the 2006 and 2008 African Cup of Nations.

With Joey Barton's future shrouded in doubt and Emre continuing to be linked with a move back to Turkey, Emana could prove to be the answer to Keegan's problems in the middle of the park.