Analysing the Transfer Gossip – 15th July Part Two: Fabregas, Thiago Silva, Jovetic and more

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew will meet with director of football Joe Kinnear on Monday and is seeking the green light to press ahead with a £5m bid for Aston Villa’s 29-year-old striker Darren Bent.

Full story: the Telegraph

What’s the story? Newcastle have kept their powder dry so far with new Director of Football Kinnear not yet entering the market.

Does it make sense? Newcastle play a one striker system and they’d have to sign Bent on the assumption that he becomes a starter. Either he or Cisse will be unhappy unless they swap to a 442 set up that isn’t ideal.

Is the price right? £5m is a real bargain for a player of Bent’s quality.

Will it happen? 5/10 – Bent and Newcastle are an obvious link but it’s really not easy to commit to them until we see what Kinnear has in mind.