SAM ALLARDYCE clinched his first defensive signing for Newcastle United when David Rozehnal arrived at St James’ Park from Paris St Germain.
And the United boss is expected to go back to France for another defender in Marseille’s versatile Habib Beye, who is at home both at right-back and centre-half.
Rozehnal was at St James’ Park yesterday afternoon to talk terms and have a medical after his £2.7m transfer from PSG, which will see the 26-year-old Czech international sign a four-year deal.
And he certainly had a rocking welcome to Tyneside, as along with the likes of Allardyce, Sir Bobby Robson, Freddy Shepherd, Lee Clark and Terry McDermott, Rozehnal enjoyed the Rod Stewart concert at St James’ Park.
He stopped rocking briefly to say: “Coming to a great club like Newcastle United is reward for all the hard work I have done throughout my career.”
United have seen off Borussia Dortmund for Rozehnal’s signature, and even when UEFA Cup holders Sevilla showed late interest, the player had already set his heart on Newcastle, with his acquisition compensating for missing out on Tal Ben Haim to Chelsea.
He is United’s sixth signing from PSG, following in the footsteps of Sylvain Distin, Alain Goma, Laurent Robert, Didier Domi and David Ginola.
And I expect United to go back to France for the current Marseille skipper, the 29-year-old Senegalese Beye, once the defender returns from holiday.
Beye played in both the UEFA Cup games against United in 2004 when Marseille went through thanks to Didier Drogba.
And the season before last he did likewise against Allardyce’s Bolton Wanderers in the UEFA Cup.
Beye has plenty of experience, but this will not stop Big Sam from stepping up his efforts to bring Sami Hyppia to St James’ Park once Liverpool sign a replacement for the Finnish international.
Meanwhile, things are starting to hot up at St James’ Park both on and off the field.
Another new arrival is expected to be Mark Taylor – a key member of Allardyce’s backroom staff at Bolton Wanderers – with the rather grand title of Head of Sport Science.
When Freddy Shepherd bumped into Allardyce at the HMV awards near the end of last season in London, the United chairman’s main topic was to find out why Bolton had had so few injuries.
Hartlepool-born 42-year-old Taylor is the main reason and he will be a welcome arrival at St James’ Park.
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