Going, going, gone?

Last updated : 21 January 2005 By Keith Allman
Amdy Faye seems likely to join Newcastle in a £2m deal by next week. The midfielder has been linked to a host of clubs and taken - and failed - medicals at Fulham and Villa. His busybody agent Willie McKay hasn't been put off, however, and seems set to get the slice of the fee that he so clearly wants sooner rather than later. Milan has admitted that it would be "difficult" to keep him at the club, and in his latest admission to the media said, "we are under tremendous pressure from Amdy Faye and his agent. Reluctantly we might have to let him go. Amdy wants to leave and we are resigned to losing him." A shame since he's been playing well lately, but such is life - time for Cissé and Hughes to stand up and be counted?

Meanwhile, the "Yakubu to Newcastle" stories have died a death, with Graeme Souness allegedly admitting defeat in the hunt for the Nigerian. The club have always announced their intentions to hold onto the Yak at least until the summer, and remained adamant that no bids had been made. Milan again spoke out today telling baying hacks, "Newcastle are interested in Yakubu but we have told them we cannot afford to sell him. I do not want our supporters to worry."

Milan also dropped a hint that, despite Velimir's silence, new players will be coming to Fratton very soon. "The Croat in the Hat" is set to head out for Greece and Germany after the Chelsea game to discuss future signings (Basinas and Babic of Leverkeusen, if rumours are to be believed), whilst Russian striker Dmitri Bulikin is at the club on trial.

It's official - we now live in the Former Soviet Republic of Portsmouth.