According to Ronnie:

United hit deadlock in move for Helder

by Alan Oliver

NEWCASTLE United have reached stalemate in their bid to sign Portuguese defender Helder.

The loan star has now returned to Deportivo La Coruna and United have been in contact with the Spanish outfit in an effort to bring him back to St James's Park.

Deportivo, of course, lifted the Spanish title and will be in the Champions' League next season, picking up a cool #20 million just for qualifying for the competition.

But if United were expecting Deportivo to be in a benevolent mood they soon found out otherwise.

For the Spaniards are asking #4million for Helder - something which is way out of United's budget for a central defender.

Gordon Milne, who will be confirmed as United's first Director of Football by the start of next season, told me today: "Deportivo are still asking a price for Helder as if he was 100 per cent fit.

Difficult

"But we know that this is not the case. We don't mind paying a fee but it has to be in relation to Helder's current situation."

The Angolan-born Helder only figured in two of United's last 13 games because of a series of injuries.

But when he has been on the park he has really done well and Bobby Robson could not rate him higher.

Regardless of the Helder situation, United would love to cash in on fellow central defenders Marcelino and Laurent Charvet while they would not turn down any good offer for Alain Goma.

But United are still finding it difficult to unload players to give Robson some more spending power in the transfer market. The club had expected to sell three players this week - but they are still there.

IMHO, Helder isn't worth the gamble of #4M. But I'd lay out #1.5M up front, with increasing payments after a number of starts. If he can stay fit, then he's worth the #4M asking price. But not right now.

-- Anonymous, June 10, 2000

Answers

Why on earth do we let these situations drag on, and on, and on ......? Just tell Deportivo to get stuffed. No one else is gonna shell out #4mm for a semi-cripple, so they'll come crawling if they think they're gonna get stuck with him.
We must be the softest touch in football.

-- Anonymous, June 10, 2000

Straight swap for Howey.

-- Anonymous, June 11, 2000

If he's a crock, why do we still want him in the first place ?

-- Anonymous, June 12, 2000