[JetsOhFive]

Onyewu Set For Marseille Switch

The transfer saga of Oguchi Onyewu appears set to end finally, and Chelsea have missed out.

The Standard Liege defender has been linked with a host of clubs since summer: AC Milan, Chelsea, Fulham, Inter, Lazio, Lyon, Middlesbrough, Newcastle United, Porto and Real Madrid. Chelsea, Newcastle and Porto were the most recent suitors for the American center-back.

Today, however, it appears "Gooch" will move back to France and play for Olympique Marseille, currently tied for second in Ligue 1 with Lens.

Both Marseille and Lens, though, trail first place and defending champions Lyon by a healthy 14 points.

Oguchi Onyewu has previous French experience, having played three times for FC Metz and 24 games for La Louvière during a loan spell before moving to Belgium in 2004.

The U.S. international cost Marseille an estimated $4 million.

"A final agreement will be signed over the weekend with Marseille," read a statement on the Standard Web site.

Onyewu blossomed while in Belgium, and the 24-year-old heads back to France having been named to the Jupiler League best eleven at the conclusion of the past two Belgian seasons.

[Fatman]

Damn I thought for sure he would have ended up in the EPL, I guess I was wrong, and does anyone know if he's playing against Mexico on Feb 7.

[JetsOhFive]

Damn I thought for sure he would have ended up in the EPL, I guess I was wrong, and does anyone know if he's playing against Mexico on Feb 7.

Bradley put in a request for him I believe along with 7 or 8 other European players. It's an open window date by FIFA so we should see him.

[Smedsthejet]

$4 million is a bargain for Onyewu as that's roughly £2 million and rumours in the English press were that a team would have to pay between £4-5 million ($8 - 10 million) for him.

[Smedsthejet]

According to the BBC Sport website Gooch is headed to cold North-East England on loan.

Gooch Set to Join Newcastle On Loan

[JetsOhFive]

I just read that myself on Goal.com. Shits changing so quick with this dude lol. First Fulham. Then Fulham falls through and hes staying at Leige. Then Fulham regroups and makes another offer. The AC MIlan shows interest. Then nothing happens for two weeks. Then suddenly, out of nowhere Chelsea, Inter, AC Milan, Real Madrid, Marseille, Lyon, Fulham and Newcastle are all showing alot interest. Then it seems like Marseille wins. Now hes in Newcastle taking a physical. Well only 2 more days until the transfer window is closed and we'll know for sure who wins Gooch. I must say though, its a great sign for United States football that Oguchi Onyewu is getting looked at by major clubs.




Now speaking of Newcastle. I saw an excellent (IMO) movie called Goal! The Dream Begins. Its about an illegal Mexican immigrant who lives in the USA and gets an opportunity of a lifetime to play for Newcastle United. Got a few nice cameos in there too. Raul, Zizou and David Beckham are in it. Smeds if you havent seen it, you should, I thought it was great and it did justice to the game.

[ganggreen_ewok]

I wish he would have gone to Fulham, the Premier League is what he needs to really hone his talents. I'm gonna say in two years hes gonna be the best defender in the world

[Smedsthejet]

I wish he would have gone to Fulham, the Premier League is what he needs to really hone his talents. I'm gonna say in two years hes gonna be the best defender in the world

Newcastle are equally as talented as Fulham and are in dire need of a solid central defender. It's good experience for him anyway you look at it and it's yet another American in the Premier League. He will bring, as with all the other US players, a blue collar approach to the games and work his ass off rather than show off like other foriegners and shy away from playing physically.

[JetsOhFive]

I wish he would have gone to Fulham, the Premier League is what he needs to really hone his talents. I'm gonna say in two years hes gonna be the best defender in the world

Newcastle is having a down year but they are pretty prestigious club in the Premiership. He's going to face great competition regardless.