Taarabt off to Paris?

QPR's bid to sign Wayne Routledge has hit the buffers over claims he wants a "loyalty" payment from current club Newcastle United.

The winger enjoyed a successful loan spell at Loftus Road in the second half of last season and looked all set to make a permanent return to the R's following their promotion to the Premier League via the Championship title.
However, it is now being claimed that Routledge is demanding a six-figure fee from the Magpies as he did not request to leave St James' Park before the end of his contract, despite him only being on Tyneside for 18 months. Newcastle are refusing to stump up the money and, therefore, his proposed switch to QPR has subsequently stalled.
Former Toon chief Chris Hughton could now try and hijack a deal for Routledge and take him to Birmingham after he was appointed as Alex McLeish's replacement at St Andrew's this past week.
But, Newcastle are hoping the prospect of a return to London on a full-time basis with Neil Warnock's R's will prove too much of a temptation for Routledge in the end and he will give up on his loyalty pay-off demands.
If he stays put, his first-team prospects are slim after Toon boss Alan Pardew brought in Sylvain Marveaux, and Hatem Ben Arfa returning to full fitness for next season.

I hope we get him, he has the talent and NW can keep his attitude right.

WR that is, sorry folks

I heard that we cooled off on Routledge because Jamie Mackie will be fit in time and he only came in when Mackie was injured. With Mackie and Routledge doing the same job for the team, I think NW wants to use that £1.5 mill for other positions.