Toon making plans for Virgil

Ok, that title didn't quite work, so if you didn't get it or you're a bit younger, it was an attempt at playing on the title of an old song by XTC called 'Making plans for Nigel'.

The reason? Newcastle are apparently looking into the possibility of signing highly rated Dutch defender Virgil van Dijk from Groningen in the summer.

Groningen's General Manager Hans Nijland has confirmed that the defender and his agent are set for talks with United in the near future ahead of a summer move for the 20-year-old who has been in impressive form this season, making 22 appearances and scoring three goals along the way.

Van Dijk is under contract until 2015 so cash will be needed to secure a deal, but with the player looking to move on and test himself on a bigger stage it seems as though any official approach from United would prompt the player to want to move. Even so, I don't think it will take a huge fee to prize him away and would say that roughly £4m would be enough to seal any deal.

Now I know next to nothing about this player, but in general our scouting is good so I would hope we've put the time and effort into looking at the lad.In fact I'm pretty certain we will have so if Graham Carr and Co rate him then it's good enough for me.

It also helps add to a position that is in dire need of being strengthened - defence! In fact I'd go as far as to say that I'd be happy with us just concentrating on beefing up our defence over the summer, providing we don't lose any of our first-teamers course. If we do they will also need replacing.

I'm happy that we seem to be pressing on with things in the transfer market and already have plans in place. What is needed is not a major overhaul in personnel this summer, instead we need to carefully add to what we have already, and with this rumoured interest it would appear that we are looking at doing just that.

Maybe we can have a proper pre-season next time to boot!