ARSENAL are ready to test Newcastle’s resolve by making a £5million swoop for Charles N’Zogbia.
But the Toon are determined to keep their French midfielder, 20, and have told the Gunners ‘hands-off’.
Emirates boss Arsene Wenger is a big fan and a January move to a club with a strong French connection would appeal. Yet Newcastle chief Glenn Roeder assured NÂ’Zogbia this week he is a key part of his plans.
Roeder said: “Charles is an exciting talent for us and his future is here at Newcastle. “Anyone who is mischievously saying otherwise is totally wasting their time.
“Charles is very important in my plans for the future of this club. “He came to us from Le Havre and the way he has virtually come from nowhere to make more than 50 starts for us is nothing short of meteoric.
“With Damien Duff injured, and likely to be out for some time, Charles knows he is going to have a run in the team — and this should be a great encouragement to him.
“What I have never told him is that when Tord Grip was England’s No 2 he asked me where Charles was from.
“When I told him France he said ‘shame’ because he and Sven Goran Eriksson would have loved him to be part of the England set-up.”
