Luque looks to leave Deport for Newcastle

Deportivo La Coruna president Augusto Cesar Lendoiro has criticised Albert Luque after the want-away striker expressed his desire to join Newcastle.

Luque, who is reported to have agreed personal terms with the north-east club, made it clear he wanted to move to England even though Depor have yet to receive an offer they consider satisfactory.

The 27-year-old Spain international claims Newcastle had a £10.2m (€15m) bid rejected but Lendoiro insists no such bid was made.

“If Newcastle had offered that amount of money, we would not have anything to talk about and he would have already gone,” said the Deportivo supremo.

“The difference in valuation of the player between the two clubs is £1.4m (€2m).”

Lendoiro said he wanted to close the deal as quickly as possible to allow his club time to sign a suitable replacement.

“We can’t wait until the last day of the transfer window to agree a deal,” he added.

“We will need time to fill the gap he leaves, but if there is no agreement he will have to play for the team.”

Coach Joaquin Caparros indicated Luque would soon be on his way out of Deportivo by omitting the player from his squad for tomorrow’s Intertoto Cup final against Marseille.

Should Luque leave the Riazor, Depor may move for Real Madrid’s Roberto Soldado.

The 21-year-old impressed during Madrid’s tour of the Far East and the USA in July, scoring two goals, but the arrivals of Julio Cesar Baptista and Robinho mean he will probably remain in the reserves this term.

“He is going to beat a record because he will be the only player who has spent five years in the reserves. Any deal involving him would be a loan and the following season would see him return to Madrid,” said Soldado’s agent Domingo Sevillano.