547 - Since the start of 09-10, Charles N'Zogbia has made more than twice as many dribbles as any other PL player (2nd: Bale 258).
5 - Charles N'Zogbia has scored five goals in his last five Premier League appearances.
NEWCASTLE United are ready to battle rivals Sunderland for Charles N’Zogbia’s signature.
The two clubs are understood to be preparing sizeable summer bids for the in-demand winger.
N’Zogbia seems certain to leave Wigan Athletic, regardless of whether they avoid relegation on the final day of the season.
But the 24-year-old – who has told friends he regrets leaving St James’s Park after falling out with Joe Kinnear in the club’s relegation season – won’t come cheaply.
Wigan will demand a fee in excess of £10m, while N’Zogbia – who has hit form in recent weeks, scoring two goals against West Ham United last weekend – will look for a substantial pay rise.
Significantly, however, N’Zogbia is said to be open to a return to Tyneside, despite the acrimonious nature of his exit two and a half years ago.
And a source close to him said: “He’s always regretted leaving the club, and if there was a chance to come back, he’d obviously be interested.â€
Manager Alan Pardew attempted to sign N’Zogbia on transfer deadline day in January in the hours after the £35m sale of Andy Carroll.
But the club’s dramatic late move was rebuffed by Wigan chairman and former sportswear magnate Dave Whelan, a one-time business rival of United owner Mike Ashley.
Pardew has consistently refused to be drawn on his targets, but adding pace to his side is a priority.
“For us next year the most important thing is to improve,†said Pardew. “I’d like to add the offensive players we need at this level – the kind of players who can get bums off seats.
“We’re competing with Champions League clubs to get them, but hopefully we’ll get one or two in, and keep the basis of the squad we’ve got here.â€
Newcastle and Sunderland will also face competition for N’Zogbia from a number of other clubs at home and abroad, with Liverpool, Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur and Juventus having also been linked with moves for him.
The France international was signed as a teenager in 2004 by then-United manager Sir Bobby Robson from Le Havre.
And N’Zogbia went on to establish himself as a first-team regular at Newcastle under successive managers.
However, N’Zogbia fell out with Kinnear during his disastrous spell in charge, and having said he wanted to “reach a higher level of ambitionâ€, he was sold to Wigan, then managed by Sunderland’s Steve Bruce, for £6m in January 2009, with Ryan Taylor coming the other way.
LIVERPOOL are ready to battle Newcastle and Sunderland for Wigan's Charles N'Zogbia.
The French wideman will leave the DW Stadium whatever the outcome of today's relegation drama.
And Liverpool had scouts at Wigan's last three home games as they prepare for a summer spending spree to put them back in contention for a top-four place.
When assistant manager Sammy Lee attended the match against Everton, it was reported that he was watching James McCarthy.
But sources confirm his main interest was in N'Zogbia.
Aston Villa's Ashley Young was Anfield boss Kenny Dalglish's first choice, but the England international is determined to go to Manchester United, while team-mate Stewart Downing has suggested he will stay at Villa Park.
Former Newcastle star N'Zogbia has infuriated some at Wigan with his attitude. But manager Roberto Martinez's decision to indulge his best player could yet pay off, with N'Zogbia scoring two goals in last weekend's 3-2 win over West Ham.
NEWCASTLE will offer winger Charles N’Zogbia £60,000 a week to return to St James’ Park.
And that’s bad news for Sunderland, Toon boss Alan Pardew’s main rivals, along with Kenny Dalglish’s Liverpool, in the race to sign the Wigan wide man.
The Black Cats cannot match Newcastle’s salary offer for the exciting and enigmatic Frenchman as Magpies Âowner Mike Ashley prepares to ditch his policy of not paying Âinflated wages.
When Ashley took over at the club Newcastle had several £60,000-a-week players – plus £100,000 man Michael Owen – but now only Joey Barton, Alan Smith and Fabricio Coloccini are in this bracket.
N’Zogbia (above) had a tough time in his first stint at the Toon, including a couple of training ground punch-ups, and decided to leave when then manager Joe Kinnear called him Charles Insomnia.
Sunderland boss Steve Bruce paid £6million for N’Zogbia when he was in charge at Wigan in 2009, but the big attacking talent will have no qualms about a St James’ Park return.
The size of the transfer fee, though, depends on today’s battle for Premier League survival.
If Wigan stay up they will be asking for £10m, but if they go down then People Sport understands it will drop to just £6m.
Juventus were already linked with Wigan Athletic talent Charles N’Zogbia in January and are renewing their interest this summer.
The Bianconeri had been close to capturing the left-winger, who turned 24 today, six months ago.
According to the Daily Mail, talks with Wigan have resumed, as Newcastle United are also trying to tempt him away.
The price-tag set by Wigan is at least £6m, but probably more, as a year ago Birmingham City’s £9m offer was accepted and the player could not agree personal terms.
N’Zogbia is a France international with one senior cap to his name.
The Reds have also made an inquiry for Wigan's unsettled winger Charles N'Zogbia because they are worried Manchester United will beat them to Aston Villa's Ashley Young.
N'Zogbia is refusing to sign a new deal at the DW Stadium and Liverpool feel they could land him for less than the Latics' £8m asking price as he has just one year left on his contract.
LIVERPOOL are ready to launch a £15million raid for Charles N'Zogbia after moving a step closer to finalising a deal for Jordan Henderson.
Wigan winger N'Zogbia, 25, will be top of Kop boss Kenny Dalglish's wanted list once they complete the signing of Sunderland midfielder Henderson, which could happen this weekend.
The Reds have increased their original £12m offer to £15m, which is a lot closer to Sunderland's £18m valuation.
Henderson, 20, is currently on duty with the England Under-21s and is keen for a deal to be sewn up before they head out to Denmark for the European Championships next week.
There is a convenient window for business to be done with Stuart Pearce's side playing a friendly against Norway in Southampton on Sunday before they fly out three days later.
N'Zogbia caught Dalglish's eye with his brilliant form as Wigan took eight points from their last four games to avoid relegation.
He scored four times, including the all-important stoppage-time winner against West Ham.
Wigan turned down a £12m bid from Birmingham in January. But the French international only has a year left on his contract and the Latics would find it difficult to resist an improved bid from Liverpool.
That would free up funds for Wigan boss Roberto Martinez, who is to be offered a new three-year contract to head off possible interest from Fulham and Aston Villa.