Magpies turn down City’s €5.3m Given bid
Newcastle manager Joe Kinnear has repeatedly insisted that the Donegal man will not be sold, but it appears the want-away 32-year-old is unlikely to remain at St James’ Park beyond this month.
Kinnear would not be drawn on Man City’s latest offer for Given, whose representative has gone on record saying he wants to talk to those clubs interested in him in this month’s transfer window, though he did reiterate his desire to hold on to him.
“Shay’s a top-quality goalkeeper, and the last thing I want to do is lose him,” said Kinnear.
“I didn’t expect to be fighting off so many other clubs to keep our players. I don’t want to say more than that on the subject but these are difficult times.”
Tottenham’s interest in Steve Harper has focused minds on Tyneside, with Newcastle officials claiming they are unwilling to sell the veteran despite his current contract being due to expire at the end of the season.
Their refusal to part with Harper, who would be free to leave for nothing in June, reflects a belief that City will table a substantial offer for Given before the transfer window closes in 11 days time.
And with Joe Kinnear desperately needing funds to strengthen a Magpies squad that has dropped to within two points of the foot of the Premier League table, owner Mike Ashley is poised to allow Given to call time on his ten-and-a-half year association with the club.
The Irishman outlined his dissatisfaction with life at St James’ at the end of last month, with his lawyer, Michael Kennedy, releasing a statement that claimed Given was “despondent” at recent events.
Given that Newcastle have since been knocked out of the FA Cup by Hull City, a result that ended their hopes of picking up silverware this season Given’s mood is unlikely to have lightened in the intervening period, and despite the strength of his affection for the Magpies, he would be interested in a move to the City of Manchester Stadium.
And with Ashley privately conceding that every player has their price, he may be unable to prevent the loss of arguably his most important player.
Meanwhile Kinnear has insisted he wants his players to show passion on and off the pitch following the news of a training ground bust-up between Andy Carroll and Charles N’Zogbia.
The Magpies found themselves in the headlines for the wrong reasons once again yesterday after it emerged the 20-year-old striker and French team-mate N’Zogbia, 22, had clashed at the club’s Darlsey Park headquarters on Tuesday.
Kinnear was quick to play down the incident and has revealed he will not be punishing either man.
The 62-year-old said: “It was just handbags and it has been blown out of all proportion.
“I can’t stop players being passionate, and wouldn’t want to. I won’t be taking any action.
“It was a very intense, excellent training session, as we always have at the club. It was a fiery session. There was a late challenge and a reaction to it.
“The players were working to the max – it was as simple as that.”
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