City turn down Magpies Distin bid

Manchester City have rejected a £5m (€7.2m) bid from Newcastle for captain Sylvain Distin.

The 27-year-old Frenchman has been in good form for Kevin Keegan’s side this season. Distin joined City from Paris St Germain in a £4m (€5.7m) deal in May 2002, after a loan spell at St James’ Park.

Newcastle manager Graeme Souness has expressed his interest in the player previously as he seeks to shore up his side’s leaky defence.

"I can confirm that Newcastle have made a formal approach for Sylvain Distin with a bid in the region of £5m (€7.2m),'' said City communications chief Paul Tyrrell.

“We have rejected the bid as Sylvain is not for sale. He has three and a half years left on his current contract and is staying here.”

Kuffour’s agent Fabio Parisi insists there has been no official approach from Newcastle and also claims the player would prefer to stay at the Bundesliga leaders.

“We know they are interested in the player and they’ve told me they are interested but I have to be clear there has been no official approach from anyone at the club, not from Graeme Souness, not from the chairman, not anyone,” Parisi said.

“Bayern, of course, would like the player to leave now because he could leave for free at the end of the season, and if they receive an attractive offer something could happen.

“But he is out of contract at the end of the season and until then he is only interested in fulfilling his obligations with Bayern. That is the plan.”

The 28-year-old Ghana international has been a regular feature of Bayern’s defence since joining the Bavarian club as a 17-year-old in 1993, and was a key member of the team that won the 2001 Champions League final.

He is currently away with his Bayern team-mates at a training camp.

“The player is in Dubai and we have made a plan to sit down and have a meeting with him when he gets back,” said Parisi.

“Newcastle is a great club and the Premiership is of interest to Sammy – just like the Primera Liga – but I am in constant contact with clubs all over Europe.

“Newcastle are interested in central defenders and they are probably checking out other options.”