Magpies start negotiations with Dyer

Newcastle have opened talks with England midfielder Kieron Dyer over a new contract.

The 26-year-old, whose time on Tyneside looked to have ended on the first day of last season when he refused to play out of position for former boss Bobby Robson at Middlesbrough, was given a second chance and responded superbly during a disappointing campaign for the club.

Robson’s successor Graeme Souness, despite Dyer’s infamous bust-up with team-mate Lee Bowyer last month, is keen to extend his stay, and it is understood initial talks have taken place between the Magpies and the player’s advisors.

Newcastle are hopeful that Dyer, who joined the club in a £6m (€8.7m) move from Ipswich in July 1999, will accept their offer as he enters the final year of his current deal.

Both chairman Freddy Shepherd and Souness backed his claim he was the innocent party in the Bowyer debacle, although he was unsuccessful in his appeal against the sending-off which would have cost him his place in the FA Cup semi-final clash with Manchester United had he not damaged his hamstring once again in Lisbon three days earlier.

Dyer’s ability has never been in any doubt, although he had not produced consistently enough for his critics until he put together a run of excellent form between injuries last season.

Indeed, it was the loss of he and fellow Ipswich old boy Titus Bramble which proved the catalyst for Newcastle’s UEFA Cup quarter-final collapse against Sporting Lisbon in Portugal which effectively brought their season to a close.

Souness and Shepherd will work hard to re-shape the squad throughout the summer with Patrick Kluivert having already left and Aaron Hughes sold to Aston Villa, and there are certain to be further departures, provided they can move on the likes of Laurent Robert and Hugo Viana at the right price.

The success of that mission will determine how many of their targets they will be able to recruit, although with their first InterToto Cup game due to take place over the weekend of July 16 and 17, time is of the essence.

Meanwhile, young defender Peter Ramage has committed his future to the club by signing a new three-year deal.

“I am delighted to have signed a new contract,” said 21-year-old Ramage, who made his senior debut at Manchester United last month. “I have been here for over 10 years and Newcastle United is my club.

“To be given the opportunity to prove myself here at first-team level is all I want.”