Kinnear sweating on Steve Harper Contract

[Inglez 0]

Joe Kinnear sweating on Steve Harper contract

 

Jan 3 2009 by Lee Ryder, Evening Chronicle

 

JOE KINNEAR is still waiting for an answer from goalkeeper Steve Harper over the contract he offered him last month.

 

The 33-year-old’s future at Newcastle is vital for the Toon boss, with Shay Given still linked with Manchester City.

 

Kinnear told the Chronicle that he has received no offers for Given, despite the controversial comments from his lawyer Michael Kennedy which claimed three clubs, including Arsenal, City and Spurs, were all keen on capturing the Irish No 1.

 

However, with Arsenal denying their interest in the player and Kinnear reacting angrily to Kennedy’s remarks by re-iterating Given is not for sale at any price, it remains to be seen if Newcastle could resist a bumper offer from moneybags City before the transfer window shuts.

 

Kinnear’s plan B is straight-forward, with a keeper of Harper’s quality already at his disposal and two of the Premier League’s most promising understudies in Tim Krul and Fraser Forster as back-up.

 

And should Given decide to seek pastures new, Harper’s position will be key for Kinnear, who would have a ready-made replacement if the Irishman left.

 

Kinnear – who is also waiting to hear from Nicky Butt and Shola Ameobi over contract offers – said today: “They are all still negotiating with executive director (football) Dennis Wise.

 

“They have had two or three meetings this week.

 

“They have come back and suggested a certain figure and now it’s just a case of meeting each other half-way down the line to sort things out.

 

“But I know there is a discrepancy as far as wages are concerned.”

 

Kinnear maintains United could sign up to five players during the transfer window, but admitted he may have to sell to raise funds.

 

He said: “We don’t owe a bean as far as the club is concerned, whereas there are a lot of other clubs which might be going into liquidation and might be forced to sell their players.

 

“Everybody is aware of that and everybody is honing in on that.

 

“We have a lot of irons in the fire with players, but at this moment in time there are lots of us chasing the same players.”

 

Kinnear sweating over Steve Harper contract

 

Tim Krul

Edited January 3, 2009 by Inglez

[JonGoodwyn 1]

Irons in the fire.. we've heard that one before

[JawD 99]

Only we could go from having one of the best GK pairings and letting both go ....

[peasepud 59]

Only we could go from having one of the best GK pairings and letting both go ....

Thing is he'd be stupid to sign now, the contract hes been offered would obviously reflect the fact hes 2nd choice keeper. If Given goes then he should have a better contract. He'll be waiting to see what happens with Shay first (or he'll have a clause written in that says he automatically gets x amount rise if Shay leaves).

[Guest alex]

Good how we waited until there was 6 months left on Harper's contract before offering him a new one. Seems to be par for the course though.

[peasepud 59]

Good how we waited until there was 6 months left on Harper's contract before offering him a new one. Seems to be par for the course though.

 

Planning my friend, planning.

[OTF 7583]

Irons in the fire.. we've heard that one before

 

Yeah, I shuddered when I saw that as well.