Source: Telegraph
Fulham lead chase for Newcastle winger Damien Duff
An unnamed Premier League club has already tabled a bid of £4 million for the former Blackburn and Chelsea player, according to a report in the Mail, after Duff turned down the opportunity to join Greek side Olympiakos.[LNB]Fulham remain the favourites to sign the winger though the opportunity to be reunited with his former Irish national team coach Mick McCarthy at Wolves may appeal to the 30-year-old.[LNB] Related ArticlesO'Leary 'no' to NewcastleNewcastle face up to life in ChampionshipAmeobi: players focusedSport on televisionNewcastle fans say 'no' to O'LearyShearer wants to 'finish job'Hull remain interested, too, in a player who cost Newcastle £5 million when he joined from Chelsea three years ago and who commands wages in the region of £3 million a year at St James' Park.[LNB]Duff, who has struggled with injuries in his time at Newcastle, has played under five different managers and two caretakers in three seasons.[LNB]The current temporary manager, Chris Hughton, would not wish to see Duff leave but is resigned to the possibility, though would need to seek replacements if many more of his squad move on before the end of the transfer window.[LNB]Should be leave, Duff would join a list of players to have found new clubs since the end of last season that includes Michael Owen, Mark Viduka, Peter Lovenkrands, Obafemi Martins, Sebastien Bassong, David Edgar, Habib Beye and Claudio Cacapa.[LNB]The cull has been enforced due to Newcastle's need to slash their huge wage bill though in losing a number of their better players the club is compromising its chances of a swift return to the top flight.[LNB]'There's no doubt, if we were to lose players, replacements would have to be brought in,' said Hughton.[LNB]
