Source: Telegraph
Manchester City's £5m offer for Shay Given 'insulting' say Newcastle
Kinnear hit out at City and confirmed that club owner Mike Ashley had entered negotiations with Given who has expressed his desire to quit the relegation-threatened club in a bid to sort out the transfer saga.[LNB]"We have had approaches for Shay – serious approaches from Man City," Kinnear said.[LNB]"Irrespective of all the stories, they've offered £5 million and not a penny more.[LNB]"We think it's an insult to offer that for the best keeper in the Premier League. It's a derisory offer. But Shay has made it clear he wants to leave.[LNB]"I wasn't involved too much with the meeting between the owner, Shay and his agent when they tried to thrash it out.[LNB]"But as far as I know, the owner and the managing director were unhappy they've only been offered £5 million.[LNB]"That's where we stand. I don't want to lose him – I'm fighting a relegation battle." [LNB]Given missed Newcastle's 2-1 defeat at Manchester City on Wednesday night and his place was taken by understudy Steve Harper.[LNB]"I had an idea I would play, as Shay had not trained," Harper said. "I just wanted the opportunity to play. Hopefully, I will get a game on Sunday against Sunderland as well.[LNB]"I do not have a crystal ball, but if Shay were to move on I will wish him well.[LNB]"He has been an outstanding servant to this club, and he is a good friend of mine.[LNB]"We have had a good battle for 11 years now, and what will be, will be. I cannot do anything about it. [LNB]"There are a dozen teams in a relegation battle and unfortunately we are one of them."[LNB]Meanwhile, Kinnear is hoping to sign Toulouse right-back Albin Ebondo.[LNB]He said: "I still think Ebondo will come. I was supposed to have it done four days ago.[LNB]"Hopefully he will come and join us. Ebondo was due to come in on Wednesday night from France.[LNB]"But we're still tied up in negotiations. The original price was £2.5 million but they moved the goalposts and it's now £3 million.[LNB]"We are still out in France negotiating. It's been two weeks now, so we have to wait and see." [LNB]
