Source: Northern_Echo
Hughton hopes to keep transfer-listed Taylor
CHRIS Hughton is determined to keep Steven Taylor at St James' Park despite the defender being placed on the transfer list yesterday.[LNB] Newcastle progressed to the third round of the Carling Cup last night courtesy of a narrow 3-2 win over Accrington Stanley, but events at the Crown Ground were somewhat superseded by the decision to officially make Taylor available for transfer earlier in the afternoon.[LNB] The centre-half, who will be out of action for at least another month after dislocating his shoulder in a pre-season friendly at Carlisle United, is due to become a free agent next summer, and Newcastle had been keen to tie him down to a new deal.[LNB] Magpies officials have held a number of discussions with Taylor and his agent, Paul Stretford, and are understood to have offered a four-year deal worth around £40,000-aweek.[LNB] The offer was rejected by the Taylor camp, although the defender's representatives last night issued a statement disputing suggestions they had demanded up to £65,000-aweek before they would agree to sign.[LNB] While Newcastle have not imposed a wage ceiling this summer, Mike Ashley has introduced a number of measures designed to reduce a wage bill that had spiralled out of control by the time the club dropped out of the topflight two seasons ago.[LNB] The Magpies owner is also insisting that all new contracts include a relegation clause that will reduce the club's outgoings should they fail to retain their Premier League status this season.[LNB] Taylor, who has previously been linked with Everton and Liverpool, has not made a competitive appearance for the Magpies since mid-January, and was involved in an alleged training-ground incident with Andy Carroll in March that left him nursing a broken jaw.[LNB] The defender's future is now uncertain, although Hughton will be doing all he can to prevent him leaving his hometown club despite the ongoing complications.[LNB] It's a situation we hope will be resolved, said the Newcastle boss. I think everybody is aware of what has happened today. That's because of a breakdown in contract talks between the two parties.[LNB] But Steven Taylor is very much a player that we would like to stay at the club. He's a quality player and I'm very hopeful this can be resolved.[LNB] Steven wants to stay. I think all parties want this to be resolved.[LNB] Last night's victory at a raucous Crown Ground came courtesy of goals from Ryan Taylor, Shola Ameobi and Peter Lovenkrands, but Newcastle were pushed all the way by their League Two opponents.[LNB] Hughton selected a number of fringe players for the Magpies' first Carling Cup outing of the season, and while the ploy almost backfired, he felt the end justified the means.[LNB] It was a tough test, he said. With the ground and the atmosphere that they have here, all the players know they have been in a game. We knew there was an element of risk with the team we picked, there always is when you put such a young side out, but I thought the result and the performance justified the decision.[LNB] I think it shows there has been progress with the young players. Will I do the same in the next round It depends who we get.[LNB] Newcastle will learn the identity of their opponents on Saturday, and Hughton is hoping Cheick Tiote will have been confirmed as a Magpies player by then. Having agreed a fee with FC Twente, a Newcastle delegation attended a work permit hearing in London yesterday. We're hoping that will be resolved in the next couple of days, confirmed the Magpies boss.[LNB]
