Newcastle United Football Club News

• Nickname:Magpies
• Founded:1881
• Manager:Alan Pardew

• Ground:St James' Park
• Capacity:52,193

Kinnear angry at Given insult

29 Jan 2009 - 15:54:33

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Newcastle United manager Joe Kinnear has accused Manchester City of tabling an 'insulting' offer for unsettled goalkeeper Shay Given.

Given, 32, is believed to have played his last game for the Magpies after sitting out Wednesday's 2-1 defeat to City with what Kinnear described as a knee injury.

But the Newcastle boss is unhappy that big-spending City are only willing to pay £5million for the Republic of Ireland international.

Given has made more than 350 Premier League appearances for the Magpies, but announced at the beginning of the month that he wanted to move on.

"We have had approaches for Shay - serious approaches from Man City. Irrespective of all the stories, they've offered £5million and not a penny more," Kinnear told the Newcastle Chronicle.

"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.

"I wasn't involved too much with the meeting between the owner, Shay and his agent when they tried to thrash it out.

"But as far as I know, the owner and the managing director were unhappy they've only been offered £5million. That's where we stand.

"I don't want to lose him. I'm fighting a relegation battle."