Quick sale unlikely as surgery needed for Obafemi Martins

May 29 2009 by Mark Douglas, The Journal

Although major changes in personnel are expected, Shearer wants to avoid losing top players like Sébastien Bassong, who has interested Aston Villa, Spurs and Arsenal.

He hinted last week that he may leave to continue his Premier League education, but all the indications are that Shearer would like to keep him.

He would hope the savings made by allowing Mark Viduka, Claudio Caçapa and Michael Owen to leave would offset some of the financial consequences of the drop.

Meanwhile, young goalkeeper Tim Krul has indicated his desire to stay at United and battle Steve Harper for the number one jersey.

He is another player with a significant sell-on value but the club are unlikely to cash in on him because he represents a sound investment for the future.

Harper will be United’s first choice ahead of the bid to get out of the Championship, but Krul believes that he can progress in the second tier next season. The 21-year-old was loaned out to Carlisle last year.

“I don’t see any reason to leave Newcastle United. Why should I?” he said.

“It’s my first priority to start the new campaign as first choice goalkeeper.

“I am willing to take up that challenge.”

FLORENTINO Perez moved a step closer to returning to the Real Madrid presidency after prospective candidate Eduardo Garcia confirmed he was pulling out of the election race.

Garcia’s announcement means that Perez is now currently the only man in the running for the post, as the other two hopefuls, Juan Onieva and Eugenio Martinez Bravo, had already withdrawn.