£20m Serie A pair top Kinnear's wish-list
Nov 21 2008 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal
JOE Kinnear’s ‘D-day’ talks with Mike Ashley will not take place tomorrow after all but when the pair do finally meet, the top priority for Newcastle United’s interim manager will be persuading the owner to bring £20m in talent to Tyneside.
Kinnear claims to have identified two Italian-based players valued in the £10m bracket who have indicated they would be willing to come to St James’s Park on six-month loans in January. The ex-Tottenham Hotspur defender claims the uncertainty regarding United’s sale means the “goalposts” keep moving on his future. But Kinnear is braced for the possibility he will be told at short notice he has the job for the start of January’s transfer window.
“I am one step ahead,” he confirmed. “I have already drawn up a hit-list. Whether I get to implement it, I’m not sure. There’s no point being here unless I make an effort to bring new players in.
“I recommended players I consider would enhance us in two areas of the pitch. Two top-class players that would stop us dropping from where we are.”
His preparatory work has gone beyond having them scouted. “I don’t think they will come here, I know they will,” he said, “on a loan basis from January to June, then hopefully on a permanent (deal). I have spoken to their agents. We would be 100 times better off if we got them. They are worth £10m each. They are not in their sides, but are top-range players.”
It is extremely hard for Kinnear to make even medium-term plans at present. Ashley is trying to sell United to one of two American consortia but until he does, no one knows when Kinnear’s time at St James’s will end, never mind what the January transfer budget would be. His contract becomes a rolling one after next week’s match at home to Middlesbrough. But whoever is in charge, the 61-year-old believes he will need cash.
“We have got to pay decent money for top-of-the-range loans,” he said. “A couple of million for someone very special until the end of the season to get us in to a better position. I have got to get that message across.”
Kinnear had talked previously about his future becoming clearer after tomorrow’s match at Chelsea, but that is no longer the case.
“I said it would be after the Chelsea game but the goalposts have moved since,” he said. “Day one when I walked in they said the club would be sold before the Chelsea game. It’s month to month, so the last game of the month is Middlesbrough. Then we start another month if it’s not sold. Who knows? They (the interested parties) have got to come up with the money, I suppose. I’m here until they sell it. Your guess is as good as mine.
“It’s not easy but I can’t say I didn’t know about the situation when I took the job. It’s frustrating at times. It’s the same line: ‘We’ve got people buying it but we haven’t seen the cash’.”
Steven Taylor will see a specialist about the groin problem which will keep him out of the Chelsea game and makes him an early doubt for the Tyne-Tees derby.
“He is in agony when he kicks a ball,” Kinnear revealed. “He’s all right when he’s running but when he goes to knock a long ball he pulls up with his groin.
“I think he’s going to see another specialist on Monday. At first they thought it was just a strain but I think it’s worse than that now.”
Kinnear was unhappy with comments from Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni that he recommended Magpies goalkeeper Shay Given to three Italian clubs.
“It is disrespectful to the club,” said former Irish international Kinnear. “Shay has two-and-a-half years here (on his existing contract) and he is very happy here.
“He is a big voice in the dressing room and a top-class goalkeeper. He is the last person we’d want to lose. It is a disappointment anyone would bring out a statement like that. Maybe he was trying to get on Shay Given’s good side.”
