Danny Simpson wants to remain at Newcastle

Aug 28 2009 by Mark Douglas, The Journal

“I hope the senior players do stay because as a younger player you learn a lot from them – the way they train, the way they are around the training ground,” he said.

“They give you advice because they have been there, seen it and done it. You will take advice from guys like Kevin Nolan and Nicky Butt because of the careers that they have had.”

United fans are braced for a busy five days, with several clubs circling their star assets.

Megson’s decision to break cover and confirm his interest in taking former captain Nolan angered Newcastle, who insisted they had not received a bid for him.

Bolton’s chief scout Barry Whitbread was at St James’s Park to see Nolan score in Wednesday’s defeat of Huddersfield, and the club are clearly keen for him to return.

A spokesman said: ‘We have had no offers for Kevin Nolan and even if we had, he is going nowhere.”

But United do need to off-load more big earners, and the futures of Jonás Gutiérrez, Fabricio Coloccini and Steven Taylor remain shrouded in mystery.

Everton’s interest in Taylor appears to have been shelved with Sylvain Distin heading for Merseyside, while Aston Villa’s move for Richard Dunne should also rule them out of the running to sign the former England Under-21 skipper.

Midfielder Butt is another who may not be at St James’s Park after Tuesday’s transfer deadline, with several Premier League clubs having been offered the United skipper over recent days.

Against that backdrop, Hughton is also hopeful of adding to his squad – and is awaiting the green light to make a move for Tottenham’s Gareth Bale.

United’s caretaker boss is also understood to have two Manchester City youngsters on his wish-list.

CHELSEA and England captain John Terry was named defender of the year by UEFA yesterday – while Barcelona’s Lionel Messi picked up the prestigious club footballer-of-the-year award.

Manchester United’s Edwin van der Sar took the goalkeeper of the year award.

Barcelona captain Xavi Hernandez won the midfielder of the year award, and his team-mate Messi was also named forward of the year.