Given set to leave Newcastle as City up ante

SOCCER:SHAY GIVEN'S position at Newcastle United is expected to be resolved within the next 48 hours and the indications are that the 32-year-old goalkeeper from Donegal will be leaving St James' Park for Manchester City. Reports on Tyneside last night suggested that Given is due to meet with the Newcastle hierarchy today to thrash out his future.

Simultaneously, City are believed to be preparing an improved offer for Given, so far they have bid €3.18 million and then €5.3 million.

Newcastle have rejected both and manager Joe Kinnear has gone on the record to say how Given is staying at the club, but Newcastle now appear resigned to losing Given and in the past three days have offered a new three-year contract to Given’s understudy Steve Harper. Harper is close to signing it, thereby paving a way for Given to leave. There had been some doubt, with Tottenham interested in Harper, as to whether he would sign. After 11½ years and 463 appearances – Given is third in Newcastle’s all-time list of appearances – Given feels the need for a fresh start.

Following December’s 5-1 thrashing by Liverpool, in which Given was brilliant, the goalkeeper ran straight down the tunnel and his representative Michael Kennedy released a statement three days later revealing Given’s “despondency” at the club’s seemingly never-ending turmoil and increasing distance from the Premier League’s elite. Newcastle were displeased with Kennedy and were determined to retain Given against his wishes if necessary. But it seems the club have reached the conclusion that around €7 million for Given is good business.

Kinnear will then be handed some or all of that money to reinvest as next Monday’s transfer window deadline approaches. The Toulouse defender Albin Ebondo has been mentioned as one target.

Until a transfer is completed, Given can take nothing for granted. But if it proceeds then he is unlikely to make his City debut in their next game – at home to Newcastle on Wednesday. The uncomfortable nature of that fixture may be one reason why the next 48 hours have assumed significance. The move would be a big break for Given who has settled with his family in the north-east of England – he recently moved house into Northumberland.

He was signed for Newcastle by Kenny Dalglish from Blackburn Rovers. Dalglish was the first of eight managers in those 11½ years, a reflection of the instability at the club. The high points came mainly under the one manager afforded time, Bobby Robson, as Newcastle were contenders at the top of the Premier League for three consecutive seasons.

But Given was rarely convinced by Newcastle’s direction since then and watched in dismay in September as Kevin Keegan was forced out by new owner Mike Ashley’s transfer policy.