Newcastle thwart Dyer transfer talk
Monday, 16 July 2001 12:20Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd had told Kieron Dyer that he can forget about any £20m transfer to Leeds United. Shepherd is keen to quash the rumours once and for all and prove to Dyer and to the football media that the England international is going nowhere. The Newcastle supremo summoned Dyer and his agent Jonathan Barnett to a meeting at the club this morning after further speculation suggested Leeds are ready to move in for the exciting young midfielder.
"I have had a long, frank and amicable discussion with both Kieron and his agent where I reiterated Kieron's future lies with Newcastle United," explained Shepherd following his meeting with the player. "Kieron is an integral part of the future of Newcastle United and I reiterate once again that our ambitions more than match those of Kieron's. For once and for all, Kieron Dyer is not for sale," he added.
The speculation increased over the weekend after it had been reported that Dyer demanded showdown talks with Newcastle boss Bobby Robson over his failure to attract big money-signings to the club. However, Dyer has been linked with the Premiership's top clubs for months now and Newcastle are furious that such talk is an effort to unsettle their rising young star.
Robson revealed this weekend that he himself held talks with Dyer to convince him that his future is with the Magpies. "I said to Kieron: 'We've looked after you and paid your salary for six months when you've played no games for us, so you've got to get it into your head that your allegiance is to this club'," revealed the former England boss.
Filed by Amanda Fennelly
