Newcastle were today facing up to the prospect of losing prize asset Jonathan Woodgate after Real Madrid tabled a £14million bid for the England defender.
United refused to comment on the approach today but it is understood that the offer is on the table and that the Magpies are resigned to losing a player they bought barely 18 months ago from Leeds for £9million.
The 24-year-old England international is currently in Germany for a consultation over the thigh injury which has kept him out of action since April.
Wile there is little doubt that chairman Freddy Shepherd and manager Sir Bobby Robson would not want to lose the influential defender, there is a realisation that the decision could be taken out of their hands.
Real managed to prise Michael Owen away from Liverpool earlier this summer having recruited Manchester United star David Beckham 12 months earlier, and the lure of arguably the world football's biggest clubs could be almost impossible to resist.
Filed by Eilish Barry
