United bid for Barnes vetoed

Jan 29 2008 by Alan Oliver, Evening Chronicle

NEWCASTLE United have failed in a bid to bring Derby County midfielder Giles Barnes to St James’s Park.

Derby boss Paul Jewell turned down their unspecified bid yesterday – and the ball is very much back in the United’s court with the transfer window slamming shut in a couple of days’ time.

The 19-year-old midfielder, nephew of former West Ham winger Bobby Barnes, looks set to leave Pride Park, especially as Derby are heading for the Championship, although their new owners may try to keep all their promising young players.

The word on the grapevine was that Barnes was heading to his uncle’s former club at Upton Park, but United have shown their hand.

It was Barnes who grabbed Derby’s first goal in the 2-2 draw with United at St James’s Park before the turn of the year and he ran the midfield that day, especially in the first half.

However, United have had better luck abroad and they are tying up the signing of an Italian teenager from Serie A outfit Atalanta.

United are refusing to say who it is until he has put pen to paper, but they have put £300,000 down as their first payment on the deal.

The man behind the signing of is United’s new European scout Jeff Vetere, who has already started work at St James’s Park.

Vetere, who spent 12 years with Charlton Athletic and has also been with West Ham, has keen keeping in touch with the best young players on the continent after a short spell with Real Madrid.