Newcastle tell Man City to swap Johnson for Given plus cash

Jan 11 2009 by Neil Farrington, Sunday Sun

NEWCASTLE United have rebuffed Manchester City’s opening bid for Shay Given — by demanding midfielder Michael Johnson AND cash in part-exchange.

And if City are willing to also part with defender Nedum Onuoha, United would be willing to do a straight swap for their unsettled goalkeeper.

Magpies boss Joe Kinnear is seething at City’s cheeky sub-£4 million bid for Given, but will sell the Irishman if Johnson and, ideally, his fellow England Under-21 international Onuoha arrive on Tyneside in return.

With Kinnear aware that, as in August, offers for ANY of Newcastle player will be considered this month, the prospect of a part-exchange deal holds particular appeal.

West Ham want Johnson, main picture, as part of Newcastle old boy Scott Parker’s proposed move to Eastlands, but City’s 20-year-old would prefer a move north rather than south.

After an impressive rise to prominence as a teenager, which attracted the attention of Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, Johnson was rewarded with a new five-year contract last summer.

But his progress has been stunted by injuries, and while sitting out the last four months with a pelvic problem, Johnson has seen Stephen Ireland shine in his absence.

That is why United are now working to convince City to part with a player who would address Kinnear’s desperate need for extra drive and creativity in midfield.

And Newcastle are also keen on 22-year-old Onuoha, versatile enough to play right across the back four.

Versatility is one reason former Rangers star Peter Lovenkrands is set to arrive at St James’s Park. The 28-year-old’s free agent status is another.

Another Scandinavian winger, SK Brann’s Erik Huseklepp, has also caught the eye as Newcastle shop on the cheap.

But failure to land Johnson — whose City team-mate Jo, the struggling Brazilian striker, has also been on Kinnear’s radar — could see the Magpies move for Portugal playmaker Raul Meireles.

Newcastle’s director of football Dennis Wise has placed Porto ace Meireles, who is now a regular for Portugal and rated at £4m, high on a shortlist of mainly Iberian-based targets, which also includes Real Mallorca striker Pierre Webo.

But unless players leave St James’s, Lovenkrands may be Kinnear’s only attacking signing, with a left-back his other main priority.

A loan move for Roma’s John Arne Riise is back on the agenda, and Midlands sources suggest Coventry youngster Daniel Fox is a longer-term Toon target.