Liverpool and Villa join chase for United ace
LIVERPOOL and Aston Villa are ready to turn to Newcastle United's Steven Taylor as they bid to shore up their defences.
Everton have already approached Newcastle about the 10m-rated defender, though the Goodison Park club are yet to lodge a formal bid for the 23-year-old, with holding on to Manchester City target Joleon Lescott their first priority.
Now their Merseyside rivals – who have watched Taylor for a number of years – are considering a move, as are Villa, who have also been linked with Middlesbrough's David Wheater.
Taylor, for his part, remains committed to relegated United, and will be in the team to face Sheffield Wednesday in the Championship at St James's Park tomorrow night.
But should owner Mike Ashley take the club off the market at the end of the week in the absence of a credible buyer, then Newcastle, who have embarked on something of a fire sale in recent weeks, could listen to offers for Taylor.
His departure would be a huge blow for the club's fans, who, having seen Habib Beye and Sebastien Bassong leave already this summer, are desperate for the homegrown centre-half to stay on and help the club back into the Premier League.
Taylor pledged his loyalty to would-be manager Alan Shearer in the wake of relegation, and nothing has changed, with the former England Under-21 captain still hoping his former team-mate takes charge in the coming days.
The odds of this happening, however, look slender, although the Gazette understands there are three parties still bidding to take over the club as the drawn-out sale process enters its final few days.
One of these is headed up by Tyneside businessman Barry Moat, who would quickly move to install Shearer, but the identities – and managerial intentions – of the other two are unknown.
United's supporters – who have been given a much-needed lift by a promising start to the season on the pitch from Chris Hughton's side – should at least know the club's off-the-field future by Friday at the latest.
But it is unclear whether Ashley will make a formal statement if he does take the club off the market.
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Weather for South Shields
Tuesday 07 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -3 C to 6 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: -2 C to 1 C
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Wind direction: South
