Shay Given ‘hands in transfer request’

Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given has submitted a transfer request in the hope of speeding up a move to Manchester City.

The BBC Sport web site is this morning saying it understands Shay Given has put in a transfer request.

The Magpies are holding out for about £8m after the club dismissed City’s £5m offer for the Republic of Ireland international as “insulting”.

The 32-year-old did not feature in the 2-1 defeat by City in Wednesday Premier League game.

“We have put in a bid for Shay but we are still waiting for an update,” said City boss Mark Hughes.

Given has been first-choice keeper at Newcastle for 12 years, but has made it clear he wants to leave the struggling Premier League team.

However, Kinnear is adamant the club are properly compensated for selling a player he believes to be the best in his position in the country.

“Irrespective of all the money I keep hearing, they’ve only offered £5m, not a penny more,” said Kinnear.

“We think it’s personally insulting to probably the best goalkeeper in the Premier League.

“I don’t want to lose him – I’m fighting a relegation battle, I want to keep every player and add to it, not lose it, but I really don’t know.”

On Tuesday, Newcastle keeper Steve Harper, who is a long-term second choice behind Given, signed a new three-year deal with the club.

Given joined Newcastle in 1997 from Blackburn for £1.5m and had made 461 appearances for the Magpies.

Meanwhile, Kinnear says he is still hopeful of signing Toulouse right-back Albin Ebondo.

“We’re still tied up in negotiations,” said Kinnear.

“The original price was £2.5m but (Toulouse) moved the goalposts and it’s now £3m. We are still out in France negotiating. It’s been two weeks now, so we have to wait and see.”