City move looms as Given rejects Joe's six-year deal.

(From The Northern Echo)

Byline: Scott Wilson

JOE KINNEAR reluctantly gave Shay Given permission to speak with Manchester City yesterday, but only after the Newcastle United goalkeeper had been offered a new six-year contract to keep him at St James' Park.

After initial preparations for tomorrow's Tyne-Wear derby were rocked by the news that both Michael Owen and Joey Barton will be out for more than six weeks, the Magpies boss was in more jovial spirits after making inroads on his transfer targets.

Newcastle paraded the GBP4m signing of Kevin Nolan at the club's Benton training complex yesterday before learning that Ryan Taylor was on his way to Tyneside to complete his GBP2m switch from …