There was continued speculation yesterday that Newcastle may be about to make a move for Ireland right back Steve Carr after the club completed the sale of Nolberto Solano for £1.5 million (€2.2 million) to Aston Villa.
There had been widespread reports yesterday to the effect that United had already made a firm offer for the defender, but this was denied by Tottenham Hotspur director of football and caretaker manager David Pleat, who said, "There has been nothing official at all. All I know is what I've read in the press."
The Spurs boss, however, refused to rule out the sale of Carr, whose entire career has been spent at White Hart Lane but who has shown little inclination to sign a new deal with the London club.
Carr, whose contract expires at the end of next season, has been linked with Newcastle several times before, with his agent claiming at one stage that the 27-year-old was about to make a £5 million move to Tyneside. He has also been linked with Arsenal.
"It is completely hypothetical," said Pleat who is himself interested in making a couple of signings before Monday's transfer deadline, "but if we were to receive a bid then we would react at the time according to what is said."
With Carl Cort having moved to Wolves, Newcastle United have now taken just over £3.5 million in transfer fees this week.
Manager Bobby Robson has further reduced the wage bill by allowing another couple of players to move on. Robson said yesterday that he would now discuss the situation with the club's directors and that he hoped he would be allowed to reinvest some or all of the money.
Asked about the possibility of a move for Carr, however, he declined to comment, remarking, "I will never tell you what is in the pipeline."
It is still believed, however, that Robson would like to bid for the Ireland international, and, with Spurs officials having repeatedly stated their determination not to lose their skipper on a free transfer in the summer of 2005, a deal could yet be struck before close of business on Monday.
Meanwhile, Ireland youth international Eamon Zayed has joined Crewe Alexandra from Bray Wanderers, with the English first division outfit taking the 20-year-old on loan until the end of the season.
Zayed scored for Crewe in a recent reserve game against Port Vale, but the club's manager, Dario Gradi, admitted yesterday he had not seen the match and had not been entirely convinced by the video of it he had seen.
"I didn't want to pay money for a maybe, perhaps kind of player, so the loan deal gives us a chance to have a look at him in more detail," he said yesterday.
Richie Baker, meanwhile, has signed a one-year deal with MLS side the New England Revolution, while Shamrock Rovers striker Tony Grant, who has been linked with a move to Bohemians in recent weeks, has handed in a transfer request which is to be considered by the club's board over the weekend.
