Ruud Gullit yesterday defended his decision to spend £4 million on a 20-year-old and then launched an attack, backed by Newcastle's chairman Freddy Shepherd, on critics of his so-called "semi-detached" managerial style.
Even the completion of his second major signing, the French defender Didier Domi from Paris St-Germain, could not banish Gullit's anger over suggestions that he spends too much time away from Tyneside.
The Dutchman told a press conference that he will call in his solicitors if he is the target of unfounded accusations. "I like to do my job well," he said, "and as long as you tell the truth I have no worries. But if you are telling lies and try to harass my family in Amsterdam, my lawyers will take legal action."
According to Shepherd the capture of youth international Domi was reward for the manager's work during his break before Christmas which prompted the "semi-detached" jibe.
"Ruud has had no more time off than Kenny Dalglish or Kevin Keegan," said Shepherd, "and I see nothing wrong in him having a couple of days off before Christmas to see his family. In fact he never stopped working during that time."
Gullit dismissed suggestions that the money for Domi, £3.25 million, rising to £4 million dependent on appearances, was a lot for a player who will not be 21 until April and has been out of PSG's side recently. "You would pay a lot more for an England under-21 international," he said.
"He's a very good positional player, which here is something that we're not used to," Gullit added. "In England we like to have players who can tackle and who can run. But if you're in the right position you don't need to tackle." Domi is likely to make his debut next week at home to Chelsea.
Liverpool are set to complete the signing of the Norway under-21 defender Frode Kippe from Lillestrom next week in a move which may eventually cost them £2 million. Lillestrom will accept an initial £700,000 for the 19-year-old centre-back.
The Anfield manager Gerard Houllier has given the Italian club Salernitana 48 hours to confirm that they will accept Liverpool's £2.6 million for their Cameroon defender Rigobert Song, otherwise there will be no deal.
