Newcastle midfielder Emre has committed himself to the club after rejecting a return to Turkish giants Galatasaray.

The 26-year-old, a £4 million signing from Inter Milan two summers ago, had been linked with his former club and rivals Fenerbahce, while German sides Bayern Munich and Hertha Berlin have also been touted as possible destinations.

However, Emre has signalled his intention to return to Tyneside and fight for his place under new boss Sam Allardyce, the third under whom he will have worked since leaving Italy.

"I am very happy in England and I am not thinking about leaving Newcastle," he told the Turkish press. "I know all the Turkish newspapers will write my name in their headlines during the transfer window.

"But although I have received serious offers from Galatasaray and Fenerbahce, I want to continue my career in England.

"The Premier League is famous all over the world and that's why I wanted to move there.

"I will stay at Newcastle. I have great respect for Sam Allardyce, the new coach."

Emre's future in England was placed under serious threat last season when he was hit with a racial abuse charge by the Football Association following a stormy encounter at Everton.

However, his club, and in particular, then manager Glenn Roeder, stood by him and he successfully fought against the charge.

Even so, it appeared the Turkey international's days at Newcastle could be numbered as Roeder planned for the new campaign.

But the manager's departure was quickly followed by that of skipper Scott Parker for West Ham, and although Roeder's successor Allardyce has already recruited Joey Barton, news that a player of vast experience is keen to stay and be part of his plans will come as a boost.

The manager will now hope for similar news from strikers Michael Owen and Obafemi Martins, who both have escape clauses in their contracts.

Thierry Henry's exit from Arsenal for Barcelona is certain to add velocity to the transfer merry-go-round and with Arsene Wenger an acknowledged admirer of both players, uncertainty persists at St James's Park.