Last summer he spoke of a transfer; the summer before; last January; this January ... yes there is a pattern to it all.
However he has denied rumours of a move to Spain and insists he wants to stay at St James' Park. The 29-year-old Irishman is currently in talks over a new contract and has insisted he is puzzled by reports suggesting he is ready to quit St James' Park for a move to Spain. Now when you say in an interview: "If I can't sort out a contract I'd like to play in Spain. I'd like the weather and I think I'd like the Spanish League". Isn't THAT the give away?
Given: "I saw the reports, but I'm not sure where they came from. I think I did an interview about a year or so ago saying I might fancy a couple of years in Spain, and it's obviously been brought up again because I only have a few months left on my contract.
"I'm in talks about about my contract at the moment, so we'll see how that goes and hopefully it will be sorted so I can stay here for a long time."