Newcastle United Move For Balde Turned Down

Last updated : 30 August 2004 By Paul Ewart

Newcastle United have had a reported bid of £3 million turned down by Celtic for defender Bobo Balde. Newcastle, looking for a replacement for Woodgate before Tuesday's transfer deadline, will seemingly have to look elsewhere or wait to get there man as Celtic Manager Martin O'Neil has said;

"They came in but we didn't want to do anything with it at all - absolutely not.

"At this minute they are looking for a centre-half because Jonathan Woodgate has gone but I don't want to be in the slip of things just because they have transferred Woodgate.

"Bobo is an important member of this side, we want to keep him and we have knocked it back.

"And we will continue to do so. He has a year left to run and we will sit down with him anyway.

"There was a little bit of a discussion a couple of weeks ago but there is no problem whatsoever.

"At the end of it all Bobo will be in the driving seat because even if our offer - which will be very good - is not good enough then he can wait a couple of months and sign a pre-contract with whoever he wants.

"We don't want that to happen. We want him here, we have got Champions League games and a whole season ahead of us - and I think deep down he would want to stay."