Vurnon Anita says he’s happy to put contract talks on hold at Newcastle United, but we believe a deal WILL be done because Mike Ashley doesn't want the play to walk away for free!
Anita is in the final year of his contract at St James’s Park, and United manager Rafa Benitez revealed last week that he had spoken to him about his contractual situation.
Asked if he had been given a timescale on a contract decision, Anita said: “No, no. “It’s only been a couple of talks so far, but further than that, nothing yet.”
However, Ashley will want a fee for the defender should he move on, and that will only happen if the player signs a new deal.
Anita is reluctant to look beyond Saturday’s home game against Blackburn Rovers.
“I take it game by game, training by training, and I just do my thing, then I’ll see what the future brings,” he said.
“I’m just focused now on the next game and on helping the team to become champions.”
Anita, playing at right-back, set up Dwight Gayle’s second goal in Sunday’s 2-0 win over Leeds United at Elland Road.
The result saw Newcastle go five points clear at the top of the Championship.
Anita, having been in and out of the team for much of his four years at St James’s Park, is just enjoying playing under Benitez.
The Toon's Greatest 100 Players. . .Ever! - £10.99
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This book is a collection of the 100 Greatest Newcastle United players of all time, as voted for by NewcastleUtd-Mad.co.uk readers and a panel of journalists who contribute to the website.
The players are in an order of five-per-chapter, counting down from 100 to Newcastle United's greatest ever player (as viewed by the author), but the whole point of the book is for You (the reader) to decide who goes where.
The list is not, by any means, definitive. As with all books of this nature, whether it be "Greatest Albums"; "Best Movies Of All Time"; or "Top 100 Pin-Ups Of The Year" . . . no two people have exactly the same opinion.
There will be controversy over who is on the list, and chances are, more controversy over who is not.
Here are the best of the best. I have painted the picture with each player's profile. Where they end up in the league of Nufc's Greatest is up to you.
Because You have the final word.