Villa bid for Nobby reported

Last updated : 06 January 2004 By Martyn Elliott

Neither club has confirmed the story, but the player himself apparently made Villa’s offer public during a radio interview.

Obviously the normal warnings apply as it’s a story from the foreign media, but Nobby is reported to have told Lima-based radio station Radio Programas del Peru: "I recognise the offer but the two clubs have to come to an agreement.

"I want to continue in England and Aston Villa are one of the large clubs here.


"But I have two more years on my contract with Newcastle. Besides, in these days, Bobby Robson has already put me in the team.


"To leave this club is going to affect me, but I already have started to think that the main thing is my family."


The news comes after The Sun claimed that Nobby or Carl Cort would be sold to finance a bid for Spurs full-back Stephen Carr.

You’d like to think it’s unlikely that Sir Bobby would consider selling the Peruvian, especially after he forced his way back into the team, but the pair have hardly seen eye-to-eye of late.

And if you had to bet on which player will be dropped to accommodate Craig Bellamy’s imminent return to fitness, the smart money would almost certainly be on Nobby.