II is understood that Alan Pardew was challenged at the end-of-season debrief about why one of the club’s biggest earners - Steven Taylor - had not been given more opportunities in the first team.
He has been linked with Queens Park Rangers and Hull City but neither would meet his wage demands and it is now more likely that the defender will remain on Newcastle’s books and get a clean slate next season, with Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa set to make way in United’s defensive options.
While Yanga-Mbiwa was signed with a view to eventually replacing Fabricio Coloccini, little seems to have gone his way since coming to Tyneside and Bordeaux president Jean Louis Tiraud spoke of his admiration for the centre-back yesterday.
Just as United are trying to raise £3million for Sylvain Marveaux, they also want to cover the costs of signing Yanga-Mbiwa too, which will make it difficult for Bordeaux to clinch a deal for the Newcastle outcast.
Tiraud said: “He is an excellent player who has a defect, he was bought for a lot of money by Newcastle and his salary is high.
“The problem with a loan is most clubs wait until August 31 because they are still trying to sell the player.”
United landed their second summer signing on Monday night when they moved for Sunderland’s Jack Colback – and they are now interested in brokering a deal for long-term target Bafetimbi Gomis.
French reports yesterday claimed Newcastle were ready to offer him £75,000-per-week and a £2.5million signing on fee, which would be enough to sign him.