Shepherd U-Turn Saved The Solano Deal

 

Freddy Shepherd was forced to up his "final offer" for Solano, and back-track on their insistence that James Milner would not be part of the deal. The former Leeds United player will now move to Villa on a season-long loan.

Souness, too, was adamant that would not be the case early in the afternoon. The fact Milner was with the England Under-21 squad when his manager had a rethink merely delayed the completition of the deal with the midnight deal fast approaching.

Shepherd declared the matter closed when Villa rejected a "take it or leave it" offer in mid-afternoon. And even at the death, the Peruvian's medical was far from being a formality given that he is carrying a thigh strain, but the problem was not serious enough to prevent a deal.

Solano will NOT make his (second) Newcastle debut against Fulham on September 10 after picking up a red card - and a suspension - in Villa's game against Portsmouth.

David O'Leary admitted Nobby's bond with the Toon Army persuaded him to let Solano go. "The problem we have is if we stop him, does he then go into a sulk?" asked the Irishman. "That's the way of it with players today. He sees what Newcastle are doing with Michael Owen and the size of the club and he wants to be a part of that. He says he wants to go to a `bigger' club."

Solano said: "It's great to be back at Newcastle and I hope we can have a great season here."