What Kinnear Wants ... And What Ashley Gives Him ...
Along with Michael Owen, Nicky Butt, Mark Viduka and Shola Ameobi, Harper is out of contract at the end of the season.
Harper has made just 111 senior appearances since joining from Seaham Red Star in July 1993, and each and every year there is speculation suggesting he will move on.
Nothing has tempted him yet ... but there have not been times as desperate as this since Gordom McKeig was running the ship.
Kinnear: "Harps has a contract that needs to be sorted out.
"Steve would probably be playing somewhere else, and who is to say he would not be the England goalkeeper?
"I'm obviously aware of that, but I wouldn't like to lose him, that's for sure.
"They are both very talented goalkeepers. That's one position I can go to bed at night and not worry about, because we have got two world-class goalkeepers.
"I would love to keep it that way."