1. Footymad
  2. Magpies Mad
  3. Latest
  4. The Rumour Mill

Stam update

Last updated : 14 October 2002 By Martyn Elliott

Skills we won't be seeing
The Dutchman’s agent had claimed that he had not been paid for several months and as such would be available to leave on a free transfer when the transfer window re-opens, with Newcastle, Liverpool and PSV Eindhoven all possible destinations.

But a Lazio spokesman denied that this was true, claiming: "The agent is talking too much without knowing what Stam himself wants.

"We talk to him daily and he repeats to us every day that he is fine in Rome."

So, not surprisingly, no Jaap Stam for us. Most of the transfer rumours involve players who wouldn’t improve our team at all, but the Dutch defender certainly doesn’t fit into that category.

The other big defender rumour at the minute regards Barcelona’s Philippe Christanval, as widely reported in Sunday’s papers.

But the quotes used in the papers were several days old and the situation remains exactly the same as it did in the middle of last week – pure speculation.