Viana Loan Bid Rejected - Nobby Staying!

By Matthew Jones
June 7 2003

An un-named club tried to loan out Hugo Viana! How bad is the transfer market getting? Why would an £8M ace go out on loan? Also, Nobby Solano will be staying at Newcastle, and Sir Bobby has turned down the chance to sign Nigerian international central defender Isaac Okoronkwo.

Sir Bobby said: "An agent rang me up on Thursday and asked if I would let Hugo go out on loan next season. I was so shocked that I could hardly speak. And I hardly dare tell the chairman.

"I said `What? Are you telling me you want me to ask my chairman to let a marvellous player who cost him £8 million to go out on loan?'

"Has the world gone mad?" Robson would not reveal the identity of the interested club, and added: "It just goes to show how bad things are in the transfer market."

Meanwhile, Solano will be staying at St James' Park this summer as Sir Bobby Robson attempts to build a squad capable of challenging the Premiership's top two and mounting a serious assault on Europe.

Newcastle United have also turned down the chance to sign Nigerian international central defender Isaac Okoronkwo.

Sir Bobby Robson said: "We have had Isaac offered to us but we have said no.

We had him over from Ukraine last season and he is a nice boy who speaks good English.

"He was a decent performer but he was no better than what we already have here so we sent him home.

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