Article on IC Newcastle Today - Given to Arsenal?
Gunners train their sights on Shay
By Miles Starforth, The Evening Chronicle
Arsenal will move for Newcastle United goalkeeper Shay Given should they fail to sign Chelsea's Carlo Cudicini.
But the Magpies will fight any attempt to sign Given, who has two years left on his St James' Park contract and re-stated his commitment to the club back in March.
Should Graeme Souness lose the Republic of Ireland international, however, he would move for Blackburn Rovers' American No 1 Brad Friedel, who he took to Ewood Park four-and-a-half years ago.
Souness also has long-serving Steve Harper, who would hope to inherit Given's No 1 jersey should the Irishman ever leave St James'.
The 29-year-old, voted United's best player in a Chronicle poll of fans this week, has also been linked to Manchester United, who released goalkeepers Roy Carroll and Ricardo yesterday, but Arsenal's interest is stronger.
Goalkeeping has long been an area that has let the Gunners down, and Wenger will sign a stopper to compete with FA Cup-winning Jens Lehmann in the summer as he bids to challenge Chelsea for next season's Premiership crown.
Cudicini is Wenger's first choice, but Chelsea are hoping to keep the Italian and have offered him an extended contract at Stamford Bridge, where Petr Cech is Jose Mourinho's No 1.
He has been offered a new four-year £50,000-a-week deal by the Premiership winners.
Friedel, meanwhile, has a year left on his current Blackburn contract and talks have already started on a new Rovers deal.
Then Newcastle boss Kevin Keegan tried to sign Friedel, now 34, back in 1995 but after an appeal for a work permit failed, he signed for Brondby.
Ohio-born Friedel made 10 appearances for Brondby before moving on to Galatasaray, where Souness was then manager.
