Duff: hands off say Blackburn - February 20, 2001
Blackburn manager Graeme Souness has rebuffed Newcastle United's attempts to sign Republic of Ireland winger Damien Duff - and has stepped up his own bid to sign another Irishman, Alan Mahon, from Sporting Lisbon.
Newcastle were preparing a £3-million-plus-Stephane-Glass deal which, by the Magpies' valuation, rated Duff at £8 million - but Souness has stopped them in their tracks.
"Damien Duff is not for sale, end of story. There's absolutely no chance I'd be prepared to let him go," he said.
At the same time, Souness confirmed that he is in talks with Alan Mahon's agent about keeping the Republic of Ireland international at Ewood Park permanently. The Blackburn manager is prepared to pay £1 million to Sporting for the midfielder whom they got on a Bosman free from Tranmere Rovers at the start of the season.
Mahon arrived at Blackburn on loan just before Christmas and Souness has been raving about him.
"I think Alan has impressed everyone since he came into the club just before Christmas and he has certainly made an impression on me," Souness said. "He is a little terrier out on the pitch, but he can play as well.
"What I like about him is the fact that he really punches his weight, despite his size."