Kinnear handed transfer headache

Reported Newcastle target John Arne Riise says he wants to stay at Roma, while boss Joe Kinnear wants to hand Steve Harper a new deal.

Kinnear is gearing up for what could be a busy transfer window with speculation linking several first-team players with a move away from St James' Park, while he is also hoping to get the green light from current owner Mike Ashley to bring in a couple of new faces.

However his plans to sign Roma's former Liverpool left-back, Riise, appear to be dead in the water after the Norway international confirmed that he wants to stay and fight for his place at the Stadio Olimpico where he moved to from Anfield in the summer.

He said: "I will stay here in Rome and win. Things are getting better for me, the team and my family."

Hearts' David Obua and Independiente's Lucas Mareque are potential alternatives to fill that role as Kinnear will now have to cast his net elsewhere.

Meanwhile Kinnear has also confirmed that he wants to tie second-choice keeper, Harper, down to a new deal at the club as his current contract is due to expire next summer.

He told the Journal: "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 (Shay Given and Harper) 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."