Steven Taylor's contract talks with Newcastle are not progressing as expected, according to his agent.
Defender declines to comment on contract reports
Steven Taylor's contract negotiations with Newcastle are not progressing as expected, according to the defender's agent.
The centre-back will miss the start of his club's return to the Premier League, having sustained a dislocated shoulder in the summer which is expected to require three months of rehabilitation.
At the same time, Taylor is in contract talks with Newcastle over a new long-term deal at St James' Park.
But his representative, Paul Stretford, claims that discussions have become 'difficult and drawn-out'.
Stretford told the
Mail on Sunday: "It would not be right to go into specific details as I don't believe it would help the situation.
Difficult and drawn-out
"Suffice to say matters are not progressing as I would like them to or would expect, but I am hopeful that there will be some movement in the near future.
"In the case of Steven it is typical of modern contract negotiations; they can become difficult and drawn-out.
"But from our point of view we are keen to try to conclude matters in the near future."
Taylor, for his part, added: "This is the club I have been at all my life. Last year we did a fantastic job getting the club back to where it belongs.
"The manager and his staff have done a great job and I hope they get enough support so that they can continue to move the club forward. I would love to be a part of that but first I need to get myself fit and back playing.
"I'm not going to comment on the stories about my contract talks. They are a matter for my agent and the club to sort out."
