Swansea reject Newcastle bid for Taylor

Swansea have rejected Newcastle's bid for full-back Neil Taylor amid a wrangle over his availability.

The Magpies have been pursuing the 22-year-old for several weeks after activating what they believed was a £1million release clause in his contract.

However, Swans chairman Huw Jenkins today revealed that the offer had been rebuffed and that Taylor is expected to play a role for the promoted club next season.

In a statement on the club's official website, http://www.swanseacity.net, Jenkins said: "We recognise Neil as a young, talented Welsh player that has an important role to play at this club.

"We brought him here from Wrexham and have helped nurture his development. He adjusted very well to the Championship last season and we look forward to seeing him play a big role as we enter the Premier League.

"That is why we have rejected Newcastle's bid. I spoke to Neil's agent today and he understands the situation.

"We have a big challenge ahead in the Premier League, but together we can maintain the progress made by this club over the last few years."

The news will come as a blow to the Magpies boss who is facing up to the possibility of Jose Enrique's departure this summer, although Taylor was never seen as a direct replacement for the Spaniard.

In the meantime, Pardew is continuing his search for midfield reinforcements despite having already landed Frenchmen Yohan Cabaye and Sylvain Marveaux.

The pair, along with Senegal striker Demba Ba, have been snapped up in a flurry of early transfer activity at St James' Park which has also seen skipper Kevin Nolan sold to relegated West Ham.

However, amid speculation that Nolan may not be the last departure from the pool of midfield players which helped to secure the club's Barclays Premier League status last season, Pardew is monitoring a series of other targets.

Newcastle are understood to have a more than passing interest in Manchester United's Darron Gibson, who like Wigan's Charles N'Zogbia, is also a target for derby rivals Sunderland.

The Black Cats have had a joint bid of more than £12million for the Republic of Ireland international and United team-mates John O'Shea and Wes Brown accepted, and Gibson has indicated his willingness to accept a new challenge.

However, the Magpies are also tracking the 23-year-old Derry-born player and could yet attempt to beat their neighbours to his signature.

N'Zogbia, the subject of a failed swoop by Birmingham in January, has also been linked with Liverpool, Everton and Aston Villa, but his fee and wage demands, which have been reported as £9million and £60,000 a week respectively, could pose problems.

Pardew's ongoing recruitment mission will do little to quell speculation that the likes of Joey Barton, Jonas Gutierrez and Danny Guthrie could leave Tyneside this summer.

Barton has been told he will not be offered a new contract with his existing deal due to expire at the end of next season.

He has insisted he will see out the last 12 months of his current agreement before leaving on a Bosman free transfer this time next year, although the decision not to extend his stay has sparked suggestions that the club will look to cash in on him now.

But claims that the 28-year-old has been made available for a cut-price fee have been strongly rebuffed with club sources insisting that only an offer in excess of £4million, some £1.8million less than they paid for him in June 2007, would give them cause for consideration.

Guthrie was touted as a potential target for former boss Chris Hughton, now in charge at Birmingham, over the weekend, but no formal offer has yet been received for any player.

Meanwhile, the Magpies have played down claims that they are engaged in a four-horse race, along with Liverpool, Lyon and Inter Milan, to sign Toulouse's France international midfielder Moussa Sissoko.