NEWCASTLE have won the race to sign Manchester United
outcast Alan Smith in a deal worth around
£3.5million.
Toon boss Sam Allardyce made his move for Smith after the England
striker made public his dismay at not being offered a new deal by
United.
But Allardyce failed in his bid to make it a United trio at
Newcastle after the Old Trafford hierarchy rebuffed his attempts to
sign defensive duo Wes Brown and Mikael Silvestre.
Smith revealed his desire to stay at Old Trafford only last week
but admitted he had received no assurances about his future from
Sir Alex Ferguson, a revelation which sparked a scramble for his
signature.
Despite his reluctance to leave United following a £7million move
from Leeds in 2004, Smith has been assured of regular football at
Newcastle under Allardyce, something Fergie could not give him at
Old Trafford.
And Smith is said to be relishing the challenge to prove he can get
back to the level he was at before breaking a leg at Liverpool in
February 2006, which ruled him out for seven months.
A host of Premiership clubs including Tottenham and Aston Villa
made clear their interest in signing Smith but Newcastle have won
the race.
source:themirror
