“How much?”
“Thirty million”
“What!!!?”
“Thirty million; you know the score”
“No, not Moussa. Paul Dummett”
“Pards, we’ve told you before. He isn’t for sale”
Or at least that’s how we can imagine the telephone conversation went, if The Chronicle‘s report that Newcastle batted away an enquiry from Crystal Palace about taking Paul Dummett from St James Park is correct.
The left back has been linked with several Premier League clubs this summer, with Burnley showing the strongest interest. The Magpies though, have been steadfast in their refusal to strike a deal for him.
A bid of £4.5m was received earlier this week but rejected out of hand by the Newcastle hierarchy, ending any hopes that Dummett might have had of leaving this summer. To be fair to him, I can’t recall seeing anything where he has demanded to leave.
The esteem in which he is held was shown by Rafa Benitez’s choice to make him captain for the recent cup tie against Cheltenham.
One full back on his way out of St James Park is Jamie Sterry, who has joined Coventry City on a season-long loan.