Newcastle ready to sell defender Steven Taylor

Newcastle United defender Steven Taylor has been placed on the club’s transfer list.

The move comes after long-running contract talks aimed at keeping the centre-half at the club past the end of this season broke down.

The Magpies have taken the decision in an attempt to secure a fee for the 24 year-old defender as opposed to letting him run down his contract and leave on a free transfer next summer.

A statement from the club read: “Newcastle have placed Steven Taylor on the transfer list, the club will be making no further comment at this time.”

Taylor has been with the club since joining as a junior and has risen through the ranks, becoming a first choice defender at St James’ Park for the past three seasons.

He missed the majority of last year with a knee injury and has been sidelined for the beginning of this campaign with a shoulder problem sustained in pre-season, but it now appears he has played his last game for the club.