Newcastle Transfers: Magpies End Interest In James Tomkins?

Chronicle. Sources claim that fee is too high a price to pay on a player who struggled with shin problems last season and who was limited to just 24 Premier League appearances, last appearing in the middle of April. Magpies' owner Mike Ashley is reportedly keen to invest the majority of the club's transfer funds into a new centre-forward this summer, though Tomkins' name was at the top of a list of targets handed to new director of football Joe Kinnear before he departed for a planned family vacation to Italy. Ashley has received criticism from supporters recently over the appointment of the former Wimbledon boss, who also took charge at St James' Park between 2008-09. The Toon tycoon sanctioned a move for Brazilian defender Douglas on a free transfer and his capture could have appeased those critical of Kinnear's appointment, yet that fell through with the North East club instead apparently favouring a move for a younger defensive recruit instead. Kinnear, who has openly admitted that he, and not manager Alan Pardew, will have the "final say" over transfers, knows that the priority is a new striker. Papiss Cisse remains Newcastle's only real goal-threat at the moment as the club continue to be linked with a move for Aston Villa's Darren Bent.