from nufc.com
Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed that a bid for midfielder Ravel Morrison has been made by Newcastle and turned down:
"His agent has been working hard to get him another club. We've offered him terms which he's refused so that's where it is.
"At this moment in time we've rejected an offer from Newcastle and it's all down to how that progresses.
"His (contractual) demands are unrealistic as far as we're concerned."
However, his opposite number Alan Pardew was a good deal more circumspect:
"I think it’s important for us to keep what business we’re doing in-house. There’s certainly been no contact from manager to manager.
"Sometimes these deals take place behind the scenes, but there’s no definite bid from us as far as I’m aware.”
Out of contract at the end of the season, Morrison is now able to speak to other clubs. He turns 19 next month and should he depart from Old Trafford with no fee agreed in the summer, a tribunal would decide his price. Press claims of £500K and £1m bids by Newcastle have now emerged.
Debuting for the Red Devils during a League Cup tie back in October 2010, Morrison made two more appearances from the bench in that competition this season.
The Mancunian-born player is two-footed and has played in both wide and central midfield roles and as a striker. Capped by England at various youth levels, Morrison was sent off playing for Manchester United reserves against Newcastle last March after lashing out at James Perch - who also saw red after reacting to the provocation.
A month before that, Morrison had scored the goal that ended our interest in the FA Youth Cup at the Fifth Round stage, one of six strikes in that competition last season - including two in the Final as his side lifted the trophy.
However his expected first team breakthrough has been hampered by disciplinary issues including poor timekeeping and a dispute over remaining on the bench in a recent reserve game that saw him post comments on Twitter.
January 2011 meanwhile found Morrison handed a 12 month referral order after admitting two charges of intimidating a witness to an alleged mugging.
By May he was back in court to admit a charge of criminal damage (smashing a mobile phone during a row with his girlfriend), at which time his income was given as £3.4K per month after tax.
That came after he denied assault charges and they were withdrawn when his partner refused to give evidence - a repeat of a similar situation involving her in 2008.
July then saw him accused of breaching the referral order, although no charges were forthcoming after he voluntarily attended a police station. Morrison had also received a police caution when aged 15, after assaulting his mother.
There are elements of the Lee Bowyer, Nile Ranger and Joey Barton signings here, not to mention some ground familiar as a result of Andy Carroll's time at Gallowgate.
Like the signing of Dan Gosling and attempt to bring in Neil Taylor opportunism seems to be our watchword, although neither of those players had any off-field considerations.
Our "where angels fear to tread" (and Potters) stance last summer over Demba Ba has repaid itself very quickly, but again he was no threat to what now seems to be a comparatively serene dressing home room at SJP, where only Ben Arfa seems to be genuinely "high maintenance".
The Morrison situation is intriguing and promises to be another test of Alan Pardew's managerial credentials, if the Mags get their man. Whether the manager has any say in the signing is another matter.