Shay Given's future at Newcastle is expected to be decided within the next 48 hours and the indications are that the 32-year-old Irish goalkeeper will be leaving St James' Park

after 11 and a half years at Newcastle. Steve Harper, No 2 to Given, has been offered a new three-year contract by Newcastle in the past few days and is close to signing it. It would appear

that Harper's signature would pave the way for Given's departure. Given (right) has been the subject of two bids from Manchester City, one of £3m a fortnight ago, and one of £5m a

week ago. Newcastle have rejected both, manager Joe Kinnear describing the first bid as "insulting". City are now preparing another offer, possibly of £7m plus a player – Michael

defender Albin Ebondo. Depending on the figure agreed with City for Given, Newcastle may also try again to recruit the Rennes midfielder Stéphane Mbia, whom Kinnear called the closest player

he has seen to Patrick Vieira. Kinnear suggested that Rennes want double the £5m Newcastle offered 10 days ago. There is also a belief that Harper's contract deal will be followed by

one for Nicky Butt, who was offered an extension in mid-December, along with Michael Owen, and is expected to sign for another 12 months at St James'. Newcastle have so far added only

Peter Lovenkrands to a squad Kinnear admits is fragile enough to be relegated. It is likely that, if Given joins City by Wednesday, both clubs will agree that he will be unavailable that

night when City host Newcastle at Eastlands. OUT-OF-FAVOUR MULLINS SET TO BOLSTER PORTSMOUTH'S MIDFIELD West Ham's Hayden Mullins was last night in talks with Portsmouth over a

proposed £3m move. The midfielder, who turns 30 in March, has been told the decision to leave Upton Park is up to him and it appears likely that a deal will go through in time for Mullins to

make his debut against Aston Villa tomorrow. Mullins has been at West Ham for more than five years, making him the club's longest-serving player, and signed a new contract earlier this

season, but has not been a first-team regular under manager Gianfranco Zola. West Ham are today due to unveil their record signing, Savio Nsereko, at a press conference today. The

19-year-old German will sign for a fee of £10m, including incentives. _The Independent_ first revealed that West Ham were to sign Savio, who can play as a winger or central striker and

arrives from the Italian _Serie B_ side, Brescia, the former club of West Ham's technical director Gianluca Nani. Jason Burt WENGER LINES UP RICHARDS SWOOP Arsène Wenger has been linked

with a £7m move for the Manchester City defender Micah Richards, who is rumoured to be unhappy at Eastlands. Richards has 11 England caps but has struggled this season and is believed to

have a difficult relationship with the City manager, Mark Hughes. Wenger needs to shore up the Arsenal defence and the signing of Richards would add a much needed aerial presence. SUNDERLAND

AND FULHAM EYE BERRA Christophe Berra is expected to leave Hearts this week, with Sunderland and Fulham interested in signing the 23-year-old Scotland defender, who is believed to be valued

at £3m. Berra has been linked with a move away from Tynecastle for the past year, with Wolves close to buying him last summer, and it is thought that Hearts' need to sell during the

transfer window will mean the tall centre-half moves south.