Newcastle Untied caretaker manager Chris Hughton believes the club will hold on to star defender Steven Taylor.
The former England Under-21 captain has been a long-term target of the Premier League big boys and speculation has grown since the Magpies' relegation.
Taylor was reportedly being lined up by Everton manager David Moyes as a replacement for the outgoing Joleon Lescott and has also caught the eye of Liverpool chief Rafa Benitez.
Hughton told Sky Sports News, "I am hopeful we will keep him. Nothing has been said to me that says anything different. I expect him to be a Newcastle player come Tuesday evening and beyond."
Speculation surrounding Taylor has cooled after Everton announced their intentions to bring in Portsmouth defender Sylvain Distin and Liverpool completed the signing of Greek international Sotirios Kyrgiakos.
Taylor had been linked with an £8 million move away from St. James' Park but the Toon boss, in his third spell as caretaker manager, doesn't believe the club can afford to let any players leave if they wish to compete in the Championship.
"I hope no one else leaves. Most importantly is that we can compete. We have been fortunate on injuries until now," he asserted.
"The squad is quite tight at the moment. Along with that there is a feel good factor among players."
Finally the Tyneside caretaker admitted that the club, who have made no permanent signings this summer, are looking to add to their paper thin squad, adding, "We are looking to strengthen. We have said if we pick up injuries we would be stretched. We are at that stage now. At the end of the window we have to be in a position where we can compete and that means having a squad big enough.
"We are short up front. There is no getting away from that. Xisco and Carroll are both out. We have to work our way around that. We are going into a difficult game against Leicester on Monday."
The former England Under-21 captain has been a long-term target of the Premier League big boys and speculation has grown since the Magpies' relegation.
Taylor was reportedly being lined up by Everton manager David Moyes as a replacement for the outgoing Joleon Lescott and has also caught the eye of Liverpool chief Rafa Benitez.
Hughton told Sky Sports News, "I am hopeful we will keep him. Nothing has been said to me that says anything different. I expect him to be a Newcastle player come Tuesday evening and beyond."
Speculation surrounding Taylor has cooled after Everton announced their intentions to bring in Portsmouth defender Sylvain Distin and Liverpool completed the signing of Greek international Sotirios Kyrgiakos.
Taylor had been linked with an £8 million move away from St. James' Park but the Toon boss, in his third spell as caretaker manager, doesn't believe the club can afford to let any players leave if they wish to compete in the Championship.
"I hope no one else leaves. Most importantly is that we can compete. We have been fortunate on injuries until now," he asserted.
"The squad is quite tight at the moment. Along with that there is a feel good factor among players."
Finally the Tyneside caretaker admitted that the club, who have made no permanent signings this summer, are looking to add to their paper thin squad, adding, "We are looking to strengthen. We have said if we pick up injuries we would be stretched. We are at that stage now. At the end of the window we have to be in a position where we can compete and that means having a squad big enough.
"We are short up front. There is no getting away from that. Xisco and Carroll are both out. We have to work our way around that. We are going into a difficult game against Leicester on Monday."
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