Shepherd: Jenas not for sale

Freddie Shepherd has insisted that Jermaine Jenas is not for sale.

Freddie Shepherd has insisted that Jermaine Jenas is not for sale, with Arsenal widely tipped to view the England international as the perfect replacement for Patrick Vieira.

Vieira looks set to complete his £13.7 million move to Juventus this week from Arsenal, after the two clubs agreed a fee - and it is Jenas that has surfaced as a possible replacement.

Newcastle boss Graeme Souness has already insisted that Arsenal would have to pay significantly more than they received for Vieira to tempt them to sell, and that message was emphatically underlined by his chairman.

"We have had no contact with Arsenal as regards any of our players, not just Jermaine Jenas," insisted Shepherd on the club's website.

"I can only repeat what has been said on several occasions and that is that JJ is not for sale.

"He is a very important member of our squad and we see his future as being with Newcastle United at St James' Park."

Despite his assertions, it is likely that a blockbuster bid would tempt Newcastle to sell the former Nottingham Forest midfielder.

Meanwhile, Juventus are expecting to unveil Vieira at a press conference at 11:00 BST.