Shearer for sale says Gullit

New Newcastle United coach Ruud Gullit has bowed to the inevitable and put star striker Alan Shearer up for sale.

Gullit will complete the signing of Everton striker Duncan ferguson this week but after that the England captain is set to leave the club he joined in 1995 from Blackburn Rovers.

Gullit will use the money earned from the sale of his prize asset to rebuild the Newcastle side who are now in a relegation fight after a 1-0 loss at Everton last night. Shearer did not play because of a hamstring injury but is expected to be fit again by next week. He may have played his last game for the Tyneside club and they will be looking for at least £13 million for the player who set a new British record with his £15 million move from Blackburn.

Shearer has suffered loss of form since a return from injury and was disappointing at the recent World Cup but his sale will provoke a transfer frenzy among English clubs. Juventus and AS Roma are also interested but FC Barcelona cooled in the spring on the idea of taking Shearer to Spain.

Arsenal, Aston Villa and Chelsea would all be able to meet the massive transfer fee and Shearer's wages at this crossroads in his career.