Newcastle interim manager Joe Kinnear has admitted he has no chance of signing Arsenal trio Alexandre Song, Johan Djourou and Denilson on loan.
Kinnear recently revealed he intended to sign ‘two top-class players’ on six-month loan deals and said: “I don't think they will come here – I know they will.”
But – as well as apparently failing in his bid to take John Arne Riise from Roma – it appears his attempts to bring in some of Arsenal’s squad players are now doomed.
“I was looking at the situation regarding both Alexandre Song and Johan Djourou at the Emirates,” he told the Newcastle Evening Chronicle.
“However, I notice both played for Arsenal when they beat Dynamo Kiev last night, so I know I was wasting my time thinking about these two on loan.
“I can understand Arsene Wenger not wanting to let Denilson go either.”
Kinnear also jumped to the defence of Arsene Wenger, adding: “What I cannot understand is the criticism coming his way from some Arsenal fans.
“He has done and is still doing a fantastic job at the Emirates and he is probably the manager I admire most.
“He has implemented a youth policy at Arsenal which is the envy of teams all over Europe, and it is something I know our director of football Dennis Wise has already started to get up and running here at Newcastle.”