WITH a potential £400,000 windfall coming his way, it is understandable that Blues boss Jim Magilton is keeping a close eye on the talks between Newcastle and West Ham over the transfer of Kieron Dyer.

By Derek Davis

WITH a potential £400,000 windfall coming his way, it is understandable that Blues boss Jim Magilton is keeping a close eye on the talks between Newcastle and West Ham over the transfer of Kieron Dyer.

Ipswich Town are in line to receive 20% on any profit over the £6m the Magpies paid Town for Dyer in 1999.

Newcastle are understood to be standing firm on £8m for Dyer, with a basic £7m deal bolstered by another £1m in add-ons.

That would see Magilton getting a further £200,000 guaranteed, paid in instalments in correlation with the deal between Newcastle and West Ham, with a potential further £200,000 to follow.

The two Premiership clubs originally agreed a £6m deal but Newcastle pulled out at the last minute, demanding a further £2m.

The Hammers are hoping to persuade Newcastle to take the £6m, all paid up front, but the Magpies' new owner, Mike Ashby, is refusing to budge on his revaluation.

Dyer had agreed personal terms at Upton Park and, after an initial scare, had passed a medical.

The 28-year-old midfielder has wanted to return to his Ipswich home to be near his long-term partner and two children, and the West Ham travelling ground is less than an hour away from his home.

The money would be a genuine windfall for Town, who have not budgeted, or expected, any bonus from the Dyer move.

Although the extra money from Town's share of the £16.5m Tottenham paid Charlton for Darren Bent has been allocated, along with the Premier League 'solidarity payment', Magilton still has money left in his war chest for a new player and has earmarked bringing in a centre-half as his top priority now.

Magilton has also been trying to persuade Plymouth Argyle to part with David Norris, as have Southampton and Sheffield United among a number of other clubs, and would be willing to go back in with a bid if he were to become available.

Dyer's team-mate Nolberto Solano has also demanded a move south to be with his London-based family and, after initially wanting to join a clutch of old Magpies at Upton Park, with Lee Bowyer and Scott Parker already there, it now looks likely that Portsmouth will be deemed close enough for him.