Alan Smith will not accept a wage cut as part of a deal to take him back to Leeds United next season.The Newcastle United midfielder flies home from a holiday in America soon, but he says he wants to honour the final year of his contract on Tyneside.Newcastle have told Smith that he is free to leave St James’ Park, 12 months before the end of a deal which expires in June 2012, and Leeds are one of several clubs competing for his signature this summer.
Smith’s existing contract is believed to be worth in the region of £55,000 a week, however, and the 30-year-old is not prepared to forego the financial commitment made to him by Newcastle.
However - Newcastle say they would consider paying a sizeable portion of Smith’s wages to facilitate a transfer, a move which would assist Leeds’ attempts to close a deal.
But Smith says he wants to remain at Newcastle for the final year of his deal and fight for a first-team place under manager Alan Pardew.
