Dyer told The Times: “We saw on Saturday what a class act Jonathan Woodgate is. He’s a top player, but I don’t know if the manager wants him. I don’t make those sorts of decisions in the transfer market, but if we do try and get him in the summer I will be on the phone every day trying to persuade him to come back to Newcastle.
“I did that last summer when I knew he was coming back [to England] and I did the same when he was at Leeds and Newcastle had a bid accepted. But at the moment he is a Boro player and there were reports during the last international break that they were close to getting him, so it’s a bit disrespectful to be talking about trying to get him to come to Newcastle at this stage.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if Real Madrid wanted to keep him. He’s proven his fitness and he could go back to Spain at the end of the season. He’s certainly good enough. I would love him to come to Newcastle, but it’s going to be difficult. The way he is playing at the moment, the fact is, it isn’t just going to be Newcastle and Middlesbrough who are after him.
“I honestly believe the likes of Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal will be interested in him. There are clubs who can offer him the Champions League so who knows what is going to happen.”
