Newcastle United boss Kevin Keegan doesn't believe they had a chance of beating Tottenham for defender Jonathan Woodgate in January.

"He had already committed himself to going to Tottenham," KK told the Sunday Sun. "We came in and tried to hijack it but I think his mind was already made up. I think it was done between Middlesbrough and Spurs before the transfer window opened.

"It was a done deal."

Meanwhile, with Woodgate's father suggesting his son would have joined Newcastle had Keegan added Alan Shearer to his coaching staff, the United boss said: "I might ask him (Woodgate Sr) what he had been drinking.

"If I met his dad I would ask him: 'Did you say that?' I would like to know his reasons.

"But it doesn't matter. The player would argue now that he made the right move. He will be playing European football again next season and we aren't so you can't knock him for what he did.

"Our attempt to sign Woodgate shows the calibre of player we will be trying to recruit though."