Steven Taylor is baulking at signing a new deal with Newcastle United.
The Mail on Sunday says Taylor is stalling on a new contract, weeks before Chris Hughton's side kick off their return to the Premier League.
The former England Under-21 centre-half looked certain to leave the club last March after having his jaw broken in an alleged altercation with Newcastle striker Andy Carroll.
At the time, Taylor said he felt let down by the club after the support he alleged that Carroll got following the incident.
But last night it emerged that the most pressing problems in his contract talks are his anxiety over the direction the club could be heading and his concerns over a lack of ambition at St James' Park.
