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Steven Taylor has insisted he has no intention of quitting Newcastle United.

The Magpies defender has been linked with a move to Arsenal and Marseille this summer, while Fulham are also understood to be monitoring the Toon Academy product.

However, the 27-year-old still has three years left on his current deal and is a player Alan Pardew wants to keep on Tyneside.

Pardew knows the importance of retaining the Greenwich-born stopper next season.

Taylor has shrugged off talk he wants to leave the club he supported as a boy by saying: “I am still living my dream here.

“Being at Newcastle is the best thing which has ever happened to me.

“I am still living the dream of every young lad that is in this city.

“I still cannot describe the feeling when you walk over that line in front of 52,000 fans in a stadium like ours.

“It is what I have always wanted to do. I have to keep pinching myself.”

Taylor was heavily linked with a move away from St James’ Park when United were relegated in 2009.

However, he stuck with the club and helped gain promotion a year later.

On Newcastle’s return to the top flight, a contract dispute resulted in a temporary stint on the transfer list.

Yet this was something which was resolved days after Pardew was appointed manager.

Taylor said he never wanted to leave the club.

He added: “I was part of the team which was relegated.

“So I wanted to be part of the team which went up.

“I have been at the club since I was nine at the School of Excellence. As I say, this is my dream.”

While the team ended the season enduring intense criticism, the former England Under-21 skipper knows it is part and parcel of being at Newcastle.

He said: “As long as I have known the defence has always been criticised.

“If you cannot handle that, what is the point in playing football?”