Newcastle united

Toon avert Bellamy stand-off Mon 04 Jul, 8:50 AM Newcastle today moved to head off a tense reunion between errant striker Craig Bellamy and manager Graeme Souness when they handed the Welshman an extra week off. The club is expected to confirm on Monday morning the 25-year-old, who was due to return to pre-season training with the bulk of his Magpies' colleagues following the end of his loan spell at Celtic, will now have another seven days in which to win a transfer away from St James' Park. Bellamy's future on Tyneside has been the subject of intense speculation since he branded his manager a liar on live television back in January after their relationship reached breaking point. The Welsh international was sent out on loan to Parkhead for the second half of last season with Souness vowing he would never play for him again. New Celtic boss Gordon Strachan is keen to sign the player on a permanent basis, but the prospect of that deal going through appeared to evaporate over the weekend and now Everton and Aston Villa are the two realistic suitors for his signature. Monday's news will also spare Bellamy a reunion with Newcastle skipper Alan Shearer, who was allegedly the recipient of abusive text messages from his team-mate after the Magpies' FA Cup semi-final humbling by Manchester United in April. With the striker's exit now looking ever more certain, Souness faces heading into the new season with only Shearer and youngster Michael Chopra as his strike force unless he manages to achieve a major breakthrough ahead of the club's first competitive game, the first leg of their Intertoto Cup third round tie against either Ankaraspor or Dubnica on the weekend of 16/17 July.

Pre-season training: No showdown Newcastle returned to pre-season training on Monday morning in typical Tyneside weather - damp and gloomy - to the news that Craig Bellamy wouldn't be appearing as was previously expected. Officially he's been given an extra week off, along with those players who took part in post-season senior internationals (Jean-Alain Boumsong, Jermaine Jenas, Shay Given and Stephen Carr plus Hugo Viana). However it looks increasingly likely that the extra week will give Bellamy the chance to conclude a permanent transfer away from St.James' Park. Celtic still have high hopes, but it's David Moyes and Champions League qualifiers Everton who are back at the head of the (short) queue for the Welshman. The Toffees depart on Tuesday for pre-season preparations in Austria and play their opening Champions League qualifier on August 9th/10th (player registration deadline for that being August 4th.) 2005/06: Sky live games confirmed Arsenal (a) now Sun 14.08.05 @ 1.30pm Man United (h) now Sun 28.08.05 @ 4pm Blackburn (a) now Sun 18.09.05 @ 2pm Wigan (a) still Sat 15.10.05 @ 12.45pm Mackems (h) now Sun 23.10.05 @ 1.30pm West Brom (a) now Sun 30.10.05 @ 4pm Everton (a) now Sun 27.11.05 @ 1.30pm Arsenal (h) still Sat 10.12.05 @5.15pm Liverpool (a) still Mon 26.12.05 @ 3pm

Wrapping up Toffees move Craig Bellamy is on the verge of a £6m move to Everton following lengthy talks with Toffees boss David Moyes last night. Bellamy is expected to report for pre-season training with the Magpies this morning, but his visit is only likely to be a fleeting one as Everton close in on their main summer transfer target. Reports over the weekend suggested the Welsh international was ready to accept an offer from Celtic, but with the Glasgow club attempting to get Newcastle to lower their asking price, Everton have nipped in and agreed to meet their original valuation. Bellamy has tried to keep his options open for as long as possible, fuelling Celtic's belief that they could sign him permanently after last season's successful loan spell. But, with pre-season training about to start and with Graeme Souness expected to force him to train with the youth team to ensure he remains ostracised from the first- team squad, Bellamy has realised the quicker he leaves the better. And, while the 25-year-old has publicly refused to rule out a permanent switch to Glasgow, privately he is not convinced the Scottish Premier League is a big enough stage for him, even if the Bhoys will be in the Champions League. Everton have courted Bellamy for several weeks, but were initially thought to have backed off because of the player's £45,000-a-week wage demands. Moyes, though, has made just two signings this summer - Simon Davies from Spurs and Denmark defender Per Kroldrup - and knows he needs more firepower if he is to build on last season's unexpected fourth-placed finish in the Premiership. The Scot is convinced Bellamy - who has already sold his house on Tyneside in preparation for a move - will be the ideal foil for James Beattie, a player in the Alan Shearer mould of striker. For his part, Souness will be keen to see the transfer completed as quickly as possible as he has no desire to see Bellamy, who retains a lot of support among fans, hanging around the place. The funds will also be greatly received by chairman Freddie Shepherd, who has still not managed to tie up the deal to bring Turkish international midfielder Emre Belözoglu in from Inter Milan and has been rebuffed by both Christian Vieri and Alan Smith as Newcastle prepare for life without Bellamy and Patrick Kluivert. The majority of the Magpies squad are now back on Tyneside after their summer break and will be put through a gruelling fitness regime ahead of their Intertoto Cup third round match on July 16. However, Hugo Viana, Stephen Carr, Jean-Alain Boumsong, Jermaine Jenas and Shay Given have been given an extra week off because of their international commitments last month. Meanwhile, Newcastle look certain to face Slovakian side FK Dubnica in the Intertoto Cup following their emphatic 4-0 victory over Ankaraspor in Turkey on Saturday. United sent scouts to the match and will also be represented at the second leg next weekend in Slovakia. The result, though, is something of a surprise as most observers, including Souness, had predicted an Ankaraspor victory. * RANGERS manager Alex McLeish is hoping his expert knowledge of the French market means he has snapped up another hit in Brahim Hemdani. The former Marseilles skipper has joined the Ibrox club for four years and the Scottish champions claim they beat off competition from the Premiership and the continent to secure his signature. Like fellow new signing Ian Murray, Hemdani joins the club on a Bosman free and fans will be hoping he proves to be just as big a success as Boumsong was this time last year. McLeish pulled off one of the deals of the summer when he secured Boumsong for nothing from Auxerre and he quickly established himself as one of the most influential players at the club. The move proved little more than a stepping stone when he quit after just six months for Newcastle but Rangers received £8m to soften the blow - which helped pave the way for the return of Barry Ferguson and the capture of Thomas Buffel, as well as Sotirios Kyrgiakos on loan from Panathinaikos. The Rangers boss is determined to brush up on his knowledge of the rest of Europe so that he can cast his net even further in search of the Boumsongs of the future.

Showdown put on hold Jul 4 2005 Craig Bellamy stayed away from the start of pre-season training today after Everton finally opened talks with the Newcastle United striker over a move to Merseyside. The bulk of Graeme Souness' squad returned to the club's Benton training ground today - but Bellamy was not among the players reporting back. The Chronicle revealed last Wednesday Everton were still interested in taking Bellamy to Goodison Park, with manager David Moyes' seeking a face-to-face meeting with the 25-year-old, and yesterday the pair met for preliminary talks. And against this background Bellamy was told to report back for training on Monday, July 11 - giving him and his agent Steve Horner time to talk to Moyes. Bellamy and Everton have not yet talked wages, but if there is a stumbling block it is not expected to be money, and a further meeting is planned in the next 48 hours with the end now in sight to the long-running saga. Should Bellamy sign for the Champions League qualifiers it will come as a massive relief to Graeme Souness, who had been bracing himself for his return. Bellamy's appearance would have been just the kind of distraction he did not want as he attempts to get pre-season off to a good start. Celtic have been in talks with the Magpies, but the Parkhead club were never realistically going to be in a position to afford his transfer fee with chairman Freddy Shepherd looking for £6m for the former Coventry City forward. Aston Villa, meanwhile, still have a bid on the table for Bellamy with David O'Leary having made him his number one summer transfer target. But Bellamy has always been keen to assess all of his options and, unlike O'Leary, Moyes can offer him a return to the Champions League if Everton progress through the final qualifying round next month. Meanwhile, Slovakian side Dubnica look to be in pole position to face Newcastle in the third round of the Intertoto Cup. Magpies chief scout David Mills was in Turkey on Saturday to see them win 4-0 at Ankaraspor in the first leg of their second-round tie. The return game is on Saturday.

Derby match moved for TV Jul 4 2005 The first Tyne-Wear derby of the season has been put back 24 hours and will be beamed out on pay-per-view TV. And the Magpies' Premiership opener at Arsenal has also been switched to the Sunday to be shown by Sky Sports. Four Newcastle matches will be shown on Sky between now and January, and a further three are being broadcast on Premiership Plus. United's last-ever visit to Highbury in the league has been put back to Sunday, August 14 with a 1.30pm kick-off, while Manchester United's visit to St James' Park has also been chosen and the fixture will now be played on Sunday, August 28 at 4pm. And the first derby of the season is among the games chosen for pay-per-view, with Sunderland's visit to St James' having been put back to Sunday, October 23 (1.30). The Magpies' December fixtures at home to Arsenal and away to Liverpool are also being screened on Premiership plus. Newly-promoted Sunderland are on Sky twice between now and January, and a further two times on PPV, with the fixtures at Middlesbrough and home games against Chelsea, West Ham United and Liverpool to be broadcast. Sky today announced a package of 44 televised games for the first half of the season, with every Premiership team featuring at least once before November.

My style stays, vows Souness Jul 4 2005 Graeme Souness welcomed his players back for pre-season training and admitted: "If I last another 12 months in this job I'll have done well." A defiant Souness, labelled "out of date" by departed Frenchman Laurent Robert, added that he will not change his style as he bids to turn Newcastle United's Premiership fortunes around. Souness, who admits he only has the backing of 50% of supporters, blamed last season's poor showing in the League on a threadbare squad not suited to fighting on three fronts. "If I last another 12 months in this job I'll have done well," said Souness. "I have to be strong and I won't turn my back on this challenge. "There is only one way I will go about it - my way. I've got to be strong and be my own man. There have to be standards of discipline on the training field and a code of conduct for the club. "I don't want to start talking about the need for a good start because there is enough pressure as it is. I'm 52. I don't see myself being here when I'm 62, so I've got one chance. "I could have carried on at Blackburn for another four years and made sure the club was comfortable, but I wanted this challenge." He added: "I would think I've only got about 50/50 support with the fans. But what I would say to them is that we got two very good Cup runs and our league form suffered because of it. "Then again, if you look at our lack of depth in the squad, sense tells you that was always going to be the case. We don't have a big enough or strong enough squad to fight on two or three fronts. "We had the FA and UEFA cups last season and bombed in the league - that's the nature of the beast. It's just reality." Souness' only signing so far has been Scott Parker (pictured), with the bulk of his business now going to have to be done while his current squad is back in training. And Souness admits it is a frustrating situation for him, given his target of bringing half a dozen new players to St James' Park this summer. He said: "So far it has been a bit frustrating because Scott Parker is the only player who's come in, despite five players going out of the club. "But he's the standard I want, the standard Newcastle fans deserve to see playing in front of them week-in and week-out. Next season will be determined by what standard of player we get in. There's no lucky formula in football, it's down to getting the best players in."

Belgian giant snubs United Jul 5 2005 Newcastle United have received a fresh setback to their grand rebuilding plan with the news that another of their top targets, Daniel van Buyten, has decided to snub the chance of a move to St James's Park. Graeme Souness was keen to sign the giant 6ft 5in Belgium international defender as a replacement for Andy O'Brien and Aaron Hughes, who have been allowed to leave the club as part of a summer clear-out, joining Portsmouth and Aston Villa respectively. But, while the 27-year-old Hamburg centre-back made much of Newcastle's interest last month, insisting he was going to become Jean-Alain Boumsong's first-choice partner in the centre of the Magpies' back four, he has now decided to remain in Germany, forcing United's manager to look elsewhere for defensive reinforcements. "I am going to remain with Hamburg," said van Buyten. "My head and my heart belong here and I'm happy to stay. "I have a contract until 2008 and I believe this team can do a lot better in the Bundesliga than we did last season." The rejection of Newcastle's advances is another embarrassment to the Magpies, who have also seen attempts to sign Christian Vieri from Inter Milan and Alan Smith from Manchester United rebuffed. With the transfer of Inter Milan's Turkish international winger Emre also dragging on, despite the fact the United hierarchy believed they had wrapped up the deal last week, Souness' plans have stalled and only Scott Parker has arrived at the club for the start of pre-season. To make matters worse, Fulham winger Luis Boa Morte has also suggested he will stay at Craven Cottage next season, despite a second attempt by Newcastle to sign him in the space of six months. With just under six weeks until the start of the season, Souness is still searching for two strikers, a centre-half and two wingers. The manager's mood will not be helped by the whispers from Merseyside that Everton are prepared to allow Craig Bellamy to return to pre-season training on Tyneside next week, even though they are convinced the Welsh international will move to the club before the start of the season. Bellamy has been given an extra week's holiday by the Newcastle hierarchy and, as revealed in The Journal yesterday, is close to completing a move to Goodison Park. But, while Souness would like to see the transfer completed as quickly as possible, Everton are prepared to delay things in the hope that Bellamy's price will come down the longer the saga continues. Toffees manager David Moyes is convinced Bellamy wants to move to Merseyside and he has already rejected the chance of a move to Celtic, despite spending a successful loan spell north of the border following his much-publicised row with Souness last season. The problem for Newcastle, though, is that Everton are so confident about the player's desire to join them that they are now trying to get him as cheaply as possible. The Mersysiders are well aware of Bellamy's troubles on Tyneside and Newcastle's desperation to offload him before he returns to training on Monday. As a result they believe they hold the trump card in the haggling. A Goodison Park source told The Journal: "Craig Bellamy wants to come to Everton and the manager wants him here, but we believe we can get him for less than £6m. There were talks at the weekend and all that remains (to be done) is sorting out the price with Newcastle." Everton's stance will not go down well within the St James's Park boardroom and Newcastle chairman Freddie Shepherd appears to be ready to hold firm over the asking price. He said: "There is still some way to go, but we have given Craig permission to talk to Everton and Celtic about a possible move. "We have not agreed a fee, but we do not believe either club will have any problem matching our asking price." Everton, who have privately admitted they are surprised by Celtic's refusal to admit defeat in their pursuit of the player, fly out to Austria today for a training camp, although Moyes has hinted signings could still be made while they are there. Moyes' first signing of the summer, former Tottenham midfielder Simon Davies, feels Bellamy's arrival would be a major coup. Davies has played with Bellamy for several years at international level. And he added said: "I know Craig Bellamy very well and he is a much nicer lad than he has been painted. I hope he does come here."

Seaside special: Souness joins the beach boys In his first pre-season with the club, Newcastle boss Graeme Souness has maintained the Magpies' tradition of a seaside warm-up session. Souness was present at Tynemouth Long Sands on Tuesday morning, as United fitness coach Paul Winsper put the players through their paces. Most of the squad had returned to pre -season training at Darsley Park on Monday, although Craig Bellamy, Jean-Alain Boumsong, Jermaine Jenas, Shay Given, Stephen Carr and Hugo Viana were allgiven an extra week off. Also present was Shola Ameobi, as he began the rehab from his close-season hip operation. Shearer story: Al OK: panic over Radio Newcastle reported on Tuesday that Alan Shearer had picked an injury in training. However United's number nine was seen jogging at Darsley Park on Monday and we now gather that he was treated as a hospital day patient a few days ago for a routine matter. However, this does highlight the desperate striker shortage at the club, with Kluivert gone, Bellamy unwanted and Ameobi injured. An injury to Shearer simply wouldn't bear thinking about, with our only other options being Chopra (1 start, 10 as sub, 0 goals) playing midfielders (Dyer or Milner) or being reduced to calling up youth trainees and schoolboys. Ex-midfielder cleared: Greece IS the word for Nobby "Evenin' All" From the Sporting Life, Tuesday - closure on a story that first appeared in August 2001 when the BBC confirmed that Nobby arrived at Newcastle in 1998 with an EU work permit and a Greek passport. Aston Villa midfielder Nolberto Solano will not face prosecution over alleged passport irregularities following a four-year investigation. Northumbria Police have confirmed the 30-year-old Peru international, who was caught up in a scandal back in 2001 during his time at Newcastle, has been cleared of any wrongdoing. "After a thorough investigation of those matters, there will be no further police action," a police spokesman said. Four years? by that reckoning Lee Bowyer won't learn his fate until 2009 then..... (in fairness the local polis have been busy, as the efforts continue to apprehend those responsible for breaking the windows of Malcolm Macdonald's boutique.....) 2005/06: Intertoto ticket silence Our home campaign begins two weeks this Saturday with an Intertoto tie against Dubnica of Slovakia (or Ankaraspor of Turkey if they can turn round a four goal deficit.) However, there's still no word on ticket sales from Newcastle for this game, with prices, season ticket holder arrangements and public sale dates / times all still to be revealed. Also uncertain is whether those season ticket holders who have signed up for the direct debit cup ticket scheme will receive Intertoto tickets automatically - or need to apply for them. 2005/06: Would you wear this Thai, Craig? Striker Craig Bellamy didn't appear at training on Monday, having been granted an extra week off by United, ostensibly because of the later finish to last season in Scotland than south of the border. Hopes that this extra time would give Bellamy the chance to conclude a permanent transfer away from St.James' Park remain in the balance though. While Celtic still have high hopes, David Moyes and Champions League qualifiers Everton remain keen on the Welshman. The Toffees depart today ( Tuesday) for pre-season preparations in Austria and play their opening Champions League qualifier on August 9th/10th (player registration deadline for that being August 4th.) Moyes & Co. are also taking their turn at the Asia Cup tournament that Newcastle and Birmingham featured in a couple of years ago - the Toffees meeting up with Manchester City and the Thai national side in Bangkok between July 20th and 23rd. Those games will be played in the Rajamangala stadium, which coincidentally hosted our opening pre-season game last season against the Thais. You may recall that Bellamy wasn't present for that game, being left back in England as what Sir Bobby Robson called at the time "a precaution" because of "a little twinge" on the knee. Presumably Everton would expect to play their new signing in that tournament if a deal was concluded with Bellamy - but with five strikers already signed for next season (Ferguson, Bent, Vaughan, Beattie and McFadden) it's a moot point as to exactly where David Moyes would look to play Bellamy. PS - Tuesday papers once again mentioned Villa and Blackburn as still hoping to muscle in on the Bellamy situation. Loan? Aloha Yossi? From Israeli newspaper, Ha'aretz, Tuesday: Yossi Benayoun left Spanish first division side Racing Santander yesterday after soccer agents Pini Zahavi and Ronen Katsav bought the rights to the player. "Benayoun won't be wearing Santander's colors next season," said club president Manuel Huerte yesterday. "I have decided to accept the offer put forward by Ronen Katsav and Pini Zahavi and the rights to the player have been sold to his agents." Zahavi and Katsav made the proposal to buy the rights to Benayoun last week after negotiations for his transfer stumbled over Santander's high asking price and the player himself refused the only offer in line with Santander's demands - a 4 million euro move to FC Moscow.Sources close to Santander said yesterday that Zahavi and Katsav had paid in the region of 3.5 million euros for Benayoun. "I'm not particularly happy with the price, especially considering FC Moscow's offer," Huerte said, "but in business you have to make compromises. We have no interest in keeping Benayoun at Santander, and with the money we have received we can bring several players who want to play for the club. The deal is important for both sides. The player will be happy and we can get on with building a new team for next season." With the rights to Benayoun in the hands of Zahavi, one of the king makers of British soccer, a move to the English Premier League could be imminent for Benayoun. The Israel star, who struck nine goals for Santander last season, has been linked with several English clubs, including Newcastle, Liverpool, Tottenham and Bolton Wanderers. Yesterday Benayoun said he expected to know within a few days where he would be playing next season. Huerte for his part said he was no longer interested where the player went. "I don't care what happens with Benayoun. His agents are now responsible for him, and as far as I'm concerned he can spend the season sitting on the beach in Honolulu. The main thing is that they pay up for him." Midfielder Benayoun was linked with a move to United at the back end of last season, but the story dropped from view following a non-performance by the player for Israel against the Republic of Ireland in Dublin. And while we're looking for more inbound transfers (and still looking to punt Viana, Butt and Bowyer), Benayoun wouldn't appear to be an obvious target Defensive target ruled out: Hamburger Van stalls, reverses Confirmation from the Guardian on Tuesday that Belgian central defender Daniel Van Buyten has opted to remain with his present club Hamburg. The 27 year-old former Marseille and Manchester City player has been regularly linked with a move to United, but commented in the German press that following squad strengthening he was willing to remain at the AOL Arena. Suspicions had been raised that something was afoot when Hamburg began their Intertoto campaign last weekend with Van Buyten nowhere to be seen. However Hamburg beat Macedonians Popeda 4-1 with coach Thomas Doll opting not to call on the services of a number of international players, including Van Buyten's fellow Belgian international Emile Mpenza. With Sylvain Distin apparently set to remain at Manchester City as a result of the excessive financial demands that also scared off Villa, the search goes on for the defensive reinforcements Souness has previously confirmed he's looking for.

Toon eye Saha loan move Jul 5 2005 Newcastle United have been alerted to the fact that Sir Alex Ferguson is willing to let Louis Saha leave Old Trafford on a long-term loan. The Manchester United striker has been touted around the Premiership, with Ferguson looking for Saha, who started just seven league games in an injury-ravaged 2004/05 campaign, to prove his fitness on a season-long loan. Graeme Souness is looking to bring two strikers to St James' Park this summer, and former Magpie Saha could yet return to St James' Park. As a raw prospect, the Frenchman spent almost five months on loan at Newcastle from Metz in the 1998/99 season, famously scoring the only goal of the game in United's FA Cup fifth- round replay at Blackburn Rovers. But Ruud Gullit was unable to do a deal to bring Saha to St James' at the end of his loan, and he returned to France for a season before joining Fulham. The Cottagers sold Saha (pictured) on to Man United for £12.8m in January last year, but after an explosive start to his Old Trafford career, injuries have hampered his progress. Saha was first offered to Fulham on loan, but the 26-year-old is understood to have vetoed a return to Craven Cottage. But a return to St James' would be more attractive and, with Souness having so far having failed to bolster his striking resources this summer, a deal could be on for Saha, who is not one of the big earners at Old Trafford. Meanwhile, Newcastle will also be aware that agent Pini Zahavi has bought out Israel midfielder Yossi Benayoun's contract at Racing Santander. But while the winger, who scored nine goals in La Liga last season, has been watched by Souness's staff, he is not understood to be one of the Magpies' top summer targets. And Belgium defender Daniel van Buyten has insisted he is staying at Hamburg, with his £10m price tag having put off Souness.

Burden on boss just Sou unfair Jul 5 2005 Newcastle manager Graeme Souness has found himself the victim of unrealistic expectations as he attempts to bring the glory days back to Tyneside. That is the view of John Barnwell, chief executive of the League Managers' Association, following Souness's admission he will do well to survive another 12 months on Tyneside. The Magpies finished a disappointing 14th in the Barclays Premiership last season. They also missed out on a glorious opportunity to end their 35-year wait for a trophy when they squandered a 2-0 aggregate lead in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup. Having fallen out with Craig Bellamy and Laurent Robert, the pressure is firmly on Souness as the start of the new campaign approaches, although Barnwell believes that is unfair. He said: "There are probably a dozen clubs whose main aim is just to stay in the Premiership - not to win it, to stay in it. "That is realistic but is that acceptable to fans? "Graeme is at one of those clubs where the desire is perhaps greater than what is realistic and no matter what he does he is not going to change that. "He will be expected to finish high up that league and be knocking on the door. "However, I always say, if it was not tough anybody could do it. Nobody forces you to do it - if you do not like it put your coat on and go home." Even Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd, who has seen his last three managers depart in August, admits it is a unique job and the pressure for success is acute after so many barren years. Barnwell points to Chelsea's Roman Abramovich-inspired revolution as the catalyst for another surge in pressure just when a calm had settled over the Premiership. He said: "It is not an impossible job but Newcastle are expected by the supporters to be doing better than they are - and any manager who goes up there and says the club is no different to any other is dead in the water before he starts."

Toon's target Emre still has Premier ambitions Jul 5 2005 Turkey international Emre is still hopeful of negotiating a move to the English Premiership. The Internazionale midfielder has been linked with Everton and Newcastle United this summer. In an interview with NTV in Turkey, he said: "My priority is to play in Europe, which I have repeated several times. I am most likely to play in England." The player's agent, Ahmet Bulut, has indicated in the past a deal was imminent, saying: "Emre is playing next season in England, for sure" - yet no move materialised. Emre is a big name in his homeland, where clubs would jump at the chance to sign him. He added: "My name comes up in the news with Fenerbahce. "I am not saying I will not play for Fenerbahce but, as I always said, I want to play in Europe. "Returning to Turkey is taking a step back so that is why I say my last choice is to go back there." Emre insists his number one desire is not to sign a lucrative contract. He said: "I want to play the game. That is why the money is not a problem. If I was thinking about the money, I would stay with Inter."

Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd has confirmed that permission has been granted to both Everton and Celtic to speak to Craig Bellamy. Whilst the talented-but-temperamental Welshman appears to have played his last game at St James' Park after numerous spats with Graeme Souness, the identity of his next club is far from finalised. Bellamy spent an enjoyable spell last term on loan at Celtic but it is Everton and the prospect of UEFA Champions League football at Goodison Park that are thought to lead the chase. However, even though discussions have taken place, Shepherd has revealed that a fee has yet to be concurred and that there is a long way to go before negotiations with the player are concluded. ''We've given both Everton and Celtic permission to speak to Craig Bellamy but right now everything is up in the air and there's a long way to go,'' said Shepherd. ''There hasn't been a firm bid and we haven't agreed a fee with anyone. ''I understand that won't be a problem for either club so in the end it will be down to Bellamy himself. ''The ball's very much in his court.'' Bellamy's Wales team-mate and Everton new boy Simon Davies has backed his club's pursuit of the pacey front-man. ''Craig is the calibre of player Everton are trying to bring in,'' said Davies. ''He would be a great addition to the squad. He's a great lad to have and he wants to win so much.''

Hamburg defender Daniel van Buyten has underlined his commitment to the club, despite rumours that he was looking to leave the AOL Arena. The giant Belgian stopper played an important role in Hamburg's impressive recovery in the second half of last season and the German media were full of speculation that van Buyten could be about to move to Bayern Munich or Newcastle United. The 27-year-old has, however, publicly committed himself to Hamburg for next season. "I will be staying. My head and my heart belong to Hamburg and I'm very happy to be here," he told Bild. "The club has secured the services of some good players. We have a good team and we want to do better than last season," he added. Meanwhile, Hamburg boss Dietmar Beiersdorfer has confirmed that the Rothosen are willing to sell striker Emile Mpenza for the right price. Greek outfit Olympiakos have already had a €2 million bid for the Belgian international rejected, but Beiersdorfer is ready to listen if more money is put on the table. "If they make a new offer, then we are ready to think about it," he said.

Souness comments: Graeme expects body count to rise Souness quotes on Tuesday from the club website: "I'd like more players in and we hope to have that for the start of the season. "Ideally you would have them in now, but we don't live in an ideal world. "But there are still almost another two months before the transfer window closes. We've got several irons in several fires and hopefully we can pull a few of them out. "We're a wee bit light in numbers and we need to get some bodies in." B team exit?: Double departure forecast returns While we still struggle to attract new players, the last 24 hours have seen renewed speculation surrounding the futures of two more members of our current first team squad. Tuesday saw claims emerge in the West Midlands that Birmingham City were again looking to Tyneside to strengthen their midfield, this time opting for Nicky Butt rather than Lee Bowyer. Steve Bruce has sold on midfielder Darren Carter to West Brom and has been looking to recruit Greek international Angelos Basinas but with no success so far, opening the door for Butt to end his unhappy year in toon. And speaking of Lee Bowyer, today's Sun followed up a story that emerged in South East London on Tuesday regarding Alan Curbishley's wish to sign up the midfielder for a second spell at the Valley. Bowyer was an Addick from 1994 to 1996, scoring 14 goals in 58 games before departing for Leeds - being described by Curbishley at the time as "the best teenage player I've ever seen." Born in East London, Bowyer bought property in nearby Docklands back in 2002 and was spotted drinking in the area by NUFC.com snouts as recently as April - while his team mates were in FA Cup semi final action. And while Birmingham fans took to cyberspace with their no Bowyer campaign, their Charlton counterparts seem more disposed towards him, with a number of emails on the club website in favour of the signining. Both Butt and Bowyer trained with Newcastle's squad at Tynemouth on Tuesday.

Viana heading back to United Jul 6 2005 Hugo Viana is ready to confound those critics who wrote off his Newcastle career 12 months ago and complete the unlikeliest comeback of the summer. Publicly frustrated in his attempts to secure a permanent move back home, the Portuguese international has been assured he has a future with the Magpies. And with United's opening Intertoto Cup tie less than two weeks away, Viana has resolved to convince Graeme Souness he can play a key role in the club's quest for Uefa Cup football. "I have accepted that I will return to Newcastle on Monday and I am very relaxed about the situation," explained the former European Young Footballer of the Year. "I am contracted to the club for another three years and that's not a problem as far as I'm concerned. "Everybody knows United have tried to transfer me this summer but I don't expect the club to sell me for next to nothing. The chairman has done everything in his power to make things happen but it's all quiet. "Now I am only thinking about the Intertoto Cup and my aim is to make the first squad. I always said I was proud to wear the black-and-white stripes and that has never changed. This is a second chance for me." As revealed in The Journal last month, Viana's hand has been forced by the fact that neither Benfica nor Porto are in a position to bid for his services this summer. And Newcastle have hit a brick wall in attempting to negotiate a deal with Sporting Lisbon with the 22-year-old now unlikely to return to the Jose Alvalade for a third time. Viana, of course, left Tyneside with the boos of a vocal minority of supporters ringing in his ears and he is braced for an uncomfortable return to the St James's Park stage, assuming he can force his way into Souness' first team plans. But unlike ostracised colleague Craig Bellamy, the popular Portuguese can expect a warm welcome from United team-mates when he reports for training on Monday. For all his shortcomings, Viana's fellow players recognise the value of the midfielder's cultured left foot and pinpoint accuracy from set pieces - a useful commodity in the absence of Laurent Robert. And until Souness secures the signature of Emre from Inter Milan - the Turk's future is still uncertain two weeks after his agent predicted an announcement on a £4m move - the Scot could do worse than consider the Magpies' £8.5m signing for European duty. "I played for Portugal's Under-21s last month so I've stayed fit and healthy over the summer," added Viana. "I'd be happy to play in the Intertoto Cup and it would make sense for everyone. "If the manager still wants to sell me then other clubs can have a look at what I can offer. If he wants me to stay then it gives me the chance to play for my first team place. It's better that I'm playing football somewhere. That's all I have ever wanted to do and I am positive about the future." Newcastle have hardly swelled the club's coffers in offloading Aaron Hughes, Andy O'Brien and Laurent Robert this summer - allowing Viana to quit the club in another cut-price deal is not an option. United will readily listen to offers for the World Cup 2006 hopeful but he will remain at St James's Park until a bid in the region of £3m is tabled. *********** Croatia goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa insists Celtic are interested in his signature. The 26-year-old is currently with Shakhtar Donetsk but did not play against the Hoops in the Champions League group stages last season. Celtic are also known to be interested in Southampton's Antti Niemi and Newcastle's Steve Harper.

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