Magpies insist they won't break bank for Kluivert

NEWCASTLE will not be held to ransom as they attempt to push home their interest in Barcelona hitman Patrick Kluivert.

The 27-year-old Dutchman has been in United's sights for some time as they attempt to find the long-term successor to Alan Shearer.

Kluivert's claim that he would one day like to ply his trade in England has encouraged the St James' Park club in recent months, although until now, their approaches have been tentative.

They have now made a move but chairman Freddy Shepherd insists that negotiations, which began in Portugal during Euro 2004, are still at an early stage, and the player's wage demands could yet prove the stumbling block.

Kluivert reportedly earns £80,000 a week at the Nou Camp, way in excess of United's biggest stars. There is a suggestion that Barca may be prepared to waive the £1.2million fee his contract stipulates they are due in order to offload him 12 months early, but he may have to lower his asking price to clinch a move to St James'.

Kluivert is one of four Dutchmen - Middlesbrough signing Michael Reiziger, Marc Overmars and Phillip Cocu are the others - who were told at the end of last season that they could leave the Nou Camp.

The former Ajax star has fallen from grace in recent times for both club and country, and did not feature for Holland's Euro 2004 campaign after falling out with manager Dick Advocaat.

However, despite a series of off-field problems, he had proved himself one of the most dangerous strikers in Europe before that and was widely expected to attract attention from a series of major bidders when it became clear he was available.

Carlo Cudicini has admitted Chelsea will not be the same without Marcel Desailly, but declared that the club have a ready-made replacement in England centre-back John Terry.

The France World Cup and European Championship winner yesterday called time on his six-year career at Stamford Bridge following his decision last week to retire from international football, which saw him make a record 116 appearances for his country.

Terry has already stood in for Desailly, 36, as captain of his club, and has shown maturity beyond his years to make a formidable international partnership with Sol Campbell.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has indicated he is keen to add to his central defensive options, but Cudicini believes that in Terry, William Gallas and Robert Huth, the Portuguese coach has more than enough talent to protect his goalkeeper.

"We have bought lots of expensive players, but John is the most important player at the club," said the Italian.

Desailly was signed by Gianluca Vialli for £4.6m from AC Milan in 1998 and proved to be worth every penny as a key performer in one of the most successful periods in the London club's history.

Middlesbrough new boy Michael Reiziger insists he can add to his trophy haul despite passing up the chance to join Spanish champions Valencia.

The 31-year-old Dutchman turned his back on the Primera Liga and UEFA Cup winners, and the chance to play Champions League football next season, after bringing an end to his seven-year spell at Barcelona.

Instead, he has decided to join Steve McClaren's blossoming Boro squad to test himself in the Premiership and enjoy the club's first-ever European campaign after last season's breakthrough when they won the Carling Cup, the first major honour in their 128-year history.

Boro have demonstrated their ambition by targeting the likes of Reiziger, his former Barca team-mate Kluivert and Leeds striker Mark Viduka among others this summer, and were delighted when the Dutchman agreed to sign on the dotted line barely an hour into negotiations in Amsterdam last Friday.

Reiziger will not be the only new arrival at the Riverside this summer with Viduka's move from Elland Road a matter of sorting out a contractual wrangle with his current club.

Leeds chairman Gerald Krasner yesterday saw yet another player leave Elland Road and then insisted: "More will follow."

Former England international Nick Barmby ended his less-than-illustrious Leeds career yesterday, joining hometown club Hull.

Dominic Matteo has been linked with a move to Blackburn and Republic of Ireland international Ian Harte is understood to have attracted the attention of several clubs, including newly-promoted Primera Liga outfit Levante.