Magpies’ Yakubu deal hangs in the balance

NEWCASTLE’S hopes of landing Portsmouth striker Aiyegbeni Yakubu remain in the balance despite claims that the deal is already done.

Manager Graeme Souness, who belatedly admitted his interest in the player earlier this week, has insisted the deal is not finalised.

There have been suggestions Yakubu’s agent Pini Zahavi has flown to Israel to tie up a sell-on clause with the 22-year-old’s former club Maccabi Haifa. Souness, who has a long-standing link with Zahavi, said: “The reasons why Pini has gone back home to Israel are very personal and we have not done a deal with Portsmouth for Yakubu.”