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.”

It is understood Magpies chairman Freddy Shepherd is to be convinced Yakubu is the long-term replacement for skipper Alan Shearer should Souness fail to persuade him not to retire at the end of the season..

Magpies’ contract rebel Olivier Bernard is in danger of having the deal he has been offered withdrawn if he does not accept the club’s terms soon. Talks have stalled and Newcastle’s capture of left-back Celestine Babayaro has pushed the Frenchman so far down the pecking order he did not make the bench for Saturday’s 2-1 win over Southampton.