Newcastle await Turkey star Emre’s decision

NEWCASTLE boss Graeme Souness should know by today if he will have Inter Milan midfielder BelozogluEmre in his squad for the new season.

The Scot has flown to Turkey to hold what chairman Freddy Shepherd has described as “exploratory talks” with the 24-year-old, who returned from a week’s holiday yesterday.

However, with the Turkey international’s agent Ahmet Bulut promising he will have decided on his future by today, negotiations will have to have reached an advanced stage if the Magpies are to land the £6m-rated player.

They have also been speaking to Real Madrid superstar Luis Figo, whose wage packet far exceeds that of Emre, although they will consider all options before deciding where to spend their cash.

Souness also has targets in both defensive and striking positions and, although chairman Freddy Shepherd will back him, funds are not limitless with so far only Aaron Hughes, Andy O’Brien and Laurent Robert having left the club and Craig Bellamy and Hugo Viana still to be offloaded.