Magpies could make a swoop for Terry

NEWCASTLE boss Bobby Robson has identified John Terry as the man to solve his side’s defensive problems.

It is understood that the Magpies, bankrolled by their unexpected Champions League success, will make a bid to land the 21-year-old Chelsea stopper when the transfer window reopens in January.

United were remaining tight-lipped on speculation Robson will move for the former England Under-21 skipper today. But with the inadequacies of the current rearguard having being cruelly exposed once again at Manchester United on Saturday, there is little doubt the manager will act to ensure that the good work at the other end of the pitch does not go to waste.

The 69-year-old attempted to address the situation during the summer when he paid Ipswich Town £4.5million for 21-year-old Titus Bramble, but a combination of uncertain early form and injury have limited his progress to date.

Robson has instead relied upon various combinations of Nikos Dabizas and youngsters Andy O’Brien, Steve Caldwell, Aaron Hughes, Andy Griffin and Olivier Bernard since, and while each have performed admirably for much of their involvement, results such as Saturday’s 5-3 reverse at Old Trafford and the 5-2 defeat at Blackburn, in which Dabizas was dismissed, have again raised questions.

Newcastle have repeatedly been linked with a move for Lazio’s former Manchester United rock Jaap Stam, while Chelsea’s William Gallas has also been touted as a target.

However, it is believed that Terry, currently out of favour at Stamford Bridge following his recovery from a knee injury, is the man in the frame, and amid Chelsea’s well-documented cash problems, the feeling is that a concerted move could bear fruit.

Terry’s quality as a defender is not in question, although his off-the-field problems, including the court case which cost him his chance of senior international recognition, have done him few favours in recent times.

However, Robson has handled, albeit with a growing sense of exasperation, the more colourful excesses of the likes of youngsters Kieron Dyer and Craig Bellamy in the past, and would have few qualms about bringing his man-management talents to bear on a player of immense promise.

Arsenal too have been linked with a move for Terry, but the rivalry between Chelsea and the Gunners would suggest that, if Claudio Ranieri was prepared to sell, the Magpies may have a better chance of landing their man.

A successful bid would also lay another significant foundation stone for Newcastle’s future with Dyer, Bellamy, O’Brien, Hughes, Griffin, Bramble, Bernard, Caldwell, Jermaine Jenas, Hugo Viana, Lomana LuaLua, Shola Ameobi and Michael Chopra, who have all played first-team football this season, all aged 23 or under.