Newcastle eye Aussie star Emerton

Newcastle are ready to up the stakes in the race to bring Australian midfielder Brett Emerton to England.

The 23-year-old Feyenoord star has been linked with Manchester United in the past and more recently, champions-elect Arsenal, Liverpool and Leeds after impressing during his time in Holland and with the Socceroos.

However, it is understood that the Magpies have been waiting until after tonight’s UEFA Cup final between his current club and German side Borussia Dortmund before throwing their hat into the ring.

Leeds last week denied reports that they had made an £8million bid for Emerton, who will miss the final after picking up his third yellow card in the competition during the second leg of Feyenoord’s semi-final victory over Inter Milan.

Former PSV Eindhoven boss Bobby Robson still maintains strong links with Dutch football and is a long-time admirer of the player, and although United’s greatest strength in depth perhaps lies in midfield, the prospect of qualification for Champions League football next season has increased the need for further building work.

Wales skipper Gary Speed and England hopeful Kieron Dyer are currently Robson’s first choice pairing in the middle, although the 69-year-old spent £5million on teenage starlet Jermaine Jenas back in February and has been happy with the contributions of Chilean Clarence Acuna and home-grown talent Jamie McClen.

Nolberto Solano and summer signing Laurent Robert have made the wide berths their own, with Lomana LuaLua and Olivier Bernard - yet to sign a new contract - providing the back-up.

But Dyer’s versatility means that there could yet be room for a new face in the engine room as Robson attempts to provide enough cover for a long Premiership campaign and hopefully, an extended taste of the European big time.

The Newcastle boss has steadfastly refused to name his summer transfer targets, although he has admitted that he is targeting two top-quality players to add to the squad which has served him so well in 2001-2002.

And he will be hoping that those men, whoever they are, will have the same impact as striker Craig Bellamy, who has reignited his career on Tyneside, and Frenchman Robert, who with greater consistency, could prove a real find.

Bellamy has undergone surgery on his injured knee in America and has been told his recovery will take 12 weeks, meaning that he should be ready to play his part in that Champions League qualifier and the opening weeks of the domestic season.