Magpies wait for Emre news

Newcastle are still awaiting news of their bid for Inter Milan midfielder Emre Belozoglu after manager Graeme Souness won his battle with striker Craig Bellamy.

Bellamy’s decision to link up with former Wales boss Mark Hughes at Blackburn - the 25-year-old having undergone a medical at Ewood Park as the two clubs thrashed out the transfer – has enabled the Magpies to formalise their interest in the Turkey international.

Chairman Freddy Shepherd confirmed the Magpies had tabled an undisclosed bid for the 24-year-old former Galatasaray star following several weeks of talks over the £6m (€8.8m)-rated player.

“We have been talking to the player with Inter’s permission and we have now tabled an offer,” Shepherd told the club’s website, www.nufc.co.uk.

“We are now waiting for Inter to come back to us with their response.”

Emre’s Istanbul-based agent Ahmet Bulut todaytold the Press Association that Newcastle, Everton and another unnamed Barclays Premiership club are interested in the player and said his destination will be known tomorrow.

“The situation is not clear yet but I hope that by tomorrow morning, it will be clear,” he said.

Emre would become Souness’ second summer signing following the £6.5m (€9.5m) capture of Chelsea’s Scott Parker last month but his arrival might pose as many questions as it would answer.

The Magpies’ pool of midfield players is perhaps the strongest section of the squad despite the departure of Laurent Robert for Portsmouth, with Parker, Kieron Dyer, Jermaine Jenas, Amdy Faye, Nicky Butt, Lee Bowyer, Hugo Viana, Charles N’Zogbia, James Milner and Darren Ambrose on the books.

If the Turk joins them it is inevitable that one or more will be offloaded with Birmingham boss Steve Bruce said to be ready to mount a second attempt to sign Bowyer following an aborted initial approach.

Souness has worked hard on the Emre deal but if he gets his man he will then turn to his strike-force as a matter of urgency.

Bellamy’s prospective move to Blackburn would leave only captain Alan Shearer and youngster Michael Chopra to chose from for next weekend’s opening Intertoto Cup tie as Shola Ameobi is recovering from hip surgery.

He may decide, as he has done in the past, to play Dyer as an auxiliary forward although, having made inquiries about Manchester United’s Alan Smith and Louis Saha and Inter Milan’s Christian Vieri, his intentions are clear.

Without Bellamy and Robert the squad lacks both blistering pace and the ability to deliver the ball from wide positions for Shearer, although Viana’s impending, if reluctant return, will at least satisfy his need for a dead-ball specialist.

However, Souness will have to convince fans that he was right over his stance on Bellamy and that he can replace him with someone of equal, if not better quality.

Meanwhile, the club today move to tie up three members of the existing squad in the short-term with defender Robbie Elliott, striker Chopra and keeper Tony Caig all given one-year contracts.

Elliott, 31, is currently in his second spell with the club and proved valuable cover in the back four last season while 21-year-old Chopra has moved up the pecking order during the summer after a successful loan spell at Barnsley last season.

Caig, also 31, is ye to make a senior appearance for the club he join from Hibernian in January 2003, but will again provide the back-up to Shay Given and Steve Harper.