Luque set to join Newcastle

The agent of Deportivo la Coruna striker Albert Luque has revealed the player looks set to join Newcastle.

Magpies manager Graeme Souness looked to have missed out on the 27-year-old earlier this week after having a £7.5m (€11m) offer turned down by the Spanish club.

Luque’s representative Francis Martin told Sky: “Friday morning, Newcastle will send a plane for Luque and his father.

“We are confident the player will pass the medical and sign a contract.”

Signing Luque would end Souness’ long search for a striker. The Magpies have failed to score in their opening three Barclays Premiership games and are desperate for more firepower.

Souness has tried to sign Nicolas Anelka and Luis Boa Morte this summer and had a club record bid for Michael Owen accepted by Real Madrid this week.

The England international however has said he would prefer to return to Liverpool and so with next week’s transfer deadline looming, Luque interest appears to have been revived.

Luque himself is confident a deal will be completed at St James’ Park and is looking forward to linking up with Alan Shearer.

He said: “I am delighted that a deal has been done. The Premiership is an excellent league. To be in the team next to Alan Shearer would be huge for me.”