Magpies sit tight on transfer targets

Newcastle boss Glenn Roeder is waiting for news after revealing he has made approaches for “a couple of players”.

The 51-year-old has steadfastly refused to identify publicly the men he wants to strengthen his squad.

He has been quick to reject names of players he insists his club are not going to sign, the latest being Real Madrid star David Beckham.

Roeder has made no secret of the fact that he is looking for a striker - Liverpool’s Peter Crouch and Charlton’s Darren Bent are on his wish-list, although the Reds’ insistence that the England forward is not for sale and Bent’s knee injury are significant obstacles.

He is also in the market for defenders, although he insists Inter Milan left-back Marco Andreolli is not one of them.

Roeder said: “We have made our inquiries for a couple of players and now we are waiting for answers – and hopefully those answers will be positive. But the days when transfers could be done in 24 hours are long gone because there are so many people involved, like chairmen, managers, agents, chief executives and the players themselves.”