Kevin Keegan is ready to make powerful Switzerland target man Eren Derdiyok the first signing of his second spell at St James's Park – but only if FC Basle drop their £6m asking price.
Newcastle officials are understood to have met representatives of Derdiyok – who scored against England at Wembley in Fabio Capello's first game in charge, and had a hand in all three of Switzerland's Euro 2008 goals – in London last week.
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Sports View podcast with Ian LawsBut Basle have slapped a £6m price tag on the 20-year-old – around twice what Newcastle are willing to pay.
Manchester United defender Jonny Evans – who has had two loan spells with Sunderland – is back in pre-season training at Manchester United tomorrow – but it is by no means certain he will stay at Old Trafford, and Newcastle, seeking a new defender, are set to rival Sunderland for his signature.
The defender is reluctant to settle for a season on the fringes, with the outstanding partnership of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic and Wes Brown ahead of him in the pecking order.
Boss Sir Alex Ferguson is unlikely to sanction another loan deal for Evans, who would command a sizeable fee given his performances for Sunderland.
* Newcastle are locked in a compensation battle with Everton for Goodison Park-bound coach Steve Round, 37. Negotiations are at an impasse.The full article contains 242 words and appears in Sunderland Echo newspaper.
