The club are reported to have finally agreed a fee of £3.5million with Atletico Paranaense for Brazilian World Cup winner Kleberson, after lengthy negotiations. Whether or not he arrives as Gary Speed’s long-term replacement is of course another matter.
Meanwhile the Northern Echo claim that we will rekindle our interest in Barcelona and Holland striker Patrick Kluivert, although on closer inspection the article is merely a rehash of old interviews with the player.
Barcelona are reportedly keen to sell in order to ease their debts with little hope of European football next season, but with Manchester United and Bayern Munich interested the price may rise to £14million.
The Italian press has carried a story claiming that we have enquired about Juventus and Holland midfielder Edgar Davids who is set to leave Turin in the summer. However his reported £2.5million a year basic wage demands may prove out of our league.
Sir Bobby has again been linked with a move for Benfica winger Simao, despite saying that he had no interest in signing the Portugal international.
And perhaps most fanciful of the lot is a mooted bid for Inter’s Christian Vieri - can’t see the players being keen on that one though.
There are also reports that Steve Harper will make a close-season move to Birmingham, but then there have been rumours about him leaving ever since Shay Given arrived at St James’ Park.
Elsewhere Manchester United are reported to be close to clinching the signature of reported Toon target Ricardo Quaresma of Sporting Lisbon while Jon Dahl Tomasson could be on his way to Southampton.