Premiership Rumour Mill: Allardyce targets Spurs striker Defoe if Owen quits Newcastle

By DANNY GRIFFITHS

Last updated at 11:03 28 May 2007

Newcastle boss Sam Allardyce will make a move for Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe if Michael Owen quits Tyneside.

The Magpies manager will give Defoe the stage he needs to press his international claims and can offer him the regular first-team football he lacks at White Hart Lane.

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Defoe is also wanted by Portsmouth and Manchester United with Liverpool also a possible destination. Spurs, however, are highly unlikely to allow him to leave until they sign a replacement with Charlton striker Darren Bent their key target.

Pompey are planning a double swoop for Middlesbrough marksmen Mark Viduka and Yakubu if they are ruled out of the dash for Defoe.

Harry Redknapp is acutely aware that his team lacked goals last term and is eager to rectify the problem.

He has strengthened his defence by signing Sylvain Distin and Hermann Hraidarsson and is close to completing the club record £7million deal which will bring Sulley Muntari to Fratton Park from Serie A club Udinese.

But Boro boss Gareth Southgate hopes Nigerian forward Yakubu will remain at the Riverside and said: "I still think Yakubu is a very important player for us.

"He has not said anything to me that he was unsettled or that he was unhappy about anything. He wasn’t very happy around Christmas when we were down near the bottom of the table but who is when you are down near the bottom?

"So I think as far as we are concerned we have got to try and keep our top players and build around them really. Every player has a value - but that doesn’t mean to say we are looking to sell them.

"There are some players for whom you certainly wouldn’t welcome bids. I think if any club in the country gets the right bid for a player they have to think about it. But we are wanting to build a team rather than sell players."

Bolton goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen wants a new four-year deal at the Reebok Stadium.

Sunderland have had a £2million deal for the 32-year-old shot-stopper rejected and he insisted: "I have my best years in front of me."

And Birmingham are interested in 29-year-old French defender Jean-Philippe Caillet, who is currently with Belgium club Racing Genk, and Crewe's versatile Billy Jones.

Liverpool are closing in on Sevilla defender Daniel Alves and Real Zaragoza's Gabriel Milito while Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has again rubbished reports he and Cesc Fabregas are set for summer moves to Real Madrid.

But the Gunners are reputed to be interested in Sporting Lisbon's 20-year-old midfielder Joao Moutinho.

Reading are back in for Sunderland midfielder Dean Whitehead after having a £2m offer turned down and are also keen on Liverpool defender Sami Hyypia.

Rumour of the day: Aston Villa want Portsmouth left-back Matt Taylor.

No chance: West Ham want to sign Scott Parker from Newcastle but he will not be discharged from the Toon Army.