NEWCASTLE United have swooped for Belgium's Euro 2000 striker Emile Mpenza.

Talks between United and Mpenza's club Schalke are at an advanced stage.

And while the German outfit initially valued the striker - he's 22 next week - at #12 million I understand talks are going on around the #8 million mark.

What will appeal to United is the fact that they would only have to put half down and come up with the rest in two instalments.

However United cannot afford to stall on the deal as Italian side Napoli have suddenly declared their interest in the striker.

United flatly refused to discuss the Mpenza situation today - but their interest is almost common knowledge in both Belgium and Germany.

A source close to the German club told me today: "Schalke are happy at what Newcastle have offered.

Sell-out

"And the player would be delighted to join Newcastle United. All that seems to be holding up the completion of the deal is for the Newcastle management to get the go-ahead to do it."

United have been linked with just about every striker in Euro 2000. But after losing out to Leeds on Olivier Dacourt, Bobby Robson's two summer targets have been Mpenza and Norwich's City's Welsh international Craig Bellamy.

But United have gone for Mpenza because they know that his pace will terrify Premiership defences.

And he is a bigger name than Bellamy as United set their sights on a 52,000 sell-out for every league game at St James's Park this season.

Mpenza has a high profile on the continent, something which is helped by the fact that his girlfriend is current Miss Belgium Joke van Der Velde.

He actually scored the winning goal in the opening Euro 2000 game three weeks ago against Sweden.

And the watching Robson and his United management team must not have known whether to laugh or cry.

As it turned out this was Mpenza's only goal as Belgium lost to both Italy and Turkey.

If the deal does go through, it will not be the biggest in United's history but after the spending sprees of the previous regimes it's probably the best they can pull off in the present circumstances.

Mpenza started his career with Standard Liege and joined Schalke 04 at the start of last season.

He has 27 Belgian caps and his goal against Sweden was the eighth for his country.

His 23-year-old brother Mbo, who plays for Sporting Lisbon, is also a Belgian international.

Meanwhile, United have denied reports that they are signing Bradford City keeper Matt Clarke.

A club spokesman said today: "The manager is happy with the two keepers he already has."

-- Anonymous, June 30, 2000

Answers

Great 1st Euro 2000 game, but was utter s***e afterwards.

All together now...

"Our Bobby, who art our manager..."

-- Anonymous, June 30, 2000

Hhmmm .... Can't get David Pleat's words out of my mind - "If his brain was a fast as his feet he'd be a good player!"
Still, I've got more faith in BR's judgement than David Pleat's.
He's got electric pace, and will excite the fans. Let's give the lad a fair chance.

-- Anonymous, June 30, 2000

Have to admit that I was raving about him after the first game, but, he didn`t contribute much after that. However, if the Master wants him, then we should have him - All Hail Bobby Robson!!!!(:o)

-- Anonymous, June 30, 2000

All I can say is...

I'm having flippin nightmares about an 8 million pound Maric II. I hope both the Lad and Bobby make me eat my shorts becuase imagine how hard it will be to off laod a bum player who coast eight million if we can't off load the original Maric now.

-- Anonymous, July 01, 2000

Dunno if it's been mentioned elsewhere.........at 22 he will likely be offered a 4 year deal? Or maybe 3? How much per week?

This is my main concern. As we've seen many times over, we can get a fee arranged or at least prepared to take a smallish (?) loss on players, only to see them decide to stay put for the duration of their contract because no takers are prepared to pay their huge wage demands. Perez is a case in point. We'd let him go for nowt if only somebody would take him. Maric at a knock-down price but still no takers. Hopefully YBR has more nouse than his predecessors.

-- Anonymous, July 01, 2000

According to The Journal this morning Sylvia has been trying to arrange a move to Fenerbahce on a free! His Agent is apparently touting him around Europe saying he's available for nowt.
What happens? Fenerbahce call SJP to check "the facts". Having ascertained the real facts - that he is NOT available on a free - the potential buyer says, "thanks, but no thanks".
Given that the Toon hold his worldwide playing registration, does this ameoba have but a single brain-cell? What a friggin mess!

-- Anonymous, July 01, 2000

Re: Maric.

Newcastle manager, Bobby Robson: "We have had an inquiry but it was not a concrete offer. He is not a free-transfer player and there will be a fee involved if and when he leaves."

-- Anonymous, July 03, 2000

Spurs appear to have lost out on the race to sign Belgian striker Emile Mpenza from German side Schalke after Newcastle have apparently agreed a #7.8m deal to bring him to St James's Park. David Pleat confirmed Spurs' interest in the forward last week but representatives from Newcastle have apparently tied up a deal after flying out to Germany to meet with Schalke officials.

(Well that's a turn up for the books, we undercut some one else. Or should that be over bid.)

-- Anonymous, July 03, 2000