Babayaro to shore up Newcastle defence

Newcastle United appear to have secured one of their January transfer targets in Chelsea's 26-year-old left-back Celestine Babayaro, who spent Monday and Tuesday on Tyneside and is expected to sign officially on January 1st.

Babayaro had also been interesting Middlesbrough but Graeme Souness looks to have won the race for his signature.

Babayaro, Chelsea's third-choice left-back behind Wayne Bridge and the right-footed William Gallas, would be Souness's first signing for Newcastle, though it is not known yet if a fee would be involved as the player is out of contract in June.

His arrival casts further doubt on the future of Olivier Bernard at Newcastle. The Frenchman has been struggling to agree a new contract and Middlesbrough have been tracking developments.

Babayaro is likely to be the first of a possible three new defenders at Newcastle. Souness is refusing to up his £8m offer for Jean-Alain Boumsong of Rangers but the player is still expected to join Newcastle.

There is also interest in Sylvain Distin, now of Manchester City, but not so long ago of Newcastle before he left under a cloud and alienated the fans with his reported financial demands.

Whether Souness can get all his targets remains to be seen but by the time of the away game against West Bromwich Albion next Monday, Newcastle's defence could be much changed.

Stephen Carr is due to return from injury with Alan Shearer also expected to be back, possibly for the home game with Birmingham City on Saturday.

Yesterday, Souness acknowledged the role of the club's chairman Freddy Shepherd. "All I can tell you is that the chairman has worked really hard in the last couple of months to try to do deals," he said.

"We have said from day one we want to strengthen, and that is what we are hoping to do in the coming weeks. We do not have a big squad. If you look at our squad now, we are down to the bones.

"When we line up in the tunnel, I want the opposition to look at the 11 players who are starting the game and think 'bloody hell, we are in against men today.' "

Guardian Service