NEWCASTLE UNITED are set to complete the signing of Parma's controversial Colombian international striker, Faustino Asprilla, for a club record fee of £7 million today.

Asprilla (26), reportedly flew to London from Milan last night, en route to Tyneside, having agreed a four year contract with the Premiership leaders worth £15,500 a week. The deal would take Kevin Keegan's outlay in the transfer market beyond the £40 million mark in four years as Newcastle manager.

Talking on Italian television prior to his departure, Asprilla said: "I'm sad to be leaving because I've had some good years in this city with this team. It would be a challenge playing in England. The prospect of taking part in the European Cup next season is an exciting one.

Asprilla is on probation in his home country following a firearms offence. If he joins Newcastle, he would have to report to the Colombian Embassy once a month.

Another Parma player, the Portuguese defender Fernando Couto, has emerged as a possible target for Manchester United. On the recommendation of the former England manager Bobby Robson, under whom Couto played at Porto, Alex Ferguson and his chief scout, Les Kershaw, watched the 26 year old centre back play for Portugal in Wednesday's 3-2 defeat by France in Paris. Parma value Couto at £5 million.

Paul Gascoigne has been ordered to stand trial in Italy next October on charges of injuring a photographer in Rome 18 months ago. Gascoigne is alleged to have injured the photographer when trying to remove a roll of film from his camera. Gascoigne's legal adviser, Mel Stein, said: "If we have to make a plea it will be not guilty.