NEWCASTLE UNITED were last night haggling over a price with Deportivo La Coruña for Albert Luque as they inched towards a breakthrough in the transfer market. Having made a last-ditch attempt to scupper Frédéric Kanouté’s £4.4 million move from Tottenham Hotspur to Seville, they turned their attention to a forward who recently played against them in the Intertoto Cup.

Luque, 27, appeared in both legs of Deportivo’s semi-final victory over Newcastle and with an ability to play on the left of midfield or in attack, the Spain international replicates the qualities Graeme Souness identified in Luis Boa Morte, a longstanding target, who Fulham are now determined to keep. Luque has previously been linked with Real Madrid and Barcelona, while Liverpool made an offer for him several months ago.

As has been the case with Boa Morte and Nicolas Anelka — for whom a second, undisclosed offer was rejected by Fenerbahçe on Wednesday —fees have been a thorny issue for Newcastle this summer and Deportivo value the forward at about £10 million. Luque is enthusiastic. “English football is excellent and I have no doubt that I could play in the Premiership, ” he said. Newcastle are hoping Emre Bezologlu does not face a significant absence after sustaining a hamstring injury whilst playing for Turkey.

Tony McMahon, the Middlesbrough right back, will miss at least two months after dislocating his right shoulder. The 19-year-old will have surgery on the problem and the club’s lack of cover has resulted in Steve McClaren opening discussions with Abel Xavier, the former Liverpool and Everton defender now at AS Roma.