FABRICIO Coloccini has hinted he is ready to follow compatriot Jonas Gutierrez's lead and sign a new long-term contract with Newcastle United.

Gutierrez penned a new four-year deal with the Magpies last month, turning the spotlight onto Coloccini, who is one of only a handful of players not now contracted beyond the next year-and-a-half.

The Argentinian centre-half is due to become a free agent in the summer of 2013 and Newcastle officials are keen to sort out his future as quickly as possible in an attempt to avoid a repeat of the uncertainty that led to Joey Barton and Jose Enrique leaving Tyneside this summer.

A first round of talks is expected to take place before the end of the month, but negotiations are unlikely to be simple, with Coloccini's weekly earnings of around £80,000 making him the highest-paid player on the Magpies' books.

The defender has accepted he will not be offered such a lucrative wage again, but it remains to be seen just how big a decrease he will be asked to swallow.

With Newcastle owner Mike Ashley reluctant to pay more than £40,000-a-week to anyone, there will surely have to be a significant compromise on both sides if a deal is to be agreed.

A continued interest from Spanish side Sevilla could further complicate matters, but with Gutierrez having put pen to paper, Coloccini is receptive to offers.

"I'm very happy here, so we'll see what happens," said the defender, when asked if he would be following his fellow Argentinian's lead. "It's important for Newcastle United that Jonas signed. He scored against Wolves, so it was a good week for him."

Tying Coloccini down to a new long-term deal would be crucial for two reasons.

First, the 29-year-old has developed into one of the most accomplished defenders in the Premier League, having initially struggled to find his feet when he left Deportivo La Coruna in 2008.

He cost Newcastle £10.3m back then, and given the price Arsenal were quoted when they attempted to sign Gary Cahill from Bolton this summer, it could cost the Magpies as much again if Coloccini's departure was to spark a search for a like-for-like replacement next summer.

Just as significantly, the South American has evolved into one of the key figures in the Newcastle dressing room, with his seniority being confirmed when Alan Pardew handed him the captain's armband in the summer.

Newcastle have sold on a number of big personalities in the last 12 months, and can ill afford to part company with someone like Coloccini while they are attempting to bed a combination of new signings and younger players into the squad.

"It's not just been my job as captain to make sure the new players have settled in, it's been something everyone's had to do," said Coloccini, who has nevertheless played a pivotal role in developing a new sense of team spirit at the Darsley Park training ground.

"When a new player comes we have to make them feel comfortable in Newcastle. I know how difficult it was for me when I came here.

"The team spirit is different to last season. When you start well everything is good, everyone is happy. It's different.

"We'll find out more when we have some bad times. But now the spirit is fantastic. We have some good people in the changing room and I think that's the key for us to keep winning and playing well."

Meanwhile, assistant manager John Carver claims Sylvain Marveaux is closing in on a place in Newcastle's starting line-up.

The Frenchman scored twice as Newcastle reserves beat Bolton on Tuesday night, and appears to have leapfrogged his compatriot, Hatem Ben Arfa, in the race for a first-team place.

"When Sylvain came to us, he wasn't up to speed and every single week he's been working harder and harder, and doing some extra work," said Carver. "And he's had more football.

"He's a guy who'll be knocking on the door and that's what we want. We want to give the manager problems in selecting a team."