OLIVIER Bernard has spoken to Graeme Souness in an attempt to engineer a remarkable return to Newcastle just six months after walking out of the club.

The French full-back has told the Magpies manager he will now accept the original contract offer he turned down when he severed his ties on Tyneside in January.

And, with Bernard's replacement Celestine Babayaro having failed to impress since leaving Chelsea at the turn of the year, Souness is understood to be giving serious consideration to the defender's proposal.

Bernard became embroiled in a long-running contract wrangle during the first half of last season as his representatives attempted to persuade chairman Freddy Shepherd to match the terms of his previous deal.

Shepherd refused to up his offer - Bernard was understood to be wanting £30,000-a-week - and, after a series of increasingly acrimonious exchanges, the 25-year-old joined Southampton in the January transfer window despite having played in all but three of Newcastle's games to that point.

He signed a short-term deal on the south coast and helped bolster a previously porous Saints' defence in the final four months of the campaign. Ultimately, though, he was unable to prevent Southampton dropping out of the Premiership.

That relegation has forced a major reshuffle at St Mary's, with Bernard one of a number of players to be told they will not be offered a new deal.

The Frenchman has been linked with a possible move back to his homeland but, after first crossing the Channel in October 2000, is keen to find a new club in England.

That has led to a considerable climbdown, with Bernard contacting Souness personally to offer his services ahead of the new campaign.

Souness is looking to bolster his defence after offloading Aaron Hughes and Andy O'Brien to Aston Villa and Portsmouth respectively earlier this month.

His priority remains a centre-half - Jean-Alain Boumsong, Titus Bramble and Steven Taylor are currently the only recognised central defenders on the books at St James' - but left-back is also an area in which the Magpies lack cover.

Veteran Robbie Elliott, who is currently mulling over the option of a new one-year deal, has been asked to take a considerable wage cut to extend his Newcastle career.

Should he opt to look elsewhere, Bernard would offer a proven alternative to the unpredictable and occasionally unimpressive Babayaro.

Souness remains hopeful of completing his second transfer of the summer within the next 24 hours, despite reports of further complications in his dealings with Inter Milan midfielder Emre Belozoglu.

The Turkey international held face-to-face discussions with Souness last week, in which the pair are understood to have shaken hands on a deal.

But Emre's agent, Ahmet Bulut, has since denied his client has settled on the Magpies, claiming Newcastle are still to finalise a fee with Inter and agree personal terms.

"We don't yet have agreement with Newcastle because he is still contracted to Inter and the two clubs don't yet have an agreement," said Bulut.

"And Emre did not say he has joined Newcastle. I was with him when he said we have an agreement with a club in England. He didn't say which club."

Neverthless, the transfer is expected to go through later this week with Emre due to meet his new team-mates when they return to pre-season training next Monday.

Craig Bellamy last week revealed he was willing to return to Tyneside on the same day, although Newcastle officials remain hopeful he will be persuaded to move elsewhere in the meantime.

Everton boss David Moyes was again linked with Crystal Palace striker Andy Johnson over the weekend, but Bellamy remains his number one transfer target and further talks are planned this week.

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