NEWCASTLE UNITED will have to pay around £10m for Frenchman Jean-Alain Boumsong after Rangers rejected their initial bid.

Magpies boss Graeme Souness confirmed yesterday that the club had opened negotiations with the Scottish giants over the sale of their most highly-rated defender.

And yesterday Rangers' officials revealed that Newcastle's first offer, believed to be around £7.5m, was rejected straight away by the Ibrox board.

But that is unlikely to deter Souness, who is desperate to add a new 'top quality' centre-back to his squad during the month-long transfer window, which opens on January 1.

Rangers, who signed Boumsong in the summer on a five-year deal, are in no mood to sell and last night revealed their annoyance that the Premiership outfit had gone public on talks.

The Glasgow club had an important tie with Auxerre just hours later in the UEFA Cup - the same competition Newcastle play Sporting Lisbon in tonight.

And Rangers' director of football business, Martin Bain, said: "It is not normal practice for Rangers Football Club to comment on the day of an important match and we are disappointed Newcastle United has made public its interest in acquiring our player Jean-Alain Boumsong.

"We can confirm that our chairman, David Murray, received a verbal offer from Graeme Souness and, a few days later, a further written offer, both of which have been rejected."

Earlier yesterday Souness had said: "We are actively looking to strengthen. We have made contact with certain clubs and I can confirm we have been in touch with Rangers. He is one of those we would like here."

Souness, meanwhile, last night insisted another turbulent week in the Newcastle hot-seat has not diminished his optimism and claims he remains the right man to turn things around on Tyneside.

Saturday's 1-1 draw with managerless Portsmouth was greeted with jeers from many sections of St James' Park after the poor run extended to just one win in seven league games.

He has since labelled Frenchman Laurent Robert lazy, cancelled the players' Christmas party and has had to cope with a great deal of speculation surrounding goalkeeper Shay Given, reportedly wanted by Manchester United and Arsenal.

There have also been negative contract stories about full-back Olivier Bernard, still refusing to sign a new deal, and striker Patrick Kluivert, who could leave the club for free in the summer after just one season.

It has given Souness, only four months into his latest managerial role, a taste of the sort of situations his predecessor Sir Bobby Robson had to deal with on a regular basis.

But the temperamental and honest Scot, ahead of tonight's clash with Sporting, insisted he would not have things any other way.

"I see my job as doing the best I can for this club and there's nothing different today than there was when I walked into here," said the former Blackburn boss. "I believe I'm the right man for the job and in time I will show that. I have a tough job to do.

"Results have not been going for us and we are aware of that but, as a manager, you have to be an optimist and aware of what's going wrong. I believe we have some great players here and their quality will come through."

Newcastle's 100 per cent record in the UEFA Cup this season has been a crumb of comfort in the team's domestic failings - they have been dumped out of the Carling Cup and sit ten points adrift of fourth-placed Manchester United in the Premiership..

Qualification to round three has already been guaranteed but the Magpies are looking for the point this evening that will clinch first place in Group D and ensure they avoid a date with one of the Champions League losers in the next stage.

Souness has only been able to add free agent Ronny Johnsen, ruled out for up to six weeks with a hamstring injury, since taking over, but one player Souness insists is going nowhere is goalkeeper Given.

He said: "Shay came to see me about what had appeared in papers. He was mystified about what was in and he thought it was the club trying to get rid of him.

"I think he is one of the best keepers around, the supporters love him and from my point of view I want him here because he is a top, top goalkeeper."

As well as Johnsen, Souness is also still without strikers Alan Shearer and Patrick Kluivert through injury tonight, while Robert has a leg muscle injury and Lee Bowyer is suspended.

Defender Andy O'Brien has been added to the squad again.

Newcastle (probable): Given; Hughes, Bramble, O'Brien, Bernard; Ambrose, Jenas, Dyer, Milner; Ameobi, Bellamy.

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