NEWCASTLE United are planning their next move this morning after Everton turned down a club record £20m bid for England sensation Wayne Rooney.

The Magpies tabled the incredible offer for the 18-year-old last night as the board attempted to appease fans frustrated by Jonathan Woodgate's sale to Real Madrid on Saturday.

Amazingly Newcastle, now expected to make an improved bid, moved for striker Rooney despite being in desperate need of defenders following the departure of Woodgate.

Manager Sir Bobby Robson is already well blessed in the forward stakes with Alan Shearer, Craig Bellamy, Patrick Kluivert and Shola Ameobi all vying for the front two positions.

With Shearer due to retire at the end of the campaign, the Newcastle board have clearly acted to try to get the fans on Tyneside buzzing again after Saturday's alarming home defeat to Tottenham.

Everton spokesman Ian Ross said last night: "We can confirm that the club have received a bid of £20m for Wayne Rooney from Newcastle United. This bid has been turned down."

If Rooney does eventually move to the North-East his arrival would smash the £15m transfer fee Kevin Keegan paid for Shearer in July 1996.

However, even if the Everton board do accept an improved fee, Newcastle's move is sure to spur long-term admirers Manchester United into life.

Newcastle, due to play Norwich tomorrow night, are keen to avoid a bidding war with one of the world's richest clubs and that may well be the outcome should the Toffees offer any encouragement to chairman Freddy Shepherd.

One possibility that Shepherd may look into if he is forced to push up the offer is the future of midfielder Kieron Dyer.

Everton are in desperate need of new players but are not in a position to buy. And £8m-rated Dyer, after his well-publicised spat with Robson last week, could be offered as bait.

When quizzed about the Rooney situation, Robson said: "What is the Wayne Rooney question? I have been here five years and I tell you as I've told you before if there's any business - any business done by this club - then we will tell you when it's done."

The offer for Rooney has certainly got the Newcastle fans talking but a large share of them know that it is defensively that Robson needs to strengthen.

There was talk of a £3.5m bid for Coventry's young centre-back Calum Davenport but the Newcastle boss also hopes to add a player with a little more experience behind him.

Chelsea's William Gallas was thought to be top of Robson's list but he was warned to keep his hands off last night by Jose Mourinho.

Mourinho said: "There's no chance of William Gallas going to Newcastle United. In fact there's no chance of William Gallas going anywhere. He stays with Chelsea."

Robson is also known to have been interested in Chelsea's talented young German defender Robert Huth.

However, Mourinho is also keen to retain the services of the 20-year-old, who was called up by his country for the first time last week.

Huth started every Chelsea game in their tour of the United States in pre-season and his manager sees the player as a big part of his plans.

But Robson knows he must add at least one new centre-back to his squad before the closure of the transfer window next Tuesday.

Liverpool's Sami Hyypia and Bayern Munich's Sammi Kuffour are the latest names to have been mentioned, while Nottingham Forest's Michael Dawson and Cardiff's Danny Gabbidon have caught the attention of the former England manager in the past.

The future of Davenport remains clouded.

It was thought Coventry were considering an offer from Newcastle.

The 21-year-old, out of contract next summer, admitted that he held a meeting with chairman Mike McGinnity to discuss his future.

The Sky Blues are resigned to losing the services of their prize asset and McGinnity said: "We are looking for a fair price. A fair price for the club and for the player."

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