NEWCASTLE will step up their attempts to sign French international Sidney Govou at the end of this summer's European Championships in Portugal.

The Magpies have accepted that they will not be able to make any progress in their attempts to entice the striker to St James' Park over the next month.

Govou was named in Jaques Santini's squad for Euro 2004, and will be on the bench when France kick off the defence of their title against England on Sunday.

Sir Bobby Robson has spent the last week sizing up his options as he attempts to secure a long-term replacement for skipper Alan Shearer, who will retire at the end of next season.

And it is understood that the Newcastle manager has made Govou his number one target this summer.

The 24-year-old helped fire Lyon to the French title last season and, while he would not be a like for like replacement for Shearer, his capture would represent a significant coup.

Govou's current contract does not expire until 2008 but, with French football hardly awash with money, Lyon are prepared to cash in on their prize asset.

Robson has around £6m to play with this summer following a successful UEFA Cup run and the sale of both Nolberto Solano and Carl Cort in January.

The Newcastle boss will have to sell first if he wants to spend more than that, but he is extremely reluctant to break up a squad that should benefit from having played together last season.

Lyon will accept a fee of £6m if that is all that is put on the table but, with other clubs also having monitored the frontman this season, Newcastle could need to go even higher.

Much will depend on whether Govou is given the chance to shine in Portugal later this month.

He will start the tournament as France's fifth-choice striker, but could find himself thrown into the fray if Thierry Henry and David Trezeguet fail to spark.

A series of impressive performances would see his price rocket and Newcastle will be hoping his impact is minimal.

United's pursuit of Govou means that other targets have been shuffled down Robson's list of priorities.

Egyptian striker Mido has been courting Newcastle's attention, but reports suggesting he had lined up a meeting with Robson are understood to be wide of the mark.

The situation could change if Eidur Gudjohnsen was to leave Chelsea but, with new Blues boss Jose Mourinho intimating that he is keen to keep the Iceland international, Newcastle are ready to focus all of their attentions on Govou.

Gudjohnsen might be staying at Stamford Bridge, but there will still be plenty of movement on the King's Road and Newcastle are the latest club to be linked with Blues centre-half Robert Huth.

The 19-year-old is best known on Tyneside for his petulant stamp on Shearer during Newcastle's 2-1 win over Chelsea last season but, while he made just nine starts last season, former Blues boss Claudio Ranieri was a fan of his uncompromising style.

Aston Villa are poised to test the water with a £2m bid for the German Under-21 captain, but Chelsea are likely to demand double that for the youngster.

Read more about Newcastle United FC here.