NEWCASTLE UNITED were put on alert last night after it emerged long-term target Thomas Gravesen could leave Everton this summer.

Manager Sir Bobby Robson has been an admirer of the Denmark international's talents for a number of years and failed with a bid for the player in January 2003.

Robson has received encouragement from the Gravesen camp after agent John Sivebaek revealed there is a chance his man could walk away from Goodison Park during the close-season.

The Magpies chief is still on the look out for a successor to Gary Speed, 35 in September, in the centre of midfield and he remains a fan of the Dane's strong tackling.

Everton, reluctant to lose one of their main men, are bracing themselves for the day when clubs offer serious money for Gravesen, who can leave on a free transfer in a year's time when his contract expires.

Toffees manager David Moyes wants to keep the midfielder, who is on Euro 2004 duty with his country, and will hold talks after the tournament has come to an end.

But former Manchester United defender Sivebaek has urged Moyes to cash in now by selling.

Newcastle, keen to force their way back into the top four again next season, could certainly tempt Everton to part if they lodge a bid in excess of £1.5m.

And Sivebaek said: "Thomas has no problem staying another year in Everton, but quite frankly I find it hard to think he is staying.

"It would be wise to sell him now and make some money. That is up to Everton, but we are also speculating in letting the deal expire next summer."

Sivebaek believes it is time to move on for Gravesen after Everton's disappointing campaign in which they struggled against relegation for most of the season.

And Sivebaek is convinced Moyes, who may receive much-needed financial backing if reports suggesting Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra wants to buy a stake in the club are true, can't see huge squad improvements taking place.

"There's nothing wrong in saying you want to try something else," said Sivebaek. "Maybe Everton won't get the improvements Thomas is looking for, because it is apparently not easy to get the huge stars to Everton.

"Hopefully something will happen around Thomas during the Euro 2004 finals. Everything will be open if he plays well, but on the other hand everything can also go wrong.

"We are not double-crossing Everton because Thomas likes the club and we want to be straight in our way to do business. I think the club understand that Thomas would like to try something else."

It is well known that Robson is keen to make additions this summer, with a new right-back and a striker also on his list of priorities.

Real Mallorca forward Samuel Eto'o has been mentioned again over the weekend as an option Robson is considering.

Meanwhile, Newcastle midfielder Hugo Viana's hopes of success in the Under-21s European Championships ended on Saturday.

Viana struggled with form at St. James' Park throughout last season and was only a second-half substitute for Portugal as they crashed out at the semi-final stage after a 3-1 defeat to Italy.

The former Sporting Lisbon star, a past winner of the Young European Footballer of the Year award, had been hoping to be in the senior squad for Euro 2004.

Instead he had to settle for a place with the Under-21s, whose failure to reach the final means they have also missed out on the chance to clinch automatic qualification for the Olympics.

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