HELDER'S hopes of rejoining Newcastle could be dashed by United's £6m move for Ipswich centre-back Titus Bramble.

England Under-21 international Bramble is manager Bobby Robson's top defensive target and the Magpies are understood to be closing in on a deal.

Bramble, who underwent an Achilles operation last week, has two years left on his contract at Portman Road but has refused to sign an extension following the Tractor Boys' drop into Division One.

Portuguese defender Helder has been released by Spanish side Deportivo La Coruna and expressed his interest in returning to Tyneside, where he spent a successful loan spell two seasons ago.

Robson was keen to make the deal permanent, but backed off when Deportivo insisted on a £4m fee.

The United boss now has other priorities and may decide the injury-prone Helder is not worth the risk, even though he is available on a Bosman free.

Helder, however, maintained: "I enjoyed my time at Newcastle. It is a great club and a great city, and I would love to return there.

"My contract is up at La Coruna and I would be happy to return to the English League.

"All Spanish people love to watch the English game - I think it is the most competitive in Europe."

United have stepped up their pursuit of 20-year-old Bramble after the collapse of Sylvain Distin's proposed move to St James' Park.

Frenchman Distin rejected the Magpies' terms following an eight-month loan stint and this week joined Kevin Keegan's Manchester City in a £4m deal.

The former Paris St Germain defender is reputed to have asked United for a £25,000-a-week package.

United chairman Freddy Shepherd, who had agreed a fee with PSG, labelled Distin a mercenary.

But the player's French agent, Pape Diouf, yesterday hit back at Shepherd, saying: "If Newcastle really wanted Sylvain, they would have made sure they got him.

"It is not down to me. They had the chance and to call him a mercenary is completely wide of the mark.

"He had the chance to join a number of Premiership sides last year, but he chose to move to Newcastle on loan.

"If he was a mercenary, he would have signed for Bolton for £3.5m instead. Myself and my partner, Willie McKay, haved acted correctly.''

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