NEWCASTLE United's £10m move for Paris St. Germain forward Laurent Robert has hit a cash snag.
United chairman Freddy Shepherd has been camped in the French capital trying to push through a deal after agreeing a fee with PSG.
But the transfer has been thrown into doubt after it was revealed that United want to pay for Robert in instalments.
Robert's agent, Pape Diouf, has relayed United's offer of personal terms to the French international, who has also prompted interest from European giants Barcelona, AC Milan, Bayern Munich, Marseille and Lyon.
But Diouf admitted that the 26-year-old, with two years to run on his contract, could yet remain in Paris.
Robert's four-goal haul from two Intertoto Cup outings against FC Jazz, has been a tonic for coach Luis Fernandez, who is without former Arsenal striker Nicolas Anelka and Laurent Leroy through injury.
Diouf stressed: "If the PSG directors feel the need to meet me, I am ready to listen."
However, Shepherd was yesterday in defiant mood. "If people doubted our ambition to compete with the best, then this is our answer,'' he declared.
"We're determined to take this club forward and to keep faith with our fans.
"Our offer to the player is now in the hands of his agent and we're awaiting his reply. We're optimistic, but there's still work to be done.
"There are also some loose ends to tie up with PSG, but we don't think they'll present a stumbling block."
* Newcastle yesterday discovered who their opponents will be in the semi-final of the Intertoto Cup if they overcome Belgian club Lokeren.
The Magpies will face either RKC Waalwijk of Holland or German side 1860 Munich, the team Leeds United overcame in the preliminary round of the Champions' League last season. The first leg match will be played on July 25, with the return game on August 1.
* Michael Duberry has vowed to hit the headlines with Leeds for all the right reasons this season as he bids to finally put the ''mayhem'' behind him, writes IAN PARKE£S.
Duberry is close to full fitness after sustaining an Achilles injury last September, the recovery of which was delayed by a high-profile court case which also involved team-mates Lee Bowyer and Jonathan Woodgate earlier this year.
The centre-back has worked on his fitness throughout the summer, rather than go on holiday, and with Leeds returning to pre-season training this week, the 25-year-old concedes all he wants to do is pull on a first-team shirt again.
''It has been a difficult year for me to say the least, so hopefully just to get in with the chaps and play football will make me feel like a footballer again,'' said Duberry.
''I have not been a footballer for the past 12 months with all that has been going on. I just want to play football again and to see my name written on the back pages rather than the front."
Read more about Newcastle here.
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