Newcastle manager Bobby Robson has been given the go-ahead to move in for Barcelona skipper Josep Guardiola.

Robson has trailed the 31-year-old midfielder for several months and is ready to swoop after being told he wants to leave the Nou Camp this summer.

Guardiola is keen to play in the Premiership and Robson's presence at Newcastle is set to tilt the balance in their favour.

The pair had a good relationship when Guardiola played for Robson at Barcelona and risked his popularity by openly backing the manager when he was under pressure from fans.

Newcastle announced a six-month profit of just £5,000 last week and Robson's spending power is limited until they unload some players, but Guardiola will be available for nothing under the Bosman ruling - and Newcastle are willing to match pay demands likely to exceed £30,000 a week.

Robson returned to Newcastle yesterday after watching his former club Ipswich draw 1-1 at home to Liverpool.

United are at Ipswich on Saturday and it will be a special day for Robson, who admits: "Managing them was the perfect start for me. My quality of life was excellent in Suffolk and everything about Ipswich Town was impressive.

"It gave me a wonderful grounding and that most wonderful of club chairmen John Cobbold gave me some advice that I have never forgotten.

"He ingrained in me that at the end of the day football is a sport. Winning is great but it is the game that is the most important thing. Enjoy that and not the prize.

"Football has moved on to become a big business since I first started as a player 50 years ago at Middlesbrough on seven pounds a week.

"I have managed at the highest levels at home and abroad, but I have never forgotten the principle that makes Ipswich so special."

l Newcastle are to provide free transport for their fans travelling to the derby at Sunderland on April 21.

The club is advising supporters ''to avail themselves of the free transport as police advice is not to travel independently if possible''.

Newcastle will lay on a fleet of coaches for the match at the Stadium of Light which kicks off at 5.15pm. Safety officer Dave Pattison said: ''We would urge all fans travelling to the match to take advantage of this offer which we are delighted to provide for such a prestigious game.''

l England's success under Sven-Goran Eriksson has seen their world ranking rise by two places. The FIFA rankings place England in 14th place, while the top three of Brazil, France and Argentina remain unchanged. Scotland's run of good results has pushed them up five positions to 23rd and the Republic of Ireland have also risen five notches to 30th. Wales are unchanged at 109th in the world, while Northern Ireland's struggles have seen them fall two places to 98th