NEWCASTLE United boss Bobby Robson is aiming to bring a slice of Turkish delight to St. James' Park this summer.

Robson has identified £8m-rated Inter Milan striker Hakan Sukur as his top target.

The purse strings are being relaxed by United chairman Freddy Shepherd and Robson has been given the go-ahead to splash out.

With doubts over the playing future of skipper Alan Shearer, who is facing the prospect of more surgery on his knee, Robson is refocusing on 29-year-old Sukur.

The United boss yesterday confirmed his interest in the Turkish international and admitted he failed in a bid to sign him shortly after arriving on Tyneside in September 1999, when Sukur was with Galatasaray.

Robson said: "I like Sukur and I had not been at St James' Park a month when I tried to sign him.

"The day after we played Zurich in the UEFA Cup, the chairman and then-chief executive (Freddie Fletcher) flew straight from Switzerland to Istanbul to try to sign him.

"There were too many obstacles and Sukur then moved to Inter at the end of the season."

Robson is looking to clear the decks for the arrival of new faces and will attempt to off-load strikers Daniel Cordone and Kevin Gallacher, defender Marcelino, winger Stephen Glass and midfielder Des Hamilton.

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