NEWCASTLE United last night swooped to land Wimbledon striker Carl Cort in a £7m deal after dramatically dropping their interest in Belgium front-runner Emile Mpenza.

Cort flew to Tyneside yesterday to agree personal terms with United chairman Freddy Shepherd and chief executive David Stonehouse, before passing a medical and signing a £5m five-year deal.

Only hours earlier, a senior United source had strenuously denied reports that England Under-21 international Cort was bound for St. James' Park.

But he landed at Newcastle Airport and was whisked away by United officials in a cloak-and-dagger exercise.

Tottenham and Leicester had tabled respective bids of £6m and £6.5m for 22-year-old Cort, who was also understood to have attracted the attention of Leeds.

But before jetting back to London last night, Cort admitted: "I'm thrilled to be joining a club as big as Newcastle.

"The chairman and chief executive have impressed me with their ambitious plans for the club and I'm delighted at the prospect of playing for Bobby Robson. It's a great career move for me.''

Shepherd said: "No-one should doubt the board's resolve to back Bobby Robson to the hilt.

"He's been keen on Carl Cort for some time and we're very pleased we've signed one of the country's most promising young strikers.

"I want to pay tribute to Wimbledon for the professional way they have dealt with the transfer. It's been a great pleasure to do business with them.

"Cort is the third highly-rated player we've signed in recent weeks. Our two Argentinians, Christian Bassedas and Daniel Cordone - plus Cort - will be powerful additions to the squad. More exciting times lie ahead of us at Newcastle.''

United quickly switched their attention to 6ft 4in Cort after scrapping their £8m move for 22-year-old Schalke star Mpenza, who caught Robson's eye during Euro 2000.

It is understood the United boss had second thoughts about the deal after deciding the player was over-priced.

Cort's arrival poses further questions about the future of United's injury-prone targetman Duncan Ferguson.

The big Scot, who arrived from Everton in an £8m deal in November 1998, is being hawked around the transfer market.

Rangers, who paid a then-British record £4m for Ferguson seven years ago, revealed this week that they had turned down the chance to re-sign him.

Newcastle had also looked at Anderlecht's £8m-rated Czech Republic striker Jan Koller as a possible replacement for Ferguson.

But Robson feels that rising star Cort, who combines power and pace with aerial presence, represents better value and can form a potent partnership with skipper Alan Shearer.

Cort, who suffered the heartbreak of relegation from the Premiership last season, already has fond thoughts of Newcastle - he scored after only two minutes on his full League debut for Wimbledon in a 3-1 win at St. James' nearly three years ago.

The Londoner joined the Dons as a schoolboy and signed professional terms in June 1996.

He broke into the first team as a raw teenager, but has gradually established himself as an awkward man to mark and was a key member of the Under-21 side which reached the European Championships finals in Slovakia this summer.

Now he will hope to stake his claim for a place in the senior squad.

The signing of Cort takes Robson's spending this summer to £11.5m, with the £4m arrival of midfielder Bassedas from Velez Sarsfield and £500,000 loan of Racing Club striker Cordone.

Meanwhile, Tottenham boss George Graham could switch his sights to Mpenza after missing out on Cort.

Mpenza, who was also a target for Italian side Napoli, had admitted he was interested in a move to Newcastle.

But yesterday he said: "Newcastle don't have the same reputation as Manchester United and the city itself doesn't offer the same advantages as London.''

l Dennis Wise will join Chelsea's coaching staff when his playing days are over.

The 33-year-old has signed a new-one year extension to his contract that will take him up to 2003.

Wise helped Chelsea lift the FA Cup last season in what was arguably his best time for the club since joining them from Wimbledon for £1.6m 10 years ago.