THE conquerors of Middlesbrough in Europe are looking at ways of trying to take Newcastle United flop Albert Luque back to Spain.

Sevilla, who lifted the UEFA Cup ten days ago, are exploring ways of assembling a squad which can ensure qualification for the Champions League - they missed out last season on games won to Osasuna.

And, despite Luque's dreadful first season in the Premiership which has cost him a place in the Spanish World Cup squad, the Andalucians are hoping to negotiate a deal with Newcastle for the forward.

New Magpies boss Glenn Roeder would allow the £9.5m buy from Deportivo la Coruna to leave, but only if Sevilla are willing to come up with a bid that would go somewhere near that figure.

Newcastle realise they will be unable to recoup all the cash they paid out in the first place but hope to receive around £6m, which would then be made available for Roeder's summer spending.

There does, though, appear to be a long way to go before the Newcastle boss can start to plan where he will spend the money.

Sevilla are by no means in a position to go out and splash millions on new players and they are likely to test the water at St James' Park with a derogatory offer.

That would be rebuffed by Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd and sources in Spain claim Sevilla are actually hoping to pull off a deal that would be not too dissimilar to the way Hugo Viana left Tyneside.

Viana, an expensive mistake from start to finish, arrived for £8.5m in June 2002 from Sporting Lisbon. After just 16 league starts for Newcastle he completed a permanent switch to Valencia in January for £1.5m.

That brought to an end a long-running saga in which the Portuguese starlet spent time on loan at both Valencia and Sporting relieving Newcastle of part of an expensive wage bill.

Luque's case is not too different and that is why, with Sevilla unlikely to pay the sort of cash Newcastle are looking for, there could be a similar ending if a permanent switch can't be brokered in the meantime.

The 28-year-old, said to be deeply annoyed by the way he has struggled to win over the supporters, would welcome a move back to his homeland.

And a lot could depend on how much of a transfer kitty can be generated by selling off some of their prize assets. Brazilian full-back Daniel Alves, who tormented Stewart Downing in Eindhoven, could be a target for Liverpool and that would bring in at least £4m.

It is likely Aston Villa-bound James Milner will become the first on Roeder's playing roster to depart permanently and hopes are high on Tyneside that Luque will follow shortly behind.

Joe Cole has insisted he will relish the challenge provided by new Chelsea signing Michael Ballack as he closes in on signing a new long-term contract.

Cole, currently preparing with England for the World Cup in Portugal, is aware midfield competition will be further intensified following Ballack's arrival at Stamford Bridge.

But the former West Ham player will not shy away from the battle for places.

Cole said: ''These are exciting times for Chelsea. Michael Ballack is going to come into the side and give us something different and more competition for places, which is great.

''We have won the Premier League two years in a row. We have that in the bank and we have celebrated it."