NEWCASTLE UNITED chairman Freddy Shepherd will splash out on top transfer targets this summer, and with Portsmouth and Fulham destined to fight it out for Titus Bramble's services, two new centre-backs are a priority.
Bramble was overlooked by manager Glenn Roeder for Saturday's visit of Manchester City - the second game in a row that the error-prone defender has been omitted following an inept display in the UEFA Cup defeat to AZ Alkmaar.
There has already been mounting speculation Bramble will be allowed to leave for nothing when his contract expires at the end of June, with the defender linked to a return to Ipswich.
However, it is understood the Tractor Boys will not be in a position to match his Premiership wages.
Fulham are interested and are also hoping to lure Sylvain Distin from Manchester City.
A move to the capital would appeal to Bramble, although Pompey boss Harry Redknapp is also keen on in player who is still only 25.
There was an indication, prior to the calamitous collapse in Alkmaar, that the £5m signing was to be handed a new deal at St James' Park - but that appears unlikely.
With both Oguchi Onyewu and Craig Moore also unlikely to be in the North-East next season, Roeder needs options in defence.
Onyewu's loan deal from Standard Liege has not been the success Newcastle had been hoping for, while Moore is out of contract and is considering a move to either the United Arab Emirates or back to Australia.
That would leave Roeder with just Steven Taylor and Peter Ramage as his only two centre-backs with regular Premiership experience, with youngsters Paul Huntington and David Edgar in support.
West Brom's Curtis Davies, West Ham's Anton Ferdinand and Manchester United's Wes Brown are all being tracked by the Magpies boss.
And Shepherd, who has continually backed his manager through difficult times, has insisted Roeder will be given the finances to invest in new faces.
"We know the team needs looking at in more ways than one and that's what we are concentrating on," said Shepherd. "Has has there ever been a summer when there have not been comings and goings at St James' Park."
Shepherd's insistence came on the day Newcastle revealed plans to extend St James' Park to a 60,000 capacity.
The chairman knows that filling 8,000 more seats would require a successful team.
The club also stated the £300m development, which will bring a conference centre, hotels and luxury apartments, will be completely independent of the football club's revenues.
Newcastle need three points at Sheffield United, a side below them, this Saturday and goalkeeper Shay Given warned: "This is not a time to start pointing the finger at people and say we should have done this or that."
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