DESPITE uncertainty surrounding the future at St James’ Park, Alan Shearer has still been assessing the transfer market in the hope that he will be given the opportunity to tinker with the Newcastle United squad.

With bankers waiting for owner Mike Ashley to come up with a new business plan before Friday, talks aimed at making Shearer the club’s long-term manager have been put on hold.

But, hopeful that an agreement over a new deal can be agreed, the 38-year-old and assistant Iain Dowie have been weighing up potential targets.

And it has emerged that Leeds United’s Jermaine Beckford is on their radar.

Beckford has been put up for sale at Elland Road after his decision to reject a new contract, and is available for a little more than a £1m.

The 25-year-old’s contract will expire in 12 months and Leeds are reluctant to see that deal run down and miss out on raising any sort of cash from a sale.

Sources close to Beckford are aware of Newcastle’s interest, which goes back to before Shearer took over for the final eight matches of the season.

Newcastle explored the possibility of signing the forward in January, only for Leeds to hang onto their leading scorer in the hope that he would fire them out of League One and up into the Championship.

However, with another season in League One to come Leeds will cash in on a player who has scored 54 goals in his last two seasons.

There has been renewed interest from Newcastle, as well as a growing list of Championship clubs including Coventry City, Sheffield United, and Middlesbrough.

But Beckford, who was signed from Wealdstone for £50,000 in March 2006, would jump at the chance to move to Newcastle if Shearer takes over.

Bristol City’s former Newcastle left-back Bradley Orr is also a possible Newcastle target, while Shearer is considering moves for experienced Premier League players.

But while Shearer looks certain to be able to attract players to the North-East, he is still no clearer on his future.

Ashley’s decision to renew efforts to sell the club has not deterred Shearer in his hopes of succeeding Joe Kinnear, but it has hindered the chances of a quick solution.

It has emerged that there are a couple of interested consortia looking into buying out the sportswear tycoon.

Sultan Oabood bin Said – thought to have been fronting the Omani group – was reportedly behind a move to purchase the club for around £100m.

However, while there is said to be a foreign group exploring the possibility of a takeover, City of London sources suggest the Omani group is not one and it is a different nationality.

By the time a takeover is concluded, Newcastle might have already reduced the club’s wage bill, with Michael Owen and Mark Viduka among those out of contract at the end of this month.

But there has also been early contact for midfielder Kevin Nolan. Nolan was only signed in January for £4m from Bolton, but Hull City want him.