NEWCASTLE UNITED have sounded out Robert Huth about moving to St James' Park this summer and that is threatening to derail Middlesbrough's hopes of landing their man.
The Chelsea defender is on World Cup finals duty while his agent, Manfred Schulte, has been left holding a series of talks with a number of Premiership clubs regarding the player's future.
Schulte was at Middlesbrough on Monday where he was encouraged by what chairman Steve Gibson and chief executive Keith Lamb had to say, but North-East rivals Newcastle are also hoping to land the towering German.
And Huth, expected to be one of Jurgen Klinsmann's first choice defenders during this summer's finals, has told his representative to have his future thrashed out before Germany open the tournament by playing Costa Rica a week today.
That means, with Klinsmann unlikely to want any of his squad members away from the team base beyond Tuesday, the 21-year-old wants to make a decision over the weekend.
"It would be wrong to name names but I have targeted three or four players that will make this squad stronger," said Roeder, who has accepted he will have to sell players if he does manage to secure the services of new faces.
"I have targeted players in that position [centre-back], who are young and at the right age for this club.
"They also have experience and have proven they are capable of playing at the highest level.
"I have players in mind. Players that will strengthen the team. I want to make signings that are capable of competing for a place in the team straight away and staying there."
Everton pulled out of the race to sign Huth yesterday when they completed the capture of Wolves defender Joleon Lescott for £5.5m.
That is the figure Wigan offered to Chelsea for Huth late last week and now it seems both Middlesbrough and Newcastle are in talks with the Stamford Bridge hierarchy to agree a deal.
"Robert is definitely staying in England and he has a number of options," said his agent, Schulte. "We have had a number of offers come in and I will be going over them with him. The interest has been huge, in some way there have been too many offers.
"Robert has not made a decision yet but we will try to resolve his future before the World Cup finals begin. It will be better for Robert if he goes into the finals knowing which club he is with."
There has been no decision made on whether or not James Milner will be sold this summer but Roeder is willing to offload Albert Luque - who claims to have turned down Barcelona - and Jean-Alain Boumsong if the right offers come along.
Lee Bowyer, though, could be the first out of the door and Newcastle are holding out for £750,000 from West Ham United.
Sources in the capital claim the Hammers have already agreed personal terms and that the player will take a pay cut to leave. If an agreement can be reached over the fee then a deal will be done over the weekend
The Magpies boss, who is starting a week's holiday tomorrow after working every day since he was given the job, has managed to strengthen his coaching staff.
Roeder has appointed Kevin Bond, Harry Redknapp's No. 2 at Portsmouth, as his assistant manager at St James' and has described the reasons why he swooped for his former England B team-mate.
And the Newcastle manager has paid tribute to the way Redknapp, who could draft in his son Jamie as his own assistant at Fratton Park, has reacted to the news of his right hand man's departure.
"I have known Kevin Bond for a long time," said Roeder. "He is a very good coach and has had three years with Portsmouth where he has worked under a very good teacher.
"He is not a fence sitter and that's fine by me. That's exactly the sort of character I want around me and alongside me.
"Harry was actually on holiday in Barbados when I contacted Kevin about the job. But when I did get round to speaking to Harry he was really good about it. He accepted he was coming to a very big club."
The arrival of Bond coincided with Roeder's decision to install midfielder Lee Clark to first team coach at the club.
But Clark, who returned to Tyneside last summer, will not call time on his playing days just yet, although he does not expect to play as often as he did last season.
"Lee is embarking on a new career," said Roeder. "It will be good experience for him and he will also retain his player registration forms too.
"He feels, having played more than he thought last season, he has finished on a high. While he could also play his part next season if he is needed."
Roeder's predecessor Graeme Souness, meanwhile, is set for talks with Crystal Palace over the possibility of succeeding Iain Dowie at Selhurst Park.
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