BACK IN CHARGE ... Chris Hughton
NEWCASTLE are set to put coach Chris
Hughton in charge of pre-season.
Toon begin the build-up to the Championship in two
weeks but owner Mike Ashley is unwilling to appoint Alan Shearer as
long-term boss without the go-ahead from potential new owners.
Ashley wants £100million for the club but four
interested parties are unlikely to make an offer until next month
as they go through the club's books.
Hughton, 50, took temporary charge last season and will
drill the squad until a solution is found.
ATLETICO MADRID are eyeing up a
£4million swoop for Spurs flop Giovani Dos Santos.
The Spanish outfit want to give the out-of-favour
striker a chance to revive his career back in La Liga.
The Mexican failed to impress after a £5m switch from
Barcelona last summer and was even shipped out on loan to
Ipswich.
SHEFFIELD UNITED boss Kevin Blackwell
last night completed his £500,000 swoop for Watford midfielder Lee
Williamson on a three-year deal.
Blackwell said: "Lee is a great addition to the squad
with his ability to get from box to box."
League One NORWICH have snapped up
out-of- contract Hartlepool central defender Michael Nelson, 29, on
a free.
WEST HAM face a fight with Portuguese
outfit Sporting CP for striker Felipe Caicedo.
The 20-year-old Ecuadorian is set to quit Manchester
City. Hammers are lining up an offer but Sporting CP have also
expressed an interest in the £8million-rated player - so City can
auction him off to the highest bidder.
Agent Stephan Braendli said: "Sporting is an
option."
PORTSMOUTH, Bolton and Celtic are in a
tug-of-war over Hull star Sam Ricketts.
The £3million-rated Tigers defender, 27, has a year
left on his current deal.