Newcastle have dismissed reports linking David Beckham with a move to St James' Park.
Kevin Keegan replaced Sam Allardyce as Magpies manager last week and is now looking to strengthen his squad before the close of the transfer window.
A number of high-profile names have already been linked with moves to Newcastle and speculation has suggested that Beckham was one of those firmly in Keegan's sights.
The Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder has been training with Arsenal in recent weeks during the Major League Soccer off-season.
He played under Keegan for England and it was reported that Newcastle were lining up a short-term deal for him.
However, Newcastle chairman Chris Mort has rubbished the story.
"There's no truth Newcastle United are interested in signing David Beckham," Mort said.
DAVID BECKHAM L A GALAXY
Newcastle boss Kevin Keegan is keen to rekindle his 'fantastic relationship' with Alan Shearer after breaking an 18-month silence between the duo.
Shearer revealed on Saturday that he has spoken with Keegan about a role on The Magpies coaching staff.
The pair spoke briefly on Friday for the first time since Keegan agreed to take the St James' Park job for a second time.
However, Keegan has admitted that the duo's relationship diminished following a fall-out in the summer of 2006.
Keegan, who signed Shearer for £15million from Blackburn Rovers in July 1996 during his first stint as Newcastle boss, offended the former striker after he failed to attend his testimonial against Celtic.
But Keegan is ready to end the 18-month rift which has seen the once close duo rarely contact each other.
Animosity
"I would like to think there is no animosity there but if you are asking me if Alan rings me as much as he used to, then no he doesn't," he said.
"I couldn't come to Alan's testimonial as I was on a family holiday in the US and I didn't come back for it."
"Things like that, sadly, may have affected him. But it hasn't affected me and I want to talk with Alan."
"It is possibly true that it did offend him in some way. But flying all the way from America is something I would not have expected him to do for me."
"If that is the reason he doesn't ring me anymore, then that disappoints me. But I will ring him and ask him."
Honest
"I would like to think we are great friends - from the minute I met him and signed him in David Platt's farmhouse in Cheshire. We had a fantastic relationship and a very honest one."
"There is an involvement for Alan at this football club. That involvement at the moment could be on his terms."
"I know he would be a fantastic person to have around the club and help people in the art of goal-scoring and finishing - and just talking to the players."
"If he cannot be there on Saturday because he has television work then he can't even think of himself as a No.2."
"But I will probably say: 'I am here now, do you see any role for yourself?' that would be the sensible approach but Alan and I need to have that conversation."
Shearer as manager
Keegan went on to discuss whether he sees the potential appointment of Shearer as a way of grooming the 37-year-old for the manager's job on Tyneside.
"People talk about Alan being my successor and if you ask the Geordie public they will say yes to that," he continued.
"I had a conversation with Alan about management and the manager's job at Newcastle. I said to him, 'It will come for you one day, you don't have to go looking for it'."
Le Tissier is glad to see Keegan back at Newcastle and is certain that King Kev can get the team playing his trademark brand of attacking football once again.
"I think it's a fantastic appointment," said Le Tissier. "All football people would love to Kevin Keegan back in football."
"We know the way he wants his teams to play football. It's entertaining stuff! Whether or not he can replicate what he did the last time he was at Newcastle, I'm not so sure."
"They were obviously a lot lower down and in a far worse position than they are now.
Newcastle were third bottom of the old second division when Keegan took over in 1992 but he steered them to safety and took them to the Premier League the following season and as soon as he returned to the club the attendances were doubled at St James' Park immediately!!!"
"That's the kind of person he is," continued Le Tissier, "he has that kind of effect."
Le Tissier believes that if Alan Shearer were to be offered the opportunity to become Keegan's assistant manager, it would be a great introduction to management for another ex-Newcastle legend.
"I think this has been a brave decision. I know people say you should never go back but I think it's a great decision and if he can take Alan Shearer with him at the same time... Wow!"
"I'm sure Alan would fancy it and if he was to get the Newcastle job it looks like under this chairman that he would want them to have a little bit of experience first, not just throw him in at the deep end."
"But what better way to learn the ropes for Alan than under Keegan!!!!"
Newcastle United are understood to be closing in on the signature of Sevilla defender Ivica Dragutinovic.
The Magpies and Manchester City have both made contact, but it is Sam Allardyce who looks like winning the race to land the imposing stopper.
Sevilla have agreed to let Dragutinovic leave and a deal close to £2.5million is set to be agreed.
Ready for move.
"This is the financial opportunity of my life and do not want to reject it," Dragutinovic said.
The Uefa Cup holders have also agreed to sign Brazilian striker Igor Siqueira Pessanha on a five-year deal.
The former Leeds United forward has fallen down the pecking order under Sir Alex Ferguson and is keen to secure first-team football.
Middlesbrough were thought to be leading the chase for the England international, but The Magpies have now moved to the head of the queue.
Sam Allardyce is keen to strengthen his squad and is set to boost his transfer kitty after agreeing a fee with West Ham for pacey midfielder Kieron Dyer.
"I am hoping that the Alan Smith deal will go through on Thursday," Allardyce told the Evening Chronicle.
"He has other clubs to consider and I am hoping we are top of his list."
Smith made just nine Premier League appearances for The Red Devils last term after recovering from the broken leg suffered against Liverpool.
A move to St James' Park could see Smith renew his partnership with Mark Viduka, whom he played alongside during their days at Elland Road.
The summer signing from Manchester City damaged his foot against Carlisle on Saturday amid fears he had fractured a metatarsal.
Scans on the England international have now confirmed a partial fracture of the fifth metatarsal in his left foot, meaning six weeks on the sidelines.
"Joey Barton will have an operation on Monday after suffering a foot injury during Saturday's pre-season friendly at Carlisle," read a statement on the club's official website.
"The England international, who was skipper for the 1-1 draw at Brunton Park, sustained a partial fracture of the fifth metatarsal in his left foot.
"The Magpies expect Joey to return in six weeks."
Michael Owen insists he is happy to stay at Newcastle United and is ignoring rumours about his future.
The Magpies have expressed fears that the England striker could activate a buy-out clause in his contract and leave St James' Park over the summer.
Owen has been linked with a reunion with former England coach Sven Goran Eriksson, although the Swede has played down any interest.
And Owen has revealed he has not been driving the transfer speculation, and is looking forward to the season under new Magpies boss Sam Allardyce.
"I believe that these can be good times to be at Newcastle, which is why I am more than happy to be here," Owen told the Times.
"There has been plenty of speculation about my future, but I can assure the Newcastle fans that I didn't start any of it.
"There was a lot of talk from other quarters and my attitude to rumour has always been to ignore it.
"I don't really feel that I should be responding all the time to stories in the newspapers and I certainly didn't want to be forced into making comments.
"I prefer to let my actions speak for themselves and I just wish there had been more opportunities to show the Newcastle fans what I am capable of.
"I am sure that is to come this season."
The versatile Cameroon international joined The Magpies on a free transfer on Tuesday after signing a three-year deal on Tyneside.
Geremi found his first team chances restricted at Chelsea and has revealed that talks with Allardyce convinced him that a return to the North East, where he once played with Middlesbrough, was in his best interests.
"I am delighted to join Newcastle and I am very, very pleased with this move," said Geremi.
"This, like Chelsea, is a big club and a great football club. They have passionate fans and I look forward to playing for them.
"I was impressed with Sam Allardyce too. I was impressed with what he has done in football and his knowledge of other teams and players.
"It's a great move for me."
Newcastle United have completed the signing of Czech Republic international defender David Rozehnal from Paris St Germain for a fee of £2.9m.
The 26-year-old has signed a four-year contract at St James' Park after agreeing terms with boss Sam Allardyce.
Rozehnal becomes Newcastle's third signing of the summer, after midfielder Joey Barton and striker Mark Viduka.
Rozehnal, who has won 34 caps for the Czechs, could cost another £200,000 depending on appearances.
Rozehnal began his career in his home country with Sigma Olomouc and twice won the Belgian title with Bruges before his move to PSG in 2005.
Newcastle boss Sam Allardyce is keen to bring in central defenders after releasing Titus Bramble, Craig Moore, Oguchi Onyewu as well as left-back Olivier Bernard.
The Magpies boss also revealed on Thursday he was hopeful of signing Cameroon midfielder Geremi from Chelsea.
Alan Shearer was the Legendary Striker at Newcastle United Football Club until the end of last season when he finally hung up his boots on the golden peg of retirement.
His record is outstanding and remains the top scoring striker in the Premiership. 206 goals in his 10 year career, an amazing acheivement and way ahead of anyone else (as far as I know).
I have a link here http://www.nufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/ShearerGoal/0,,10278,00.html this will take anyone interested in his career stats at Newcastle United.
For instance - his top team he scored more goals against was Leeds United (5 at St James Park and 7 at Elland Rd).
There are lots of amazing stats on there so come on all you Shearer fans and Newcastle fans - lets live the Shearer-Era again and take a trip into the life of a Legend!!!!
At least it looks bolder this time round.......
If you haven't seen it yet check it out the Newcastle United site
http://www.nufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Home/0,,10278,00.html
It is available to pre-order on the following site
http://shop.nufc.co.uk/product.pasp?txtProductID=164100
LAUNCH DATE is 2nd May - just 12 days to go!!!!
After watching some of the games on Sky over this season - it worries me that if Glen Roeder doesn't get the funds available to get new players in (of a decent quality I might add) in Summer then we will just end up in the bottom half of the Premiership at the end of next season.
I can't help feeling that some of the players have well under-performed in this seasons rally to try and get back to where we belong..... in or around the top four.
I think we have a big and mighty expectation for the club to be doing better than we have been in recent times. Let's face it we have bottled it on a fair few occasions.
99/00 seasons FA Cup finals and a loss in the UEFA Cup this season are one's that stick into one's mind - but there are countless other matches since our Fair's Cup win all those years ago.
i hope that there are some decent players brought in this summer as there always seems to be a problem of Managers being given funds, getting players in and then getting sacked leaving the replacement no time to bring in the players they need. By the time they do get the funds or players then it is too late - we are fighting our way up the table and we have too much ground to cover.
This season has seen us do quite well considering:
We had a whole team on the fitness bench - out injured.
Our top signing had been injured in the World Cup tournament and has never even played a game for us this season
Our season started far sooner than any other teams in the Premiership
We mustn't forget though - we did win the Intertoto cup, so we have broke that trophy duck at last!!!!!!
So come Freddy Shepherd either put up the money for top players r sell oout and let us move on because either way we'll need some decent money spent this season and if we don't there will be problems a plenty next season..... we are getting left behind in terms of the quality in the premiership.
We need to see action in the transfer window if we are to progress.
Check out my favourite forum - the best Newcastle united forum on the web ......ever!
http://www.nufc-forum.com/nufcforum/index.php
Why not register and put your views across, there are many great conversations on Any Subject aswell as Newcastle United...... check it out!
Also The Official Newcastle United Football Club website for all your latest news, gossip and all things TOON!
http://www.nufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Home/0,,10278,00.html
