LONDON : Chelsea midfielder Scott Parker looks set to move to Newcastle this week after it was widely reported the two clubs have agreed a fee of 6.5 million pounds.
Everton, Aston Villa, Birmingham, Tottenham and his former club Charlton were all interested in the England international.
Spurs had hoped to steal a march on their rivals by taking Parker as compensation for the departure to Stamford Bridge of sporting director Frank Arnesen.
Everton's interest cooled after talks with the player revealed that they were unlikely to agree personal terms.
But it now appears that Parker will become Graeme Souness' first signing of the summer as Newcastle continue an ambitious re-building programme.
Parker joined Chelsea for 10 million pounds in January last year after forcing a bitter departure from Charlton.
But the move backfired following the summer arrival of Jose Mourinho as Parker found himself on the outside of the new manager's 24-man first-team squad.
- AFP /ct