NEWCASTLE boss Sam Allardyce wants Tal Ben Haim as his third big summer signing. Big Sam is close to completing the signing of £5.5million Manchester City ace Joey Barton. And Middlesbrough hitman Mark Viduka underwent a medical this morning ahead of his free transfer.Ex-Bolton boss Allardyce has now revealed he also wants to snap up Trotters defender Ben Haim, who is available on a Bosman. He said: "Yes, I'm interested in Tal Ben Haim — he's a free agent and hopefully available. "He has got three or four years of experience in the Premiership and I know him inside out. "We had a good working relationship, we grew in the Premiership together and I'm very interested in working with him again."
Allardyce confirmed that Viduka is on the verge of making the short move to Newcastle. He added: "Mark is almost in the bag. It's been difficult because he has been on holiday but we're nearly there. "To get Mark and Joey in one week is not bad going and I'm delighted, particularly with how crazy the transfer market can be. But they are not the only things we've been working on."
Viduka scored 19 goals for Boro in the 2006-2007 campaignMeanwhile Newcastle have completed the signing of Mark Viduka on a two-year contract with the option of a third year.