Newcastle boss Sam Allardyce has flown to Barcelona to try to push through a move for World Cup winner Edmilson. A delegation from St James' Park met the 30-year-old Brazilian last night and was due to resume talks today.
Allardyce is keen to sign the defender, who can also play in the midfield holding role, even though he is currently sidelined after knee surgery.
Edmilson is likely to be out of action for between four and six months, but the Magpies believe he could play in October or November, and are ready to make a move for a man they believe is still a world-class performer.
Allardyce, chairman Freddy Shepherd's son Kenneth and European scout Paul Montgomery flew to Catalonia yesterday afternoon after Barca president Joan Laporte gave Newcastle permission to talk to the player.
He has a year left on his existing contract, but the Magpies are confident they can land him for a nominal fee, provided they can persuade him his future lies on Tyneside.
They have inquired too, about striker Eidur Gudjohnsen's situation with Thierry's Henry's arrival from Arsenal sparking fresh speculation his days at the Nou Camp could be numbered.
The Iceland international, who has also been linked with derby rivals Sunderland and Manchester United this summer, worked briefly under Allardyce at Bolton.
Newcastle currently have five senior frontmen on the books — Michael Owen, Obafemi Martins, Mark Viduka, Shola Ameobi and Andy Carroll — but uncertainty over Owen and Martins, who both have get-out clauses in their contracts, has left the manager waiting anxiously to discover their plans.
He is having to draw up contingency plans with Arsenal rumoured to be considering Martins as a replacement for Henry and Manchester United and Manchester City among those clubs to have been touted as possible destinations for Owen.
Allardyce is hopeful of retaining both men as he closes in on fresh targets after capturing Viduka, Joey Barton and David Rozehnal — although the latter's deal has yet to be rubber-stamped — with Chelsea defender Geremi and Marseille skipper Habib Beye now in his sights.
