Newcastle boss Joe Kinnear is targeting former Liverpool defender John Arne Riise and Arsenal midfielder Denilson in the January transfer window.

The 61-year-old will send his team out at Chelsea on Saturday uncertain how long he will remain in charge at St James's Park with the club's ownership still up for grabs.

The Dubliner would clearly like to be kept on and to that end has already drawn up a shortlist of targets to give current owner Mike Ashley.  It is understood the names of the Roma defender and Arsenal midfielder are on it.

Kinnear has made no secret of his belief that the current squad needs significant strengthening if relegation from the Barclays Premier League is to be avoided, and if the club remains in his hands, Ashley faces a big decision over any further investment.
The interim boss did not identify his targets by name, but has hinted at making loan moves for Riise and Denilson.

"I have already got my shortlist ready and I will be giving it to Mike," Kinnear said. "We need two players in as soon as possible, and I have them in mind.

"One is with Roma and he is not in the team at the moment. The other is a player who has already scored against us this season.

"I know their agents and what they would be is loan deals from January until the end of the season. I already know the player in Rome would cost us £2million to bring over here.

"We need to strengthen the team and the squad, and if we can get them, they would be a big boost because both are top-class players."

Norway international Riise, 28, joined Roma in a €5million switch from Liverpool during the summer and despite starting eight league games this season, is not an automatic selection.

Twenty-year-old Brazilian Denilson is one of Arsene Wenger's emerging talents and has figured in 18 of the Gunners' 21 games to date this season.

Kinnear was today backed by striker Obafemi Martins to lead the club into 2009.

"Joe should get the job permanently because stability and support are what the club needs," Martins said. "We have a manager who does not seek the glamour of handling a Premier League club, he does his own thing the best way he can and so far we are just having fun.

"The club should stick with him," told The Sun.