Carl Cort, very much Newcastle's forgotten striker, was last night discussing personal terms with Wolves ahead of an anticipated move to Molineux.
His departure for around £2 million would clear the way for Newcastle to open talks with Celtic's Henrik Larsson or Alan Smith of Leeds United.
"The clubs have agreed a fee, Carl is talking to Wolves now and, subject to a medical, it should go through," said Cort's agent David Manasseh.
A series of niggling injuries have tainted the striker's time on Tyneside during which Cort (26) has also suffered a marriage breakdown. He has not been involved in the first team this season but impressed in a recent reserve game against Grimsby.
After joining Newcastle from Wimbledon for £7 million in 2000 Cort has made just 28 first-team appearances, scoring eight times.
Dave Jones, the Wolves manager, will trust that Cort can remain fit and score the goals necessary to preserve Premiership status. "Carl needs a new challenge and I think he'll do very well for Wolves," said Manasseh.
Freddy Shepherd, Newcastle's chairman, is scheduled to open talks with Larsson's agent within the next 24 hours. Larsson, who will leave Celtic in the summer, is now free to sign a pre-contract agreement and although it had been assumed he was Barcelona bound, the striker is considering other options including alternative Spanish clubs, others in his native Sweden, retirement and Newcastle.
Cynics may see the Larsson talks as a ruse to unnerve Leeds into accepting a modest £2 million to £3 million bid for Smith, a striker long admired by Bobby Robson. Although impressed by the 33-year-old Larsson, Newcastle's manager prefers to sign younger players.
Robson is understood to regard Smith as having the sort of strength of character necessary to be Shearer's successor. Although the Leeds forward's goals-per-game ratio is average, it is felt the superior service at Newcastle would boost his tally.
Meanwhile, Carlo Cudicini last night hit out at reports that he is set for a close-season move away from Chelsea. With the Czech Republic international Petr Cech joining Chelsea for £8 million after this season, there had been suggestions that the Italian was homesick and anxious for a return to his homeland.
However, Cudicini insisted he is determined to fight for his place and remain at Stamford Bridge. "I have never made declarations about wishing to leave England at the end of this season," said Cudicini. "I am very happy in London, and I have renewed my Chelsea contract until 2008. I have every intention of respecting it."
Liverpool's manager Gerard Houllier is to extend Paul Jones's loan from Southampton until the end of the season to avert a fresh goalkeeping crisis. He joined Liverpool on a month's loan two weeks ago following injuries to Chris Kirkland, Jerzy Dudek and the third-choice Patrice Luzy, pulled out of Saturday's 2-1 defeat at Tottenham with a back injury. Jones's Southampton contract expires at the end of the season.
