by adamnbarrett » Fri Jul 21, 2006 7:53 pm
it's now on the site
Newcastle have jumped ahead of Liverpool and Tottenham in the pursuit of Damien Duff, and are now on the verge of signing the Chelsea winger.
The Magpies agreed a fee for Duff on Friday, and the former Blackburn player has also concurred on a contract with the club.
The Republic of Ireland international will now undergo a St James' Park medical this weekend, with the signing poised to be sealed early next week.
Duff was one of the first signings of the Roman Abramovich era at Stamford Bridge, joining the side then managed by Claudio Ranieri in the summer of 2003 for a £17 million fee.
However, the writing appeared to have been on the wall for the 26-year-old after he failed to hold down a regular starting place in Jose Mourinho's Premiership-winning side last season.
Tottenham were the first club to test The Blues' resolve to retain Duff, but Newcastle have stolen a march on all suitors and Duff's signing would represent a sizeable coup for Glenn Roeder.