Fra Evening Chronicle:NUFC targeting Ajax star Miralem Sulejmanihttp://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/newcastle-united/nufc-news//2011/06/15/nufc-targeting-ajax-star-miralem-sulejmani-72703-28881823/AJAX star Miralem Sulejmani has emerged as the latest target to come under Newcastle's radar - while United are set to challenge Sunderland for Craig Gardner.
United will step up their pursuit of a top striker after sources in France confirmed former target Gervinho is in ?advanced talks? with Arsenal.
And while Alan Pardew has confirmed the Magpies? interest in both Mevlut Erdinc ? for whom the Chronicle understands a bid has been lodged ? and Demba Ba, the latest frontman to have been linked with the Toon is Serbian international Sulejmani.
The 22-year-old almost joined West Ham on loan last summer but was denied a work permit.
However, under new Ajax coach Frank de Boer, he enjoyed more regular games last season, scoring 13 goals.
Wolves have also been credited with an interest in the former Partizan Belgrade striker, but sources on the Continent now claim Newcastle have joined the hunt for the player.
United ? reported to be ready to challenge Sunderland for the services of Birmingham City midfielder Craig Gardner ? had nigh-on given up hope of luring Ivory Coast forward Gervinho to St James?.
Club officials had become frustrated by his attempts to spark an auction for his signature, while the Lille star failed to impress during initial discussions.
But now, the 24-year-old appears to be closing in on a £14m move to the Emirates ? bringing an end to United?s interest.
?He wants to leave and he is in advanced discussions with Arsenal,? said Lille?s managing director Frederic Paquet.
?He has told us he wants to play in England, so we will see how things pan out. Paris St Germain have asked about him, but we don?t want to make one of our rivals stronger.
?We will meet with Arsenal to see what they offer us, but he is a valuable
Gervinho is known to favour the Gunners over Newcastle and fellow suitors Tottenham Hotspur, and Arsenal defender Bacary Sagna has tipped the striker to be a hit at the Emirates.
Sagna said: ?He?s really an exceptional player who had a major part in Lille winning the title this season. Technically he?s so good, so he?d be welcome at Arsenal.?
This latest development has convinced United to pursue alternative options ? with an offer believed to be in the region of £6m tabled with PSG for Turkish forward Erdinc, and the club still in talks with Senegalese star Demba Ba.
Pardew has confirmed that he is keen to add as many as six new faces to his squad this summer, with uncertainty continuing to surround the futures of Jose Enrique, Joey Barton and Kevin Nolan.
French midfielder Yohan Cabaye is already in the bag, with Swansea City left-back Neil Taylor understood to be set to follow in the next few days.
Reports on the Continent claim Newcastle are tracking St Etienne?s £12m-rated French international Blaise Matuidi and Swiss star Tranquillo Barnetta, who scored twice against England at Wembley earlier this month and is keen to leave Bayer Leverkusen.
United ? along with Arsenal and Spurs ? have also been credited with an interest in Standard Liege?s French under-21 defensive midfielder Eliaquim Mangala.
But Pardew?s top priority is strengthening his attacking options, and Sulejmani is reportedly the latest to have appeared on the Toon?s radar ? though he will not come cheap.
The seven-times capped Serbian international ? who can play wide or up front ? broke the Dutch transfer fee record when he joined Ajax from Heerenveen for £15m in 2008, and he is contracted until 2013.
-------------------------------------
Noen som har sett denne Sulejmani (vanskelig navn) og kan si noe særlig om ham? Ser iallfall ut til å bli dyr...
