BARCODES IN FOR RUUD?

Last updated : 16 March 2006 By Ed

The Telegraph:

Newcastle United have unofficially launched their campaign to recruit Manchester United's striker Ruud van Nistelrooy.

St James' Park has let it be known that they are interested in signing the Dutch international who would be the ideal successor to the talismanic striker Alan Shearer, who will retire from playing this summer.

Newcastle have said they are "monitoring" the situation of Van Nistelrooy, 30 this summer, who has apparently becomes restless at Old Trafford.

Even though Newcastle have no permanent manager, they could well be calculating that the prospective arrival of Van Nistelrooy might help them to attract Martin O'Neill who remains the club's top target to take over from the interim coach Glenn Roeder.