News round-up: Newcastle United's 18-man squad gathers at the city's airport at 8.30 this morning, but Jermaine Jenas, Scott Parker and Emre Belozoglu will not be among them. Nor will Nicolas Anelka.
Jenas, Parker and Emre have been excused the trip to Slovakia for tomorrow's Intertoto Cup tie against ZTS Dubnica, which indicates how lightly manager Graeme Souness is taking the competition. But when Newcastle regather at the airport four weeks today, in preparation for their opening Premiership fixture at Highbury, Souness hopes all four will be with him.
Parker and Emre will definitely be aboard, but Jenas's presence now depends partly upon Arsenal's desire to recruit him, and Anelka's on how much Newcastle are willing to push for a player who left Manchester City for Fenerbahce only in January.
As of last night there was no bid from Arsenal for Jenas and it is a similar situation with Newcastle and Anelka. But that does not mean in either case there has not been contact between the parties.
"We are not in the business of selling our best players," was Souness's firm response yesterday morning to a question regarding Jenas and Arsenal. Later he joked that £20 million was the asking price.
Arsenal are most unlikely to find that sort of sum for Jenas and the player is not pressing for a move.
But Newcastle appear to have been given some encouragement from Arsenal regarding Sol Campbell. It would be bold of Arsene Wenger to lose both Campbell and Patrick Vieira, but there is noise from within St James' Park that only a deal involving Campbell would persuade them to part with Jenas.
Whether Campbell would fancy moving to the northeast of England is unknown, but Newcastle would be able to offer an attractive salary.
Souness was rather more forthcoming on Anelka, who at 26 has already passed moodily through six clubs, and again the word "desperate" was used. "We know Nicolas is desperate to come here," he said. "I've done a lot of checks on him and everyone tells me he has got his head right; he's a much more settled lad. It would not be a risk.
"Last season was not great for him but no one can say that Nicolas Anelka is not a proven top goalscorer - and there's not many around who are available."
After Anelka on Souness's list is Middlesbrough's Mark Viduka.
It is understood Souness is not overly enthusiastic about bringing Robbie Keane from Tottenham. But within the corridors of power Keane's name remains current and valued.
Meanwhile, Arsenal have stepped up their pursuit of Sevilla's Julio Baptista after Patrick Vieira's €20-million move to Juventus and are confident of signing the Brazil international.
Arsenal yesterday had a similar package for Baptista turned down but Sevilla accept that the 23-year-old will leave this summer and a deal is set to be finalised soon.
Wenger said yesterday he believes Arsenal can win the title without Vieira. He ruled out a move for the Lyon midfielder Mahamadou Diarra but said he was open to strengthening every position as he reflected on his decision to dispose of the club's captain after nine seasons.
"It leaves a massive hole because of his quality, presence and charisma and that's not easy to replace," the manager said. "But we have done some work already with our players to face the challenge because that is what is in front of us.
"The experienced players have a big part to play now to show strength and character. I feel a massive player has left but that we still have enough quality to fight for the championship."
Vieira admitted his farewell from Arsenal had been emotional as he was unveiled as a Juventus player. "The fans were always fantastic to me and when I went to the training ground to say goodbye to everyone it was quite emotional," he said.
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho backed Wenger's decision to sell Vieira. "Arsenal are not stupid," he said. "In their manager they have a very intelligent person, so I don't believe they would do this just on instinct or without thinking, discussing and analysing the whole situation and because they think it's good for them."
