Newcastle boss Glenn Roeder has clinched a dramatic £10million deal to steal Chelsea winger Damien Duff from under Tottenham's noses.
Roeder will land Duff after Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho reluctantly admitted yesterday that he is ready to sell him after two hours of crunch talks.
Spurs manager Martin Jol has made two bids for Duff but Newcastle are confident of tying up a deal in the next 24 hours because the Republic of Ireland star has made it clear he would prefer a move to the North East.
Duff, who has just 12 months left on his contract, was in Newcastle with his advisers last night and Roeder is hoping to finalise a four year deal worth £60,000 a week.
Newcastle have met Chelsea's valuation after outbidding Tottenham, whose initial offer was just £5m because of his poor injury record.
Spurs will now miss out despite going back with a second bid of £7m. It is a coup for Roeder and would be his first major signing since taking charge permanently as Newcastle boss.
Duff joined Chelsea for £17m in 2003 as one of Roman Abramovich's first big-money recruits and has won two Premiership titles in two seasons.
But he has found competition fierce at Chelsea with Joe Cole, Arjen Robben and Shaun Wright- Phillips all battling for places. And Mourinho may use a new diamond midfield formation, which would limit his chances even further.
Mourinho, who yesterday publicly confirmed his interest in Arsenal's Ashley Cole for the first time, admitted that he would like Duff to stay but is now resigned to losing him in the next 48 hours.
Mourinho said: "I love Damien as a player and as a person and I can understand what he has in his heart. After that, it becomes business. He is such a good player it will not be easy business."
We understand that a deal could go through today (Friday), meaning that the signing wouldn't be dependent on a successful conclusion to our Intertoto Cup tie.
The 27 year-old Balyboden-born winger has played on both wings, as a forward and even at left back since joining Chelsea in 2003.
While we're long-standing admirers of the player, we'd surely be buying him for his goal-making ability, providing the bullets for someone else to fire. Duff has netted 19 times in 125 Chelsea appearances - we need someone who can equal that tally in a season.
Duff would encounter plenty of familiar faces at Gallowgate, including international colleagues past and present in the shape of Stephen Carr and Shay Given, plus fellow former Chelsea players Celestine Babayaro and Scott Parker.
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