Parker nears Magpies switch

Chelsea midfielder Scott Parker was undergoing a medical on Wednesday morning as he closed in on a £6.5million move to Newcastle.

The Magpies expect to complete the transfer later in the day, believing the medical to be a formality.

Toon Chairman Freddy Shepherd was given permission to speak to the 24-year-old, capped by England, at the weekend. Talks started on Tuesday as Parker returned from holiday.

The Tynesiders have fought off competition from both Everton and Tottenham to convince a player who cost the Blues £10million in January 2004 to now join them.

A broken bone in Parker's foot limited him to a handful of appearances for the west Londoners last season as Jose Mourinho's side won the Barclays Premiership title.

Although Mourinho was keen to keep the former Charlton star as a squad member, his desire for first-team football has led to a move, with Frank Lampard and Claude Makelele inked in to the two central midfield roles at Stamford Bridge.

Newcastle boss Graeme Souness will be delighted to have got his hands on a man he has targeted for some time.

Parker will be the first arrival and Turkish international Belozoglu Emre could be the next following Laurent Robert's departure for Portsmouth on Tuesday evening and the likely exits of Lee Bowyer and Hugo Viana.

But United may face competition from five other Barclays Premiership clubs as they attempt to prise him away from Inter Milan.

The Magpies have registered their interest in the 24-year-old and are understood to have travelled to Monaco to talk to the player and his agent Ahmet Bulut after tabling a £4million bid.

However, amid claims that Everton, Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal are also monitoring his situation, Bulut has revealed that half a dozen English clubs are on the player's trail.

And they may all have to wait a little longer to discover his final destination, with Emre due to go on a week's holiday after Wednesday night's Italian Cup second-leg clash with Roma at San Siro.

"Emre has two years left on his contract with Inter Milan, but I have received six offers now from England," Bulut told PA.

"But to say we are going to this club and that club, it is too early.

"I am just now speaking with all these clubs. Emre has a game tonight and after that, he is going on a week's holiday, so until next Thursday we cannot talk about this club and that club.

"When he comes back, we can start to talk about which club, but it is 90% certain that Emre will be playing next year in England."

Souness, a former manager of Galatasaray, has admitted his interest in the Turkish midfielder.

However, the player's wages - thought to be in excess of £60,000 a week - could prove a problem as Shepherd attempts to keep a rein on costs.