United's £25 million transfer plans

Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley has released an amount in excess of £10 million to Kinnear for transfers, and it is widely known that Shay Given's proposed move to Manchester City will earn the Tyneside club something in the region of £10 million. Together that makes a reasonable war-chest of £20 million, with another £6 million expected to arrive from the sale of Charles 'Le Sulk' N'Zogbia to Aston Villa.

So, far, the Magpies have only signed Danish International Peter Løvenkrands on a free-transfer, and Frenchman Albin Ebondo on loan from Toulouse.

With less than a week remaining in the January transfer window, and with money to spend, Joe Kinnear is likely to go back to French outfit Rennes and make an improved offer of £8 million for Cameroon midfielder Stephane M'Bia.

It has also emerged that the Toon put in a serious bid of £4 million last night for 25-year-old midfield ace Marco Donadel from Serie A side Fiorentina.

Jose Enrique is also set to be sacrificed to make way for Celtic captain Stephen McManus, who is expected to join the Magpies next week in a swap deal. Celtic want an extra £4 million from Newcastle, but the cash-plus-player offer could be reduced to Enrique and £2 million.

That makes £14 million, with the Magpies still chasing Norwegian left-back John-Arne Riise from Catalan side Roma. That deal could also be a short-term loan.

Therefore, it remains to be seen what Kinnear does in fact, with that extra £12 million, and even if N'Zogbia's coveted transfer to Aston Villa does not materialise, that still leaves Kinnear with £6 million.

A hectic week awaits the Magpies it appears.

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