Shepherd: 'Forget Anelka!'

Patience is running short at St James' Park, and the chairman has just about had enough of the manager's wealing and dealing, without getting a result. Graeme Souness has been told by Freddie Shepherd that any new additions, even loan signings, will have to be funded by the sale of existing players. That, he says, has made for an easy January so far.

Souness: 'It's not been difficult at all because I haven't had any money to spend and unless someone comes in and wants to buy one of my players there's nothing I can do about it, I'll run with what I've got.

'No-one's offered money for any of our players as I understand it so there's no decisions to make.'

After Shepherd travelled to Turkey more than once to tie up a deal in the summer and was sent back with his tail between his legs, French international Nicolas Anelka now says he wants to make Newcastle his next English club!

Not once did the former Arsenal and Manchester City striker, who also spent a spell on loan at Liverpool, give the intention he wanted to quit Fenerbahce. All we got from him was 'I'm happy at Fenerbahce, I don't want to go anywhere'.

This weekend he ruled out a move to Everton, but admits he would be tempted if Newcastle boss Graeme Souness made a move. Just at a time when Fat Fred has put a lock on the biscuit tin.

Anelka: 'I don't want to waste my time any more in the Turkish Championship. The only trouble is that they don't want to sell me for nothing. But my brothers are trying to find me a club in England.

'I have heard of Everton's interest, but I don't want to go there. I want to get back into the Premiership and I would like that club to be Newcastle United.'