Newcastle boss confirms interest in Real Madrid's Figo

Newcastle boss Graeme Souness has confirmed his interest for Real Madrid winger Luis Figo.
 
Souness told BBC Sport: "There is an interest there as far as Luis Figo is concerned but we don't want to say any more at the moment."

Newcastle have spoken to the player's representatives and are aware he is keen to test himself in the Barclays Premiership after finding himself surplus to requirements at the Bernabeu Stadium despite having a year left on his lucrative contract.

However suggestions that talks are at an advanced stage are wide of the mark with the player's wages - thought to amount to £4.6million a year - potentially a major problem.

That would shatter the club's pay structure; it is way in excess of what they paid Patrick Kluivert last season and what they have agreed with £6.5million signing Scott Parker.

A deal which would hand the former Barcelona midfielder a one-year contract with a two-year option for both parties - similar to the arrangement on which Kluivert arrived at St James' Park last summer - has been mooted, although with Liverpool, Bolton and Galatasaray among a number of clubs which have expressed an interest in Figo without making a decisive move, there is still much to discuss.