Real Madrid invite Newcastle bid for Helguera

Newcastle United chairman Freddy Shepherd is eyeing a move for Real Madrid defender Ivan Helguera.
 
The Sunday Sun says Shepherd plans talks with manager Graeme Souness in the next few days about making a cut-price move for the Spanish international.

Shepherd's strong relationship with Real's directors has seen him tipped off that they are looking to offload Helguera in January, rather than lose him for nothing as a free agent next summer.

And the United supremo has also learned that the 30-year-old is interested in following in Michael Owen's footsteps from the Bernabeu to St James's Park.