Latest reports indicate that Newcastle United are hoping to beat the midnight transfer deadline to sign Tottenham Hotspur defender Pascal Chimbonda.

Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan is desperate to sign another defender, and after missing out on the purchase of Jonathan Woodgate, who incidentally moved to Spurs, the Magpies boss is hoping to capitalise on 28-year-old Chimbonda, whose place in the first-team seems under threat.

With only minutes left before the January transfer window closes, it will be a fine-run thing for the transfer to go through in time.