Kinnear hints at January targets

Roma's Riise has been suggested as a Newcastle target in January

Newcastle United manager Joe Kinnear has hinted at players he would like to bring to St James' Park in January.

Talks with owner Mike Ashley about Kinnear's future at the club have been pushed back, so the interim boss is planning for a longer stay on Tyneside.

"We need two players in as soon as possible, and I have them in mind," he told reporters on Friday.

"One is with Roma and isn't in the team at the moment. The other has already scored against us this season."

Following Kinnear's substantial clue about a Roma player, one man who has been heavily linked is John Arne Riise.

The 28-year-old Norwegian, a Liverpool player for many years, left Anfield for Italy over the summer in a deal worth £4m.

606: DEBATE Excited by Denilson but can't see Wenger letting him go N10MAG

However, he has played regularly for Roma since joining, which would seem to suggest he may not be the man on Kinnear's list.

By contrast, French defender Philippe Mexes has made fewer appearances and was recently reported to be in talks with AC Milan, as Roma try to offload star players to service their debts.

Kinnear's other clue, about a player who has scored against Newcastle this season, does little to narrow down the list of possibilities.

It has been suggested that Arsenal's 20-year-old midfielder Denilson is Kinnear's target as he scored in the Gunners' 3-0 win earlier this season, but 23 players have scored against Newcastle this term.

SCORED AGAINST NEWCASTLE Wondering who Kinnear might be keen to sign? Take your pick: Darren Fletcher, Clinton Morrison, Scott Dann, Denilson, Robin van Persie, Marlon King, David Di Michele, Matthew Etherington, Roman Pavlyuchenko, Jamie O'Hara, Chris Samba, Roque Santa Cruz, Mikel Arteta, Marouane Fellaini, Djibril Cissé, Kieran Richardson, Robinho, Stephen Ireland, Ishmael Miller, Andy Johnson, Danny Murphy, Ryan Taylor, Titus Bramble

Kinnear had initially expected to be in charge at the Tyneside club for a matter of weeks but, with the news that talks with owner Ashley will no longer take place after Saturday's game against Chelsea, has settled in for a longer haul.

"I have already got my shortlist ready and I will be giving it to Mike," said the 61-year-old.

"I know their agents and what they would be is loan deals from January until the end of the season. I already know the player in Rome would cost us £2m to bring over here.

"We need to strengthen the team and the squad and, if we can get them, they would be a big boost because both are top-class players."

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