Anelka wants to move to Newcastle, says Souness

Few modern footballers divide opinion as much as Nicolas Anelka, but Graeme Souness is the latest manager to believe that he can tame a famously nomadic and truculent player. Depending on your viewpoint, the France centre forward is either a misunderstood genius or a disloyal sulker, yet he has emerged as one of Newcastle United’s leading targets in the transfer market.

Anelka swapped Manchester City for Fenerbahce for a fee of ?7 million only last January, but, according to Souness, the 26-year-old is enthusiastic about moving to St James’ Park. His brief spell in Turkey ? he signed a three-season contract with the Istanbul club, with an option for a further season ? has been mixed, featuring four goals, a league title and increasing disaffection.

That scenario may be familiar to supporters of Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City (as well as Paris Saint-German and Real Madrid), but he remains an established forward blessed with pace and talent who has commanded ?43.5 million in transfer fees and who should be approaching his physical peak. Souness is content that Anelka’s brittle attitude is not a concern and hopes that a bid of ?4 million may snare him for Newcastle.

“I know Nicolas is desperate to come here,” Souness said. “I have done a lot of checks on him and everyone is telling me that he has got his head right. Last season was not great for him, but no one can say that Nicolas Anelka is not a proven, top goalscorer and there are not that many around who are available.” He has amassed 65 goals in 150 league starts in the Premiership.

Souness reiterated that Jermaine Jenas is not available. It would take an offer of about ?20 million to persuade Newcastle to rethink, although that stance would be tested if Jenas submitted a transfer request or intimated that he was unsettled.

At this stage, there is no suggestion of that and while the midfield player has been omitted from Newcastle’s 18-man squad that is in Slovakia for Sunday’s Intertoto Cup match against Dubnica, it is not a sinister development.