NEWCASTLE UNITED were last night on the verge of bolstering their Premiership title challenge by signing Ipswich Town midfielder Darren Ambrose for £2.5m.

Ambrose, 19, was expected to complete his move to Newcastle over the weekend after travelling to Tyneside to discuss personal terms and undergo a medical.

The England Under-21 international was due to be on the Ipswich bench for today's First Division clash with Brighton and Hove Albion at Portman Road.

But he was withdrawn from the Town squad yesterday evening after his club reluctantly accepted Newcastle's offer.

And because Ipswich are in administration, Ambrose will be eligible to play for Newcastle this season - even though the Premiership transfer window has closed.

Ambrose, who made his first-team debut at Arsenal last April, is the latest talented youngster to come off a Portman Road production line that has also provided the Magpies with Kieron Dyer and Titus Bramble.

He and striker Darren Bent, also 19, were the subject of a cheeky £2.5m bid from Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd last month.

Then, Ipswich were furious with Shepherd for going behind the club's back and making a direct approach to the club's administrators, with Town sources describing the offer as "derisory" and "insulting".

But with Ipswich desperate for money to alleviate crippling debts, having been relegated from the Premiership last season, they have been forced to allow Ambrose to leave now.

They tried to sell Republic of Ireland midfielder Matt Holland to Charlton Athletic for £2m this week, but his £25,000-a-week wages prevented his departure.

The departure of Ambrose would go a long way towards ensuring Ipswich do not go into liquidation in the summer, which would delight former Town manager Sir Bobby Robson.

The deal is another example of Robson's policy of trying to recruit the brightest young talent.

The Newcastle manager has already spent around £28m in the last 13 months on Jermaine Jenas, Bramble, Hugo Viana and Jonathan Woodgate.

Ambrose has been watched on numerous occasions by Newcastle this season as his performances have helped Ipswich to the verge of the Division One play-offs.

He has scored ten goals in 33 first-team appearances for Town, having been an important member of their championship-winning reserve side in 2001-02.

If the deal went through, Ambrose would be available to make his Newcastle debut in the clash at Everton on April 6.

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