NEWCASTLE were last night closing in on a £15m double deal as Sir Bobby Robson declared his intention to hunt down Arsenal and Manchester United in ultimate pursuit of the Premiership title.

Robson confirmed that the Magpies are in talks with Leeds and Brazilian club Atletico Paranaense over England defender Jonathan Woodgate and World Cup-winning midfielder Kleberson.

After failing with an initial £9m bid for Middlesbrough-born Woodgate, Newcastle have prepared an improved offer of £10m in the hope of tempting debt-ridden Leeds to do business.

And in what could prove a shattering double blow to Leeds boss Terry Venables, Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd has flown to Sao Paulo to open negotiations for £5m-rated Kleberson - the Elland Road club's top target.

With Woodgate seemingly deemed one of Leeds' "untouchables'' and facing the prospect of up to six weeks on the sidelines with a thigh injury, Robson was last week resigned to missing out on the centre-back.

But following weekend talks with Shepherd, it was agreed that they should up the ante for Woodgate - who is 23 today - and at the same time press their interest in Kleberson.

Robson last night said: "I can confirm we have made communications to both clubs in respect of the two players concerned.

"There will have to be a lot of dialogue before anything happens and those two players ever come here.

"Things are in the early stages. All we've done is made preliminary investigations and I can say no more than that. The talks with Leeds will establish whether Woodgate is available.''

In the case of Kleberson, Robson added: "A very highly talented player of world repute, who has played in the World Cup final, has become available on the market.

"I know what we have here with Kieron Dyer, Gary Speed, Jermaine Jenas and Hugo Viana, but we're just investigating the possibility of whether we can bring that player here.

"When someone of that calibre becomes available, as a top club we have to be interested - and we are.''

Robson has consistently talked down his side's title chances, but knows that an 11th successive home League victory tonight against relegation-threatened Bolton, will leave the Magpies only two points behind Man. United and seven in arrears of champions Arsenal from the same number of games. And he insisted: "The sole intention of me being here is to make this club better.

"For us to be better, we can't rely on miracles - it has to be through investments.

"And this might be the investment we're looking for. I'm not saying it'll all come off, we're just looking into whether we can bring in two class players to bolster the situation.

"They would both be long-term investments because they're both only 23. It's in conjunction with the quality of players we already have who are in the same age bracket. Everyone knows what a young side we have.''

Robson admitted: "It's heartening for me that I am at a club who are prepared to spend money.

"But it's being in the Champions League that has brought that about, plus the fact we have a magnificent stadium, an adoring public, and a sell-out 52,000 crowd at every home League match.

"Money has been generated and the reason for that has been the performance of the players. We wouldn't have 52,000 every Saturday if we were 17th in the table.

"We have 52,000 because we're battling on near the top all the time.

"But we don't want to always finish fourth like we did last season.

"I don't, anyway. I haven't got too long to win it!'' Midfielder Jenas, who will be 20 on the day Robson celebrates his 70th birthday next month, underlined Geordie ambitions when he warned Arsenal to look over their shoulders.

Jenas, outstanding while deputising for hernia victim Speed, said: "Teams are capable of catching them. They started brilliantly, but they went through a dodgy patch. They are clear, but I think they'll know they can't sit back on a cushion.

"We are destined to win something soon. We have good young players and I'll be slightly disappointed if we don't win things. If we keep our form going, you never know.''

Striker Craig Bellamy is fit to partner skipper Alan Shearer tonight, despite feeling a reaction to his troublesome knee after Saturday's 2-0 home win over Manchester City. Robson said: "He's sore and we have to watch him. We haven't a game on Saturday and that's a blessing to be honest.

"Tottenham asked us to bring next Wednesday's game there forward to Saturday, because we're both out of the FA Cup. They're not stupid, and neither am I - so I said no!''

Defenders Andy Griffin and Andy O'Brien are still on the injured list, but centre-back Titus Bramble is in line for his first appearance after almost four months out with hamstring trouble.

Midfielder Clarence Acuna has been allowed to return to his native Chile because his mother is ill.

Robson also revealed that Speed is making a rapid recovery from surgery and should be back in contention in a fortnight

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