WITH the transfer merry-go-round beginning to gather pace, Newcastle boss Glenn Roeder will meet chairman Freddy Shepherd this morning to finalise his spending plans for the summer.

The Magpies manager will discuss how much funding is available to him as he attempts to improve on last season's creditable seventh-placed finish and learn how many players he will have to move on before he can close in on some of his early summer targets.

When the 50-year-old was appointed on a permanent basis this month, Shepherd spoke glowingly of how much financial support he had given to his predecessors.

That is unlikely to change with Alan Shearer having hung up his boots at the end of last season, but the Newcastle chairman is unwilling to throw endless funds in Roeder's direction.

Instead, the former West Ham boss will be told to sell some of his unwanted stars if he wants to improve other areas of his squad in addition to his depleted attack.

Shepherd is ready to fund the purchase of a leading number nine - Ruud van Nistelrooy, Jermain Defoe and Dirk Kuyt, who is also wanted by Liverpool, continue to figure prominently in the club's thoughts - but following last summer's £16m purchase of Michael Owen, further funds will not be forthcoming.

Instead, Roeder will be expected to offload the likes of Jean-Alain Boumsong and Albert Luque, players who struggled to make the first team in the latter half of last season but who continue to command large wages.

Boumsong is expected to return to France after this summer's World Cup, while Luque is being lined up for a season-long loan at UEFA Cup winners Sevilla.

With Nicky Butt, James Milner and Amdy Faye also likely to leave Tyneside this summer, Roeder could yet find himself with a considerable summer war chest despite the current financial restrictions he is being asked to work around.

The Newcastle boss is still formulating his plans, but goalkeeper Steve Harper is one player who he is extremely reluctant to lose this summer.

The 31-year-old, who did not make a single Premiership appearance last season, has been linked with a number of Championship clubs following Shay Given's acceptance of a new five-year deal at St James' Park.

Roeder is fully aware of Harper's qualities, and the Easington-born keeper said: "Unless anyone tells me differently I will be a Newcastle United player next year."

* Former Newcastle manager Graeme Souness will meet Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan in the next 48 hours to discuss the vacant managerial position at Selhurst Park. Souness is favourite to succeed Iain Dowie.

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