MK DONS boss Karl Robinson expects Newcastle United to make a formal offer for highly-rated midfielder Dele Alli.

The Magpies have sent a scouting delegation to a number of MK Dons matches this season specifically to watch Alli, an 18-year-old midfielder who made his senior debut in 2012 and has subsequently gone on to win four caps at England Under-19 level.

Newcastle’s interest in Alli stretches right back to the days of Joe Kinnear, and having previously insisted they would do everything in their power to hold on to the teenager, MK Dons officials are becoming resigned to his departure in either the current transfer window or the summer.

Earlier this week, Newcastle managing director Lee Charnley suggested it was extremely unlikely that anyone would be arriving at St James’ Park before the transfer window closes on February 2, but Robinson is confident the Magpies’ interest in his club’s leading asset is genuine.

“Obviously, there has been a lot of talk about Dele and Newcastle,” said the MK Dons boss. “I don’t think it’s paper talk. I think it’s a bit more than that, but it’s nothing we’ve heard about yet.”

Robinson’s comments could be an attempt to flush out any other interested parties, and it remains to be seen whether the Newcastle board would be willing to match MK Dons’ asking price, which is likely to be close to £9m.

Newcastle’s last foray into the lower leagues was unsuccessful, with Gael Bigirimana having failed to develop as expected in the wake of his £1m move from Coventry City.

Paying more than eight times that price for Alli would be a huge risk, although the midfielder’s performances this season have earned praise from throughout the game.

Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp has been one of his most vociferous cheerleaders, with his 11 League One goals having helped MK Dons to third in the table.

Newcastle had been linked with a possible short-term move for their former striker, Shola Ameobi, but that is now off the agenda after the 33-year-old closed in on a move to West Brom.

Ameobi left Turkish side, Gaziantep, at the start of the year, and spent some time training at Newcastle’s Benton base at the start of January.

That sparked rumours about a possible Newcastle deal until the end of the season, but Tony Pulis has approached Ameobi with the offer of a contract at the Hawthorns.

The pair have worked together briefly in the past, as Pulis signed Ameobi on loan in 2008 while he was manager of Stoke City.

Meanwhile, the Football Association have backed Nice’s attempts to sign Hatem Ben Arfa following his release from Newcastle.

FIFA have blocked Ben Arfa’s attempts to sign for Nice, claiming that he has already played for two clubs (Newcastle and Hull City) this season and therefore cannot represent a third.

However, Nice have appealed the verdict as Ben Arfa’s only appearance for Newcastle came in an Under-21 game, and the FA have offered their support to the Ligue 1 club by confirming they do not regard development games as ‘official matches’.