NEWCASTLE officials were last night completing the signing of Chelsea full-back Celestine Babayaro.

The Nigeria international spent yesterday undergoing a medical at St James' Park and, with personal terms also understood to have been agreed, Babayaro should be a Newcastle player by the time his new club face Arsenal tonight.

The transfer window does not officially open until Saturday, but Magpies manager Graeme Souness has constantly stressed the need to bring players in as quickly as possible.

Signing Babayaro is the first stage in that process and the 26-year-old could even find himself thrown straight into the starting line-up for this weekend's home game with Birmingham City.

The left back joined Chelsea from Belgian side Anderlecht in April 1997 and has made almost 200 appearances for the London outfit.

But only five of those have come this season, with Blues boss Jose Mourinho preferring both William Gallas and Wayne Bridge on the left of his back four.

Babayaro's arrival places a huge question mark over the future of contract rebel Olivier Bernard, with Souness rapidly losing patience with the Frenchman's refusal to sign a new deal.

Bernard, who was a second-half substitute as Newcastle drew 2-2 with Blackburn on Sunday, is free to talk to potential suitors this weekend and the signing of Babayaro suggests Souness is willing to let him leave.

The United boss still hopes to sign Rangers centre-half Jean-Alain Boumsong next month, although he yesterday ruled out a January swoop for want-away Southampton striker James Beattie.

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