FEYENOORD have paved the way for Brett Emerton's long-awaited move to Newcastle United by giving the Magpies permission to begin talks with the Australian international.

The clubs have yet to agree a fee, but Feyenoord are willing to let £5m-rated Emerton speak to Newcastle to expedite a deal as the Dutch giants look to overhaul their squad for next season.

Emerton, who only has a year left on his contract and is eager to seal a move to the Premiership, no longer figures in their plans.

Dutch sources say a £4m offer should be enough to secure the services of a player who was the subject of a failed £8m bid by Newcastle last summer.

Emerton is currently in Japan on an end-of-season tour with Feyenoord, but United could open negotiations with the 24-year-old midfielder in Rotterdam next week before he returns to Australia.

Sir Bobby Robson is determined to win the race for Emerton, who has been tracked by Liverpool, Leeds, Arsenal and Middlesbrough.

A source close to Feyenoord said: "Although there has been no official offer, Newcastle are going to speak to Emerton.

"That is not a problem to Feyenoord. They think they will be able to agree a fee of around £4m.''

Emerton, who played in the Feyenoord side that won 1-0 at Newcastle last September and lost 3-2 on a dramatic night at De Kuip two months later as the Magpies clinched a last-16 Champions League place, has already spoken of his interest in moving to St. James' Park.

He said recently: "Newcastle are a big club and I've made no secret of my desire to play in the Premiership.''

Meanwhile, Robson is refusing to return fire on his critics - among them chat show king Michael Parkinson - over the signing of Lee Bowyer.

Parkinson attacked Robson in his newspaper column, but the United manager said: "I knew the criticism would keep coming - and I knew it would be directed at me.

"But you don't have to worry about me.

"I have a broad back and I can take the criticism.

"I won't argue with the people who are having a go at me.

"It's their job to write articles and I understand their point of view completely, but we will not be replying. We will take any criticism on the chin.

"We expected criticism and we took this into consideration when we decided to sign Bowyer."

Controversial former Leeds midfielder Bowyer, acquitted on all charges over an attack on an Asian student three years ago, joined Newcastle last month on a free transfer from West Ham.

The move also provoked a furious response from some fans, but Robson stressed: "I am running a football club and we went ahead with the signing on the promise that Bowyer will be a good lad and will behave properly.

"In the football sense he will be an excellent signing for us.

"We can only improve by signing good players - and Lee Bowyer is a good player."

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