RANGERS are waiting to see whether Newcastle United defender Steve Caldwell wins an improved deal at St. James' Park.

The Scottish Premier League leaders, whose skipper Lorenzo Amoruso is being linked with a move to Blackburn, are making contingency plans and Caldwell has come under serious consideration.

The 22-year-old centre-back, out of contract at the end of the season, has refused to sign the one-year extension he has been offered, and has an open mind about his future.

Caldwell produced a solid performance alongside Jonathan Woodgate at the heart of the Magpies' rearguard in the final home game of the season against Birmingham last Saturday.

He said: "I wasn't thinking in terms of that being my last appearance for Newcastle at St James's Park. I don't think like that.

"It might be the last, but hopefully things will turn out right. I'm an optimistic person.

"If things are right I will be here, but first and foremost I've got to look after my career.

"I've got to do what is right to progress and I need games to do that. I've got to be grown up about it."

Rangers have also been credited with an interest in Sunderland centre-back Emerson Thome, who is available on a free transfer, but the Brazilian insists he is in the dark about the link.

Meanwhile, Nolberto Solano has pledged himself to Newcastle - and warned £2m new boy Darren Ambrose that he faces a fight to break into Sir Bobby Robson's side.

Ambrose, 19, arrived recently from Ipswich and will put pressure on Solano for the wide-right role.

That has led to renewed speculation about the future of 28-year-old Solano, whose international movements with Peru have brought him into conflict with Robson.

Solano, however, maintained: "I have a contract for three more years and in football you never know what will happen.

"But I am happy to be at the club. My mind is on coming back to Newcastle next season and playing in the Champions League again. I want to be here, one of the reasons being that we have played in the greatest club competition in the world.

"Sir Bobby Robson has done a fantastic job in building a very strong squad and nobody has his position in the team guaranteed.

"Everybody has to fight to be in the team and it is good for the manager that he has so many choices. He has brought in a new player in Darren Ambrose and, like everyone else, he will have to fight for his place.

"But we need a big squad as we will be playing in four competitions again next year.

"Like Manchester United and Arsenal, we need the rotation system because you cannot play the same team every game.

"We have gone from fourth place to third this season and we are a young squad who can only improve. But I am still a bit disappointed that we did not win something this season, because I thought we had a great chance to lift either the Worthington Cup or the FA Cup."

* Ajax's Egyptian international striker Ahmed 'Mido' Hossam is not a Newcastle target - according to his agent.

Christophe Henrotay claimed: "I spoke to Bobby Robson and his chief scout, Charlie Woods, and at the moment they are not interested.''

* Newcastle's season tickets are set to rise by five per cent across the board.

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