ANNOYED boss Bobby Robson took a swipe at players' agents last night after it emerged Manchester City are leading the chase to sign Newcastle United loan star Sylvain Distin.

Newcastle are understood to have agreed a £4m deal with Distin's club Paris St. Germain, but the stumbling block has been the player's reputed £25,000-a-week wage demands. A contract offer remains on the table and Robson believes the Frenchman could put pen-to-paper for the Magpies.

However, as Northern Echo Sport revealed yesterday, an advisor for Distin, Monte Carlo-based Willie McKay, believes Kevin Keegan's newly-promoted City are now favourites to sign the 24-year-old.

And Robson, who is also waiting for Shay Given to sign a new deal, said: "If you remove agents from football you would get players signed.

"I'm hopeful he will sign because he has been here seven months and he has fitted into the team and made his mark here.

"He knows us and we like him and we made him an offer.

"We have offered players contracts but it's their delay. It's all you can do and all you can do is wait for them to make up their minds.

"Look at the season we have had, look at the stadium, look at the town and where can you better it? Look at the players around them."

Robson, who takes his side to Southampton today to bring an end to a successful campaign, held a meeting with chairman Freddy Shepherd this week to discuss summer transfer funds.

And, as well as Distin, the Newcastle manager has named the players he would like to be a part of his Champions League-bound squad - with Feyenoord's Brett Emerton thought to be top of his list. And Robson admits he needs to add some fresh blood to his side to ensure the St. James' Park club build on the fourth-place they finished this time around.

"We have obviously used this season to look at the situation and there are a certain number of players who I think can be available," said Robson, who would like to bring someone in before the World Cup starts in 20 days.

"The market is not easy; it is difficult because teams want to hang on to their best players and the players want their pound of flesh as well.

"But we have identified players and where we need to strengthen and build a bigger and better squad. It will be a long season next season and it will be more arduous and we will have a couple of games to play to get into the Champions League.

"We will have six games to fit on top of our normal League programme before October."

He added: "The strength of a club can depend on your purchasing power or your Academy and reserves. Most try to do both.

"If you can sort your Academy out then you can cut down on the money going out.

"The days of paying £25m, £30m for players is going to disappear and let's hope it does go back to sensible pricing."

Newcastle have few injury problems ahead of today's Premiership finale at St Mary's, where they hope to win for the tenth time on their travels this season, a club record never achieved since the 1908-09 campaign.

Striker Craig Bellamy (knee), full-back Andy Griffin (thigh), midfielder Clarence Acuna (hamstring) and Spanish misfit Marcelino (ankle) are the only players ruled out.

And Robson admits that he is delighted to be going into the match knowing a place in Europe has already been achieved.

He said: "We would have accepted fourth back in August, and that's just behind the three big ones.

"We have had a very good season and we are seven points above Chelsea, which is remarkable.

"The players have been more than wonderful, they have been marvellous.

"At times we have come back from defeated positions and we have finished with some big victories.

"We have now raised expectations for next season after getting close to the big boys but we have to stay there now.

"Our Academy is starting to work and we have got some good young players who I think will have a bright future and this club should be OK for a few years to come."

In December Robson became the first Newcastle chief to lead his side to victory in London after 29 capital defeats.

And today the Magpies are hoping to end another unwanted hoodoo.

"I understand we haven't won at Southampton for 30 years but I'm not going to tinker with the team because they all want to play," said Robson.

"I will be playing with a strong team and we will be seeing if we can finish on a high note.

Read more about Newcastle United FC here.