NEWCASTLE United are lining up a £2m swoop for Chinese international Sun Jihai.
Magpies chairman Freddy Shepherd is booked to fly out for talks with Dalian Shide president Xu Ming a week on Tuesday in an attempt to wrap up a deal.
"The Newcastle chairman will arrive in Dalian on Januray 22 to negotiate the move,'' confirmed Ming.
Jihai, who made 23 League appearances for Crystal Palace in season 1998-99, impressed Newcastle manager Bobby Robson when he spent a week on trial last season.
Robson has likened the right-footed left-back to Mick Mills, who played under the United boss when he was in charge of Ipswich and England.
Jihai, 24, is said to be a reformed character after being sent off twice and banned for 12 months from his national side for head-butting an assistant referee when China lost 1-0 to South Korea in an Olympic Games qualifier in October 2000.
Jihai joined Palace from Dalian Wanda for £500,000 and teamed up at Selhurst Park with fellow Chinese international Fan Zhiyi.
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