NEWCASTLE United have emerged as rivals to Celtic for unhappy Everton left-back Michael Ball.

The £5m-rated England international is prepared to quit Goodison Park after a series of well-publicised showdowns with manager Walter Smith.

Everton ideally want to hold on to hot property Ball, but are growing impatient following the breakdown of talks over a new five-year contract.

The 21-year-old Liverpudlian has been offered £20,000-a-week in a double-your-money deal, but is demanding £30,000-a-week and parity with top Goodison earner Kevin Campbell.

Although Ball is due to have further discussions with the Everton board, Celtic and Newcastle have been alerted and the Magpies are understood to be making significant progress in negotiations.

Ball, who won his only senior England cap as a substitute in Sven-Goran Eriksson's first game in charge against Spain in February, has also been linked with Liverpool.

But as a true-blue Evertonian, Ball has ruled out a move to Anfield.

Magpies' boss Bobby Robson still regards the left side of defence as a problem position, despite the £1m signing of Wayne Quinn from Sheffield United last season.

Robson was recently frustrated in an £8m approach to Everton for striker Francis Jeffers, who joined Arsenal in a £10m deal.

But with the Merseysiders still anxious to ease crippling debts of around £30m, Robson could have more luck with a move for Ball.

The Newcastle manager, meanwhile, is also lining up a double swoop on Spain.

Barcelona's Dutch international winger Boudewijn Zenden is close to agreeing a £7m move to Tyneside, while Robson has joined Sunderland counterpart Peter Reid in registering interest in Athletic Bilbao striker Ismael Urzaiz.

Bilbao, however, have slapped an inflated £11m price tag on the Spanish international, and Atletico Madrid striker Kiko - available under the Bosman ruling - looks to represent a more realistic target for Robson, who has limited transfer funds.

But with former Espanyol star Urzaiz out of contract at the end of next season, Robson is likely to keep a keen eye on developments.

Urzaiz, booked for contract talks with new Bilbao president Javier Uria, said: "I am happy in Bilbao, but the most important thing is my future and there are many things that must give."

The way was cleared for Newcastle to close in on 24-year-old Zenden when German side Schalke dropped out of the chase after being linked with a £5m bid.

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