NEWCASTLE United could face competition from Middlesbrough in the scramble for Barcelona skipper Josep Guardiola.

The Spanish international is out of contract this summer and Manchester United and Liverpool are leading a chase which also features Chelsea.

Italian giants Parma have offered terms to Guardiola, but the cultured midfielder has stated his intention to join to a Premiership club.

While a move to Old Trafford clearly holds most appeal, Magpies' boss Bobby Robson, who had Guardiola in his charge at Barcelona, has not given up hope of luring the 30-year-old to St. James' Park.

But Robson admits his surprise that Guardiola is leaving the Nou Camp. "With regard to his departure, I have to say I am surprised,'' said Robson.

"They say he will come to play in England.

"He will do well here, although his physical make-up is not one of a typical English player.

"But I know he would be prepared to come to Newcastle.''

Boro have now emerged as possible rivals, but any hope of landing Guardiola lies in their ability to safeguard Premiership status.

Whether they can also persuade head coach Terry Venables, a former Barca boss, to remain at the Riverside will have a further bearing on their chances of tempting Guardiola.

Newcastle are stepping up their search for new faces and chief scout Charlie Woods has run the rule over PSV Eindhoven pair Yuri Nikforov and Marc van Bommel.

Russian international centre-back Nikforov and Dutch midfielder van Bommel are two long-standing Robson targets.

Newcastle are also being linked with Paris St. Germain's 25-year-old midfielder Laurent Robert, though given their problems with fellow Frenchmen Alain Goma, Didier Domi and Frank Dumas, who all quit Tyneside under a cloud, a deal seems highly unlikely.

With uncertainty surrounding the future of skipper Alan Shearer, who is facing further knee surgery which will keep him out until next season, Robson is also aware of the need to increase his firepower.

He would love to land Inter Milan's Turkish international striker Hakan Sukur, but knows he stands a better chance of persuading Leeds to part with £5m former Sunderland frontman Michael Bridges.

Tynesider Bridges, however, must first prove his fitness after a serious ankle injury which has kept him out for much of the season.