Newcastle set to enter race for Swansea striker Graham

Jan 21, 2013 4:25:00 PM

Alan Pardew is keen to bolster his forward options after losing Demba Ba to Chelsea this month and his hopeful of enticing the former Middlesbrough man back to the north east

EXCLUSIVE
By Wayne Veysey | Chief Correspondent

Newcastle United are preparing to hijack Danny Graham’s proposed move to Sunderland, Goal.com understands.

The Swansea City striker is keen on a return to his native north-east this month and has held talks with Sunderland.

The Black Cats and Norwich City have both tabled €4.75 million bids for the centre-forward, who is valued at €5.9m by Swansea.

But Goal.com has learned that Newcastle manager Alan Pardew has also registered his interest in Graham and is ready to make a formal offer this week.

Pardew is keen to bolster his strikeforce after losing Demba Ba to Chelsea earlier this month and missing out on the signing of Loic Remy, who spurned a move to Newcastle to join QPR.

Sunderland remain the frontrunners for Graham’s signature but he is believed to be biding his time while he waits for Newcastle’s interest to materialise.

Martin O’Neill has targeted the striker to take some of the goalscoring pressure off Steven Fletcher at the Stadium of Light.

Graham has been pushed down the Swans’ pecking order following the arrival of Michu last summer, who has made a huge impact at the club.

Although the former Watford forward has scored four goals in his last seven games, he is understood to have a poor relationship with Michael Laudrup and wants to leave the club.

Swansea have targeted Kenwyne Jones of Stoke City as a replacement for Graham.

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