Manchester United striker Alan Smith is in talks today on Tyneside with Newcastle.

Smith is said to have rejected the chance to join Middlesbrough, while Sunderland, Everton and West Ham have all been linked with a move.

But the Manchester Evening News claims that Smith will plump for Newcastle, despite the fact that he will have to fight Michael Owen, Obafemi Martins, Mark Viduka, Shola Ameobi, Albert Luque and Andy Carroll for a place in the team.