Newcastle United are launching a £7 million bid for Rangers defender Carlos Cuellar.

Cuellar, 26, has been a big hit in his debut season in the SPL since signing from Osasuna for £2.3m and was recently voted the league's player of the year.

The Spaniard signed a four-year contract and his impressive performances have alerted a host of Premier League clubs.

Dennis Wise, Newcastle's executive director of football, was in the crowd at the City of Manchester Stadium for last week's UEFA Cup final against Zenit St Petersburg to watch Cuellar, says The Sun.