Newcastle United are launching a bid for Rangers midfielder Pedro Mendes.

The Mirror says Toon boss Joe Kinnear has asked Rangers - via an agent - if he can take the former Portsmouth and Tottenham midfielder on loan with a view to a £1.5million move.

Mendes has done well for the Glasgow club since joining from Pompey in August, but Kinnear has heard he is interested in coming back to England for a better standard of football.

Rangers are under pressure to trim their wage bill and offload players, but they would want a guaranteed sale for Mendes if Newcastle come up with the cash up front.