Newcastle United will hold a new round of talks with Barcelona defender Edmilson tomorrow.

Manager Sam Allardyce flew to Catalonia on Thursday in an attempt to persuade the 30-year-old World Cup winner his future lies on Tyneside.

That appears to have impressed the former Lyon defender, who is also being courted by Italian giants AC Milan despite the knee injury which is expected to rule him out until October.

Edmilson is understood to have told the Magpies delegation - Allardyce, chairman Freddy Shepherd's son Kenneth and European scout Paul Montgomery - he is ready to head for England.

However, with Barca president Joan Laporta, who had earlier given Newcastle permission to talk to the player, tied up on Friday with his side's move for Eric Abidal, they are having to remain patient.

Shepherd Junior will reopen discussions with the Nou Camp hierarchy on Monday, when he will also look into Eidur Gudjohnsen's situation.