Newcastle United boss Sam Allardyce is ready to make a new left-back signing this week.

The Guardian says Manchester United's Mikael Silvestre and Wigan's Leighton Baines are both targets for Big Sam.

Although Allardyce is believed to have agreed a £6m fee with United for the left-back, Silvestre turned him down due to Joey Barton's presence at St James' Park. Manchester City's Ousmane Dabo is Silvestre's best friend and the victim of an alleged training ground assault by Barton at City. Newcastle are hoping the arrival of Silvestre's former team-mate Smith may change his mind.