Magpies tracking Spurs star

(10-10-2010) Newcastle are preparing a move for out-of-favour Totteham midfielder Niko Kranjcar. The Croatian, such an influential figure for Spurs last season, has struggled to make the starting lineup this campaign following the arrival of Dutch star Rafael Van der Vaart. The Magpies now want him to sign a pre-contract deal so that he can move to St James Park for nothing next summer.The 26-year-old Kranjcar moved to White Hart Lane from Portsmouth in 2009. Everton are also interested in signing him and could offer Steven Pienaar as bait. The South African is currently running down his contract, despite being offered a new £50,000 a week deal by the Toffees.