Newcastle looking to land Sheffield United defender Matthew Kilgallon

Newcastle United are lining up Sheffield United centre half Matthew Kilgallon - in case they have to sell Steven Taylor before the deadline.

England under-21 star Taylor is attracting major interest and may go if an auction starts to take the price to around £7 million.

And the managerless Geordies have made a serious inquiry for Kilgallon, whose contract is in its final year at their Championship rivals.

Kilgallon is already fancied by Scottish giants Celtic and seems sure to move rather than quit Bramall Lane on a free next summer - with the Toon's negotiators keen to buy at £2 million-plus to leave them with a big profit on the Taylor deal.