French defender Boumsong about to join Newcastle

French defender Jean-Alain Boumsong (L), who was in Newcastle and about to complete an eight-million-pound (11.3-million euro) move from Rangers to the Magpies.

French defender Jean-Alain Boumsong was in Newcastle and about to complete an eight-million-pound (11.3-million euro) move from Rangers to the Magpies.

The 25-year-old will become Magpies' boss Graeme Souness' second transfer window signing when he follows Celestine Babayaro into St James' Park as the Scot moves quickly to strengthen his under-fire defence.

"I can confirm that we have an agreement with Glasgow Rangers and an agreement with the player, and the agreement we have with him is a five-and-a-half-year deal," Souness said on Friday.

"Jean-Alain Boumsong has an agreement with us, we have an agreement with Glasgow Rangers and I can confirm as we speak that he is having his medical."

Boumsong's agent Willie McKay confirmed that Rangers accepted an offer for the defender earlier on Friday.

The Ibrox club had rejected two previous bids from Newcastle for the player they snapped up for nothing from Auxerre in the summer.

The France international was undergoing a medical with the Premiership side early Friday.

When asked if the deal had been agreed, Monaco-based McKay replied: "That's right. It was agreed this morning. Everything has been sorted out and he is having his medical now."

Souness has targeted Boumsong since his early days on Tyneside and confirmed his interest in France last month the night before his side trounced Sochaux 4-0 in the UEFA Cup.

Newcastle tabled an early bid for the former Auxerre player, who only joined Rangers on a free transfer this summer when he signed a five-year deal, and although the Glasgow club initially held out, it eventually became apparent that the move would go through sooner rather than later.

Rangers fans reacted angrily to news of the bid, but the deal at least represents a quick profit on their cash-strapped club's investment.

Manager Alex McLeish was at St James' for Wednesday night's 1-0 defeat by Arsenal, although he is understood to have rejected any cash-plus-player arrangement to seal the switch.

Souness will be delighted to have tied up two of his transfer window targets so quickly after seeing his side's goals against tally rise to a depressing 38 in this season's Premiership campaign in midweek.

He has repeatedly spoken of Titus Bramble's potential, but he, Andy O'Brien and Aaron Hughes know that competition for places has now increased significantly with a large proportion of the proceeds of Jonathan Woodgate's sale to Real Madrid having been invested in a bid to plug the gap he left.

Neither Boumsong nor Babayaro will be eligible to play for their new club until the FA Cup third round clash with Yeading, while the Frenchman cannot take part in the club's European campaign after already representing Rangers in the same competition.