Allardyce holds Edmilson talks in Barcelona

Brazilian defender Jose Gomes Edmílson smiles after signing for Barcelona in 2004. Newcastle boss Sam Allardyce has flown to Barcelona trying to convince World Cup winner Edmilson to join the Premiership side.

Newcastle boss Sam Allardyce has flown to Barcelona, hot on the heels of Brazilian World Cup winner Edmilson.

Allardyce is bidding to return the northeast giants to the glory years they enjoyed under Kevin Keegan in the mid 1990s and he has targetted the Brazilian centre-back, who can also play as a holding midfielder, as an integral part of his revolution at the club.

He and a Newcastle delegation met with the 30-year-old on Thursday night and talks are due to continue on Friday.

Edmilson is currently sidelined after knee surgery and could be out of action for between four to six months, but that hasn't put off Allardyce.

The Brazilian has a year left on his existing contract, but the Magpies are confident they can land him for a nominal fee, provided they can persuade him his future lies on Tyneside.

They have also inquired about striker Eidur Gudjohnsen's situation with Thierry's Henry's arrival from Arsenal sparking fresh speculation his days at the Nou Camp could be numbered.

The Iceland international, who has also been linked with derby rivals Sunderland and Manchester United this summer, worked briefly under Allardyce at Bolton.

Newcastle currently have five senior frontmen on the books - Michael Owen, Obafemi Martins, Mark Viduka, Shola Ameobi and Andy Carroll - but uncertainty over Owen and Martins, who both have get-out clauses in their contracts, has left the manager waiting anxiously to discover their plans.

He is having to draw up contingency plans with Arsenal rumoured to be considering Martins as a replacement for Henry and Manchester United and Manchester City among those clubs to have been touted as possible destinations for Owen.

Allardyce is hopeful of retaining both men as he closes in on fresh targets after capturing Viduka, Joey Barton and David Rozehnal - although the latter's deal has yet to be rubber-stamped - with Chelsea defender Geremi and Marseille skipper Habib Beye now in his sights.

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