O'Brien exit could spark Magpies spree

Hughes, who joined Aston Villa in a £1million move earlier this summer, and Robbie Elliott, have both filled in in emergencies, but Newcastle have - their brief ownership of Jonathan Woodgate apart - being searching for a commanding stopper for several years.

Boumsong was seen as the natural replacement for Woodgate when he joined from Rangers during the winter transfer window, although he is yet to fully find his feet, while Bramble, before suffering a groin injury during the club's ill-fated UEFA Cup quarter-final, second leg with Sporting Lisbon in Portugal, had finally started to show the kind of consistent form which persuaded former boss Sir Bobby Robson to pay Ipswich £4.5million for his services in July 2002.

However, the Magpies conceded 57 goals in the Barclays Premiership last season as they slipped out of the top five, where they had finished in the previous three campaigns, and ended in a depressing 14th place.

Souness tried to sign Manchester City skipper Sylvain Distin, who played 35 games on loan to the club during the 2001-02 season, back in January and also expressed an interest in Roma-bound Sammy Kuffour.

He has admitted his pursuit of Hamburg's Belgian international Daniel van Buyten and, although he played down the link this week, it is understood that particular avenue remains open, while reports in Portugal suggest that 27-year-old Belenenses defender Pele is also a target.

Newcastle have confirmed O'Brien was given permission to talk to Pompey and, although their chief executive Peter Storrie has urged caution, it is expected the transfer will go through as the Harrogate-born player re-joins former team-mates Andy Griffin and Lomana LuaLua at Fratton Park.

"I think everyone now knows my stance on this and we are still a long way from signing Andy, though the first steps of talking to him are under way," Storrie told Portsmouth's official website, www.pompeyfc.premiumtv.co.uk.

"We did get agreement from Newcastle to speak to him and that is where the matter rests at this moment in time.

"Once again, I would rather that we had been left to talk to the lad and have something conclusive to say, which is not the case at the moment."

O'Brien, a £1million signing from Bradford in March 2001, proved good value for money for the Magpies and performed admirably against the likes of Barcelona, Inter Milan and Juventus during the club's Champions League campaign in 2002-03.

However, his confidence suffered as he bore the brunt of a fans' backlash during an indifferent run of form last season.

Meanwhile, England Under-21 midfielder Darren Ambrose will be allowed to leave St James' if Charlton, who have also been linked with Lee Bowyer, come up with a fee of around £1.5million.